I have often found myself taking a respite on the steps of this temple in Vienna's Volksgarten.
More in line with the timing of Greek Revival architecture, this temple is a neo-classical reproduction of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens (or the Theseus). Built in the center of Vienna's Volksgarten in the early 1800s, the park was created after Napoleon demolished a bastion near the imperial palace and the temple was added shortly thereafter. The park was further expanded later when Vienna's city fortifications were torn down, replaced by the Ringstraße.
The temple's central location is a natural place to meet, or loiter in
transit from one Vienna site to another -- or simply a convenient stop
to nibble on a packed lunch. It is a type of theater on the Ringstraße during nice days and evenings, with many of Vienna's landmark buildings in plain view.
Over time, as can be expected, this structure has witnessed change. The temple originally held a magnificent marble sculpture by Venetian artist Antonio Canova, Theseus Fighting the Centaur. The sculpture was removed for some reason in the 1890s, perhaps for safe keeping. It is now a welcoming feature in the Kunsthistorisches Museum nearby. Today, a simple bronze statue, Young Athlete (1921), draws the attention of admirers, the curious -- and occasionally performs as a poster board for late night gatherings and entertainment venues.