STEPHANSDOM, Interior

The interior of Stephansdom is often crowded, but it never fails to stir the emotions. At its brightest moments, when the sun streams in through the large windows, you can fully appreciate the slender Gothic structure, built according to the "hall" model favored in Austria and southern Germany: the pillars supporting the ribbed roof divide the space into three naves at the same height, and the absence of side chapels enhances the sense of breadth of the interior, which is more than ninety meters long. No less enchanting, however, is a visit to the cathedral towards evening, with the pillars lost in the half-light and the glow of the candles in front of the votive images.

One of the hallmark features of the cathedral are the numerous Baroque altars, not only along the side walls but also leaning against the pillars. Gentle Madonnas with Child and realistic Crucifixes are still objects of intense devotion today. Very popular is the 17th-century Madonna of Tears at the first altar on the right.

Now press pause and press play again when you reach the third pillar on the left....