World City Guide

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
Bratislava is redolent with Hapsburg Baroque architecture, preserved in many historic row houses and the pedestrianised Old Town, which has been extensively renovated. But as an ancient trading post, its history is much older, with German settlers since the middle ages, Hungarians, Italians, and a large Jewish community with some places of worship still remaining. Hlavne Square sits at its heart, containing the Old City Hall, and parallel, running north to south, the old Michalska and Venturska streets lead past a number of historical sites, including childhood performance venues of Mozart Franz Liszt. Zelená Ulica (Green Street) runs off Michalska and is one of the narrowest streets in the city and home to Academia Istropolitana, the first university in the Hungarian Kingdom.
At the other end of Old Town is St Martin’s Cathedral, which hosted the coronation of exiled Hungarian kings during the period when most of Hungary was under Ottoman rule. The city also boasts a number of copper-domed churches, palaces, and the dominant landmark of Bratislava Castle. Bratislava also offers some Art Nouveau architecture, notably St Elizabeth Church (also known as the Blue Church because of its blue ceramic tile exterior).

Tourist Information
Bratislava Tourist Information Office
Venturska 9 (Zichy Palace)
Tel: (02) 54 64 17 94.
Website: www.bratislava-info.sk

The tourist office provides tourist services, maps, information, souvenirs and lists of cultural events.