In the future it will only be possible to visit the palace when taking part in occasional guided tours of the collection. The focus will from now rather be on renting out the palace to corporate events and so on. The reason for this sad development seems to be that one had hoped for 300,000 visitors per year, but only managed to attract some 45,000.
Meanwhile the Liechtenstein Mansion (Palais Liechtenstein) in the centre of Vienna, which was the main residence of the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein until 1938, is being restored. The plan was that it would serve as a second branch of the Museum Liechtenstein, but this too will now not be generally open to the public after the restoration is completed next year.
The closing of the Museum Liechtenstein means that the website of the princely collections has now also changed to www.palaisliechtenstein.com. The new website will be launched in February.
The photo shows a detail of the ceiling fresco in the Great Hall of the Liechtenstein Garden Palace. The fresco was done by Andrea Pozzo between 1704 and 1708 and shows the entry of Hercules into Olympus.
Sad.I made my first visit to the Palais when it was first opened not so many years ago and the Palais itself was beautifully restored and last time I went there was last autumn. Sad that the Prince of Liechtenstein could not wait for the museum to become a must for visitors to Vienna. Once it is on the list of the Chinese and Russian tourists one has to book well in advance to get in. I know I am in Rome right now. January and February being the only time of the year one can visit the most well-known sites without booking well in advance.
ReplyDeleteMartin Rahm
I think Museum Liechtenstein was one of the most interesting museums in Vienna, but it was indeed off the main tourist track.
DeleteMy first visit to Rome was in early January (indeed I arrived on New Year's Day), which was a good time for avoiding the crush. I have learnt that the best time to visit the main sights of Rome is early in the morning, just after they open - the Basilica of San Pietro at 8 a.m., the Vatican Museums at 8.30 a.m., when the queues are at least human.
Today it snows in Rome.Talking about the Basilica of Saint Peter's I was very moved to see the attention now given to the monument (or is it the tomb)of Queen Christina of Sweden (You might want to call her ex-queen, I do no not).It is now between the two most popular monuments of the Basilica, the Pietà of Michelangelo and the tomb of John Paul II. No corner of the Basilica attracts more attention from pilgrims and I saw many of them eagerly studying their guidebooks to find out to whom this monument was erected.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I went to Palazzo Doria Pamphilij. A splendid palace. I had been there before. I am interested in finding out why the engagement of a certain uncle prince Friedrich of a certain princess Therese of Sweden and Norway never led to her uncle marrying his fiancée lady Mary Talbot of the earls of Shrewsbury and lady Mary subsequently marrying prince Doria Pamphilij.I have checked with the present prince Jonathan but he had no idea of his greatgreatgreatgrandmother (whatever...) having been engaged before marrying the prince Pamphilij.
Martin Rahm
I think monument (or cenotaph) is better than tomb, as Queen Christina is not actually inside it, but in a much simpler tomb in the vault. Last time I was in St Peter's John Paul II had not yet been moved up into the actual church, but was still resting in the vault, where his tomb was actually also just next to Queen Christina's - so the two of them seem to stick together, if one can say so.
DeleteI think "Queen Christina" is correct even after her abdication. If I recall there was a clause that allowed her to keep her title of Queen, so I suppose the situation was comparable to that of the father of the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Ah, yes, the Palazzo Doria Pamphilij is indeed splendid, but I am afraid I know nothing of the engagement.