The Stephan apartments, which are part of the Hofburg, the Habsburgs’ Imperial Palace, is the home to the Sisi museum, dedicated to Elisabeth, empress consort of Austria, best known as Sisi. Elisabeth Amalia Eugenia (1837-1898) was born in Munich, the daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. At 15, she married Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and became Empress of Austria. Growing up in a free environment, she had difficulty adjusting to the formality of court life. The problems with her husband and her over-controlling mother-in-law, who prevented her from raising her children, affected her physical and mental health, and she suffered from depression and eating disorders. Out of court, she found freedom and independence, and she spent most of her time traveling to other countries, particularly Hungary, which became her second home. On September 10th, 1898, while strolling by Lake Geneva in Switzerland, she was assassinated by an Italian anarchist. She was 61 years old. The Sisi museum follows Sisi’s life story and provides a glimpse into her life, love, and obsessions. Each room in the museum explores a different period of her life – her childhood in Bavaria, her life in the strict Vienna court, her extended voyages, the myths surrounding her appearance and behaviors, and her tragic death. Among the 300 artifacts on display are replicas of her dresses and jewelry, original personal items, including letters, parasols, fans, gloves, a paint box, childhood shoes, her traveling medicine chest, and her original death certificate. There are also various statues and paintings related to her, such as her iconic portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. While at the Hofburg, do not miss a visit to the Imperial Apartments, where Sisi lived with her husband, and the Imperial Silver Collection. Other nearby attractions include the Albertina Museum, the Art History Museum, the statue of Empress Maria Theresa, and the Vienna Opera House. Read more...