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350 VIENNA tral telegraph office, and the military headquar- ters. Among edifices in course of erection (1876) are a Gothic town hall, the new parlia- ment and university buildings, the imperial museums, the imperial theatre, and the ex- change. The fine Francis Joseph quay is the continuation of the Ringstrasse along the Donaukanal. Remnants of the old bastions have been preserved to support prominent structures, such as the palaces of the archduke Albrecht and the duke of Coburg, and the eolossal Francis Joseph barracks. The wings of the last are connected by the Francis Joseph fate, one of the few remaining gates. The agerzeile in the Leopoldstadt, leading to the Prater, is a broad and animated thoroughfare, and there is at least one similar main street in each of the other districts, among the prominent structures of which are the Bel- vedere palace, built by Prince Eu- gene of Savoy, with a fine public garden, the great arsenal, and the station of the Northern railway, one of the finest in the world. The most important square is the Stephansplatz, with tho cathedral and episcopal palace, constituting the centre of Vienna, the Karnt- nerstrasse, the Graben, and other loading streets converging here. The large square called Am Hof, the Holier Markt and Nouer Markt, and most other open spaces contain monuments and fountains. The Josephsplatz has an eques- trian statue of Joseph II., and the Schwarzenbergplatz one of Field Marshal Schwarzenberg ; and on the Schillerplatz the foun- dation of Schiller's monument was laid, May 9, 1875. On the outer Burgplatz (palace square), the largest in Vienna, are the eques- trian statues of Prince Eugene and tho archduke Charles. The Burgthor (palace gate), consisting of 12 Doric columns, is also hero. Tho inner Burgplatz or Franzens- platz is formed by the four principal wings of the imperial palace. The easternmost, 'the Schweizerhof, dates from the 13th century; the northern, the most recent, was erected in 1728; the Amalienhof in the west dates from the 16th century ; and the southern wing, con- taining the largest apartments, was completed in 1670. The monument of Francis I. stands in the middle of the Franzensplatz, and there are four groups representing the labors' of Hercules at tho portals of the northern wing. Adjoining tho palace are tho imperial theatre (Burgtheater), tho riding school, considered the finest in Europe and the scene of splendid pageants, the imperial library, the museums of natural history, and the cabinet of coins and antiquities. Vienna possesses about 60 Catho- lic churches and chapels, three Protestant and three Greek churches, and several synagogues. The cathedral of St. Stephen is one of the most magnificent specimens of Gothic architecture. The present edifice dates mainly from the 14th century. Its length is 354 ft., breadth 230 ft., height of nave 89 ft. The great southern tow- er, completed early in the 15th century, and renovated in 18GO-'64, is about 470 ft. high. The cathedral contains nearly 40 marble al- tars ; a pulpit by Anton Pilgram, rich in deli- cate carvings; and numerous monuments, of which that of the emperor Frederick III., with over 200 figures, is the most remarkable. Underneath the cathedral are vast catacombs. The church of Maria Stiegen, completed early St. Stephen's Cathedral. in the 15th century, is another beautiful Gothic structure. The church of St. Peter is mod- elled after St. Peter's at Rome, and the church of St. Charles, completed in 1737, has an im- posing cupola. The Augustinian church con- tains Canova's mausoleum of the archduchess Christine, and in the Capuchin church is the burial vault of the imperial family. The V- tivkirche, begun in 1856 to commemorate the emperor's escape from assassination (1853), will be one of the finest of modern Gothic edifices. Among other notable places of worship are a Greek church and the new Jewish synagogue in the Moorish style. The Mekhitarist Arme- nian convent at Vienna is next in importance to the main establishment at Venice. In the imperial palace is the chamber of treasures, in-