Why Visit the Serotonin Symphony in Vienna?
A message from the Local Organizing Committee
Vienna is renowned for its unparalleled musical and cultural offerings, from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein to the famous Fine Arts Museum (“Kunsthistorisches Museum”) and the Vienna State Opera: these buildings still remind Vienna’s visitors that it was once the capital of the sunken Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Once home to musical giants like Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, and later Mahler or Schoenberg, Vienna was the birthplace of the classical symphony as we know it. The places where these composers lived, worked, and created their masterpieces are sprinkled throughout the city, and many of the sites are still accessible. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vienna is home to numerous castles and palaces, where cultural treasures await discovery at every turn. Known for centuries for its love and culture of enjoyment, coffeehouses, and taverns, you can simply relax in a Viennese café and soak up the splendor of the golden imperial age.
The Wiener Medizinische Schule, or Vienna Medical School, was a leading center for medical education and research during the 18th and 19th centuries. Renowned for its innovative approach all over the world, it played a crucial role in advancing modern medicine, particularly in the fields of pathology, anatomy, and physiology. Prominent figures like Joseph Škoda and Karl Rokitansky were instrumental in developing diagnostic methods and systematic autopsy techniques that revolutionized medical practice. The school also emphasized empirical observation and clinical training, setting new standards for medical education worldwide. Its influence extended far beyond Austria, shaping medical thought and practice throughout Europe and beyond.
Nowadays, Vienna is home to about 190,000 students in 23 universities and is one of Europe's leading international research centers. The city is also home to many inventions and technical innovations: Vienna lager beer was invented in 1839 by Austrian master brewer Anton Dreher at his Schwechater brewery, making Schwechater beer the first original lager beer in the world. Vienna is the only capital in the world that harbors vineyards within its boundaries. The wine producers have been granted the right to sell not only their produces but also small eats, making the “Heurigen” (taverns) the so-called second living room of the Viennese population.
Vienna is home to the 65-meter-high Giant Ferris Wheel, the oldest operating Ferris wheel in the world. A ride on it gives you a great view of Vienna, the "Prater", one of the city's largest parks, the Danube River, and the banks and beaches of the "Old" and "New Danube", where you can enjoy summer swimming in natural waters. Vienna has an excellent and easy-to-use public transportation system which is perfectly suited for exploring the city. Clean, efficient, and highly innovative, Vienna is voted "The World's Most Livable City" year after year.
Given the vibrant cultural heritage, it is not surprising why the Vienna Serotonin conference has been coined “A Serotonin Symphony in Vienna”. We aim to give you – apart from the latest and timeliest research on the very topic serotonin – some scientific and historical insights into Vienna during the conference.
