The Silver Chapel, located on the first floor in edifice of the Hofkirche, is connected by a stairway from the the church and cenotaph to the first floor. The chapel, built by Hans and Albrecht Lucchese between 1578 and 1587, is the resting place of Archduke Ferdinand II (died 1595) and his first wife, Philippine Welser (died 1580). The room is painted red with cherubim heads painted by Giovanni Battista Fontana. The wall-niche graves were created by Alexander Colin. The grave of Philippine Welser, a white marble niche with recumbent portrait figure of her, is in the anteroom of the chapel, symbolic of this morganatic marriage. The tomb of Archduke Ferdinand II is in the main chapel, a black marble niche with white intarsia and bas relief marble panels depicting scenes from his life. An armored figure of the archduke kneels facing the altar, placed high above the tomb. The silver altar, for which the chapel is named, is the work of Anton Orth. Scenes on the altar are inspired by the Loretan Litany. An organ dating from the Renaissance has pipe of cypress wood and is played regularly.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1.The figure of Archduke Ferdinand II dressed in the armor of a knight. 2. The tomb of Archduke Ferdinand II, located in the chapel.  3. The Silver Chapel as seen from the anteroom through the screen and gate of leading to the chapel. Center, Top: Crest of the Archduke Ferdinand II. Center, Bottom: The ceiling of the chapel and anteroom, both decorated with with  the faces of cherubim painted by Giovanni Battista Fontana. Right Column: 1. The vaulted chapel as seen within the gated screen. 2. Fluted Ionic pilaster, one of several augmenting the architecture of the chapel. The faces of cherubim are visible on the walls surrounding the pilaster.   3.  The white marble niche, designed by Alexander Colin, was placed in the anteroom of the chapel. A recumbent portrait figure represents Philippine Welser, the first wife of Archduke Ferdinand II.