Constance, a picturesque city in southern Germany, is situated on the southern shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) and borders Switzerland. It is the largest and most densely populated city along this great lake, the largest in Germany, fed by the Rhine River and shared with two other countries: Switzerland and Austria. The city of Constance forms a single urban area with the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. A bridge divides the city into two zones, and its climate, combined with a variety of contrasts, makes it a prime tourist destination.
In the very center of the city lies the main harbor. Next to the harbor stands the Imperia statue, a work by sculptor Peter Lenk, erected in 1993. It is made of concrete, measures 9 meters in height, and weighs 18 tons. Every 4 minutes, it completes a full rotation on its axis. At the base, there is an installation to measure the water level.
The statue satirically commemorates the Council of Constance (1414–1418) and depicts a voluptuous courtesan with a deep neckline. In her raised hands, she holds two naked little men. The figure in her right hand wears the emperor’s crown (Kaiser) and holds the imperial orb (a jeweled sphere), while the figure in her left hand has a papal tiara on its head and sits with its legs crossed. It remains unclear whether the figures are portraits of rulers from the time of the council (Emperor Sigismund and Pope Martin V) or representations of worldly and spiritual power.
Constanza, this picturesque city in southern Germany, lies on the southern shore of Lake Constance (known as Bodensee in German) and shares a border with Switzerland. It is the largest and most densely populated city along this expansive lake, Germany’s largest, which is fed by the Rhine River and shared with two other countries: Switzerland and Austria. Constanza seamlessly merges into the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen, forming a single urban area. A bridge divides the city into two sections, and its favorable climate, combined with a variety of contrasts, makes it an attractive tourist destination.