The central monument was crafted by Kaspar von Zumbusch and took 13 years to complete.
The two museums facing the square were both designed by Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer.
The Empress's statue weighs 20 tons and is constructed of bronze.
The square is built on the site of the former glacis, an open defensive buffer zone surrounding the city walls that was leveled in the 19th century.
The four figures on horseback surrounding the base are Gideon Ernst von Laudon, Leopold Joseph von Daun, Otto Ferdinand von Abensperg und Traun, and Ludwig Andreas von Khevenhüller.
Maria-Theresien-Platz serves as a symmetrical urban focal point between the identical buildings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. The square centers on a massive 19-meter-high monument dedicated to Empress Maria Theresa, inaugurated in 1888. Flanking the statue are four equestrian statues representing the Empress's generals and reliefs of her advisors. The gardens are designed in a formal Neo-Baroque layout with manicured hedges and gravel paths. This public space connects the Ringstraße boulevard to the Museumsquartier. It remains open 24 hours a day as a thoroughfare and public park area.
The center of the square looking toward the Kunsthistorisches Museum, capturing the reflection of the building in the symmetric garden layout.
Visit the small raised terrace area in front of the museums for a clear view of the entire square.
Utilize the benches tucked near the formal garden edges for a view of the architecture away from the main thoroughfare.
Check for the seasonal market stalls that often occupy the square during winter months.
Attempting to climb the pedestal of the Maria Theresa monument, which is prohibited and strictly monitored.
Open daily; the square itself does not close, though seasonal markets operate during winter months.
