The Minoritenkirche (English: Minorites Church) formally called Italienische Nationalkirche Maria Schnee (English: Italian National Church of Mary of the Snows), is a church built in French cathedral Gothic style in the First District of Vienna. It stands at the Minoritenplatz.

The Minoriten are Franciscan monks (Latin: "fratres minores", the Order of Friars Minor - also called the Franciscans,the Franciscan Order). It is a mendicant Catholic religious order, founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi.
They were appointed in 1224 to Vienna and were given the site on which the church is built, also in 1224. The foundation stone was laid by King Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1276. Duke Albrecht II later supported the building process, especially the main portal. The Gothic Ludwig choir was built between 1316 and 1328, and used as a mausoleum in the 14th and 15th centuries. Construction of the church was completed in 1350. It was one of the first Gothic churches in the east-Austrian area.

The tower has a characteristic octagonal shape, but no proper top - it was damaged during the first Austro-Turkish war, rebuilt, then again destroyed again during the second Austro-Turkish war; the top was then replaced by a flat roof.

The church was entrusted into Italian hands by Joseph II in 1782. Even today, it is still under Italian administration. The masses are held in both German and Italian.

http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Minoritenkirche

http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria/minoritenkirche.htm