If you are heading to Belvedere with big expectations, you probably leave it disappointed and frustrated. It least I did.

The palace’s history starts around the beginning of the 18th c. when Price Eugene bought piece of land and started its reconstruction to summer garden and a gallery. the building today is known as Lower Belvedere. Upper Belvedere was constructed later the same century which today is just another picture gallery that hosts Klimt and another few famous artists.

Indeed Klimt is fascinating. The problem is that there are crowds around most of his works, heavy security and bad illumination. The other problem I faced when I stood there examining Klimt’s The Kiss is that this picture was soooo overexposed that you get sick of it before actually see it in real. The Kiss is lovely painting until you get used to it by seeing it on T-shirts, mugs, postcards, shop-windows, napkins and everything else you can thing of.

Gardens worth the attention, I was not lucky enough and when I went to the museum this May they were under massive dusty construction. I hope this will help Belvedere regain its image.

I was hoping Belvedere to be lavish and fascinating place, truly romantic and preserving the spirit of the epoch. To certain extend Lover Belvedere answers the expectations but as for the Upper, not the view not the shop managed to make me smile.

Admissions: 12.50 Euro combined ticket for Upper and Lower Belvedere
http://www.belvedere.at