Vienna has been a seat of European culture for centuries, and this year it’s home to the Europäischen Kulturpreise, a star-studded event that honors the achievements of leading artists, personalities, and organizations. You and a guest are invited to celebrate screen legend Sophia Loren, acclaimed composer Gordon Getty, renowned opera singer Plácido Domingo, actor and philanthropist Arnold Schwarzenegger, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and other luminaries as they receive this prestigious award.
You’ll arrive Thursday, October 17, and settle in at The Ritz-Carlton before a hosted dinner at Weingut am Reisenberg, a truly unique restaurant that boasts stunning views, refined Austrian cuisine, and an award-winning wine list. On Friday you will tour one of Austria’s Baroque treasures, Esterházy Palace, where composer Joseph Haydn was the Habsburg court music director for over forty years, and then lunch at the sensational Taubenkobel Restaurant. That evening you will join guests of honor Sophia Loren, Gordon Getty, and Plácido Domingo at an intimate dinner at the U.S. Embassy Residence, the Bauhaus villa, hosted by Ambassador Trevor Traina and his wife Alexis.
Saturday morning you will have reserved seats for a performance of the famed Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School, followed by lunch in the old-world luxury of Le Ciel at the Grand Hotel Wien. That evening, two-starred Michelin restaurant Palais Coburg provides an unforgettable culinary adventure. On Sunday you’ll hear the Vienna Boys Choir sing Mass at the Hofburgkapelle, enjoy a special public performance after Mass, and then lunch at Das Loft - a venue celebrated for its modern architecture, inventive menu, and gorgeous views of Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Danube.
The trip culminates with Sunday evening’s gala and dinner honoring the winners of the European Culture Prize at the world-famous Vienna State Opera.
You’ll bid Auf Wiedersehen to the City of Music and Dreams with memories to last a lifetime.
Donors: European Kulturforum, Napa Valley Festival Association
Designed for 8 guests. To be sold by the couple. Travel dates: October 17–21, 2019