Sala Terrena
The Sala Terrena with its beautiful vault, is situated on the ground floor next to the church and the sacristy. It was designed and painted in the second half of the eighteenth century in late Renaissance Venetian style in the reign of the Land Commander Carl Borromäus Count Colloredo Waldsee (Land Commander from 1764 – 1786).
The grotesque scenes, the scenes of baroque sensuality, the floral paintings and the animal scenes give evidence of the purpose of this hall, as a place of pleasure for body and soul. The famous Viennese popular figure "der liebe Augustin" is also depicted here.
In the course of the renovation of this hall, it became evident that this is the oldest part of the building. Fragments of gothic frescos were found and this seems to confirm the tradition that even before the church of the Holy Elisabeth the Holy Cross had existed here.
Today the Sala Terrena is used for musical performances and for other purposes of representations.
Just as the church is a fine example of gothic revival, so the Sala Terrena is a baroque jewel that was beautifully restored in the course of the renovation.
Address:
Deutschordenshaus - Sala Terrena
Singerstrasse 7
A-1010 Vienna