The palais Albertina is situated in a historical center of Vienna - the Augustinerbastei, one of the last reminders of the protection wall constructed because of the turkish siege of 1529. The palais was built by Hofbaudirektor Emanuel Teles Graf Sylva-Tarouca 1745 and it had been in the possession of Duke Albert of Saxon-Teschen (1738-1822), the founder of the famous graphic collection, and his heirs from the beginnig of the 19th century until the end of the Habsburg monarchy 1918.

In springtime 1919 the building was nationalized by the Austrian government and has been used as a museum and administration building.
The Albertina Vienna is considered the most comprehensive collection of old master drawings ever assembled privately. Duke Albert of Saxon-Teschen and his wife, a daughter of the Empress Maria Theresa, devoted their lives to the collection. The Albertina collection was enlarged under Albert’s successors and is preserved in the archducal palace of the 18th century.

It now consists of aproximately 65,000 drawings and one million prints. Something like 14,000 are European drawings and more than 200,000 prints are dating from the 15th to the early 19th centuries. The institution has been adding to its treasures, concentrating on Austrian and German works.
After the finish of the recent renovation works some of the most important exhibitions of Vienna are taking place in the Albertina, showing works of Dürer, Leonardo and Michelangelo.