St. Stephen’s cathedral is the most iconic landmark of Vienna and a monument tied with the history and development of the city. Think of the structure as a dear Viennese friend, one that the locals have nicknamed Steffi or little Stephen! Vienna’s little Stephen has been standing at the heart of the city since the 12th century, although the original Romanesque structure was quite different and certainly more modest compared with the immense Gothic masterpiece that we admire nowadays. The oldest part of the church, dating back to that early structure, is the main entrance, the so-called Giant Gate and the Tower of the Heathens rising above it.