Vienna

'Beautiful you are./But dangerous too...," begins nineteenth-century poet Franz Grillparzer's ambiguous declaration of affection for the place of his birth. Beneath the seductive and sensual surface lies a manylayered city with a glittering, turbulent and someimes cruel past. Once the centre of a great empire, Vienna is a fascinating place to visit for anyone interested in urban history, architecture and the arts. This new Blue Guide weaves political, social and cultural history into a lively account of the city's sights. The world famous buildings and institutions such as the Hofburg, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere and Schonbrun Palace are covered in depth; so, too, are the many lesser-known and unusual monuments and museums.