Karlskirche

~Karlskirche or St. Charles Church was very unique, because it incorporates many different styles like Roman, Greek, and Chinese. It is just off the Karls Platz, and was my favorite church in Vienna.

"The central buildings, turned into highly revered focal points for the dynasty and the people of Austria, where extended in the baroque period. Then the Karlskirche was erected as the central sanctuary, for which all the Habsburg lands provided financial support" (Ahrens, 218).

It was built in honor of St. Karl Borromeo, the patron saint of fighting against the plague. It at first looked like a mosque, but like Peterskirche it is a baroque church. The two columns that are in the front of the church are so different from any of the other churches in Vienna. They look like Roman columns and each one tells a different story through pictures. The left column is supposed to represent steadfastness while the right shows the courage of St. Karl Borromeo. On top of the columns are four eagles, one facing each corner, and then a small dome. There is also a statue of St. Karl Borromeo above the front entryway. The front of the church has a Greek temple look to it. There are six pillars that sit on top of the stairway which support a pediment. The Greek looking peak, or pediment, depicts the suffering of the Viennese during the plague which claimed 8,000 lives. In front of the steps are two angels, one on each side of the steps. Next to the columns, one on each side, are entrance ways. What make these special are the Chinese styled tops. The church doesn’t have many windows, and no stained glass windows. Lastly, the dome is massive. It takes up almost the entire center of the church. The circular area directly below the dome is where most of the exterior windows are. On top of the dome is a smaller dome with more windows and a cross that sits at the peak. There isn’t a color scheme like many of the other churches. It is simply white with green domes, and a little gold ornamentation.