Belvedere

Description

The "Belvedere" in #Vienna is a grand baroque palace complex built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the celebrated Habsburg commander who triumphed over the Ottomans. Architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt designed the two palaces (Lower and Upper Belvedere) and lavish French-style gardens with tiered fountains, cascades, mythological sculptures linking Eugene to Apollo, and ornate gates. Land was acquired from 1697 onward on undeveloped outskirts; Lower Belvedere construction started around 1712 and was largely finished by 1717, while Upper Belvedere began in 1717 and was completed in 1723, featuring opulent interiors with frescoes by masters like Carlo Carlone.