St. Canisius's Church, Vienna

The Canisius Church stands in Vienna’s ninth district, Alsergrund, as a Roman Catholic parish church. Its twin towers rise 85 metres above the surrounding streets, making it the fourth tallest church in the city. The façade shows colourful coats of arms of important patrons and donors. A wide staircase leads to the porch, where a statue of Peter Canisius stands above the entrance. Niches on either side hold statues of St Ignatius and Francis Xavier, carved by Franz Barwig. The church was built between 1899 and 1903 in early Gothic style. The interior presents a long nave with a transept and three chapel niches on each side. The presbytery was rebuilt in 1956 with grey marble steps and a mosaic of twelve apostles on the apse wall. The ambulatory displays seven richly coloured paintings of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin from the building period. Stained glass windows by Hans Schock depict various saints and the Holy Family. Side altars were clad in marble while preserving their original tables and windows. Below the church lies a Romanesque crypt used as a chapel for Marian congregations. The attached presbytery, once a monastery, now houses a student hall of residence run by the Akademikerhilfe. The building retains its cloister and is still owned by the Society of Jesus. Visitors find a quiet place for reflection beneath soaring vaults and colourful artworks.