Vienna has been one of the Western Roman Empire’s most easterly strategic strongholds, an imperial capital of the Habsburg Empire, and a melting pot for thinkers and creators from across Europe and the rest of the world. But Vienna was also altered, almost beyond recognition, by the First and Second World Wars.

Today, the city’s pendulum is swinging back towards some elements of the Vienna of old: the city is becoming increasingly multicultural, international in outlook and recognised for its unrivalled liveability. 

In this episode, we hear from Eugen (Zenja) Antalovsky, Shams Asadi, Prof Matti Bunzl and Maria Vassilakou. We discover that the return of these characteristics, which were so prominent in Vienna’s past, suggest that the city is re-aligning with key components of its DNA.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Vienna’s history, we recommend Carl Emil Schorske’s book "Fin de Siècle Vienna" and Simon Sebag Montifiore’s BBC documentary “Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream”.

To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.