Day 23 Tombstones and a talking statue.

Today after class today we toured the St. Marx and the Central Cemetery. The St. Marx Cemetery had a monument to Mozart, where they think he is buried. His "grave" was by itself in a more open space. It is thought that he was placed into a mass grave and this is the speculated spot. The Cemeteries are far outside of the city center. The thought process behind graves from the late 1700s was part of an effort to be rational and efficient. Most people were put into reusable caskets where the bottom or sides would drop out. The thought was that once you've died, you don't need the use of a private grave or casket. Joseph II also wanted to keep the cemetery way outside the center to prevent the spread of any diseases. Both cemeteries had a romantic feel to them, allowing the trees and shrubs to grow up over the grave stones. The Central Cemetery contained the graves of many famous composers and toward the mid-1800s, the use of separate graves and tombstones became the norm. The Central Cemetery is said to be larger than the entire inner city of Vienna!

St. Marx Cemetery

Where Mozart is believed to lie.

Central Cemetery, Grave of Brahms

Johann Strauss the Son

Franz Schubert

Ludwig van Beethoven

A memorial to Mozart

an appropriate tombstone for Arnold Schoenberg

Johann Strauss the father

Later than day we went to an outdoor production of Don Giovanni. It was excellent It featured talented young opera singers. Great experience, moving day.