Amy Abroad: In Vienna, the past is very much alive

Cluttered with ancient churches and grand palaces, Vienna, Austria’s capital, captures the beauty and history of Europe like no other country.

During the early 12th century under the Babenburg dynasty, Vienna evolved into an important trading center for eastbound crusaders. In the middle of the 13th century, the powerful Bohemian king Otakar II took control of Austria for about four decades until the Habsburgs took over the Austrian domain for nearly 600 years after. Under the Habsburgs, Vienna grew to be a stronger city, trading with numerous neighboring countries such as Italy and Hungary.

Today, Vienna showcases this age-old history beautifully, telling the stories of various dynasties and swashbuckling crusaders within its magnificent buildings and city streets.

Read the full column on SouthCoastToday.com, published on May 22, 2018.