Astronomical palaces and panoramic balconies in Graz

Graz has many merits: the capital of Styria is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Renaissance and Baroque palaces and its red roofs, but it can also give visitors (especially in fine weather) a contemporary energy that reflects a perfect connection between old and new, between culture and nature. An example? Palazzo Eggenberg, a 17th-century residence full of astronomical symbolism with its 365 windows (52 of which are on the piano nobile), its 31 rooms on each floor and the marvellous Hall of Planets decorated with zodiac signs and constellations: This year marks the 400th anniversary of its construction and a multimedia exhibition-event ('Ambition & Illusion') recounts the secrets and anecdotes experienced within its walls and the magnificent English garden (June is the best time to visit) transformed into a landscape project to reinterpret cosmic influences in a botanical key. Even in the heart of Graz, greenery is a constant, and this is confirmed by the "secret" garden between the walls of the castle, now the seat of the regional government, and the Schlossberg mountain, the hill overlooking the historic centre full of open-air venues (such as Aiola Upstairs or Starcke Haus) with panoramic views over the city. There are two addresses to enjoy a cocktail in exceptional locations: the terrace of Café Freiblick and the bar on the artificial island Murinsel on the Mur river. Just outside the city, on the other hand, the attraction is the Austrian Sculpture Park in Oberpremstätten, which offers an immersive experience among paths, ponds and contemporary sculpture works by artists such as Erwin Wurm, Jeppe Hein and Susana Solano.