308 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp328–9 and pp330–31

Slovak National

Gallery q

Slovenská Národná Galéria

Riečna 1. Map C5. Tel (02) 5443

4587. 
      

      10am–5:30pm Tue–Sun.

      
      

      ¢ 21 & 24 Apr, 1 & 8 May. & -
      http://www.sng.sk

      
      

Established in 1948, the Slovak

National Gallery occupies a

building that was created by

combining two structures –

the four-wing 18th-century

Baroque naval bar racks,

Slovak National

Theatre 9

Slovenské Národné Divadlo

Hviezdoslavovo námestie 1. Map C5.
Tel (02) 2047 2298. # 8am–
5:30pm Mon–Fri, 9am–1pm Sat.
http://www.snd.sk

The Neo-Renaissance Slovak
National Theatre, on the east
side of Hviezdoslavovo
námestie, was built between
1884 and 1886 by Viennese
archi tects Ferdinand Fellner
and Hermann Helmer, who
special ized in the atres. The
façade is deco rated with busts
of Goethe and Shakespeare,
among others. At the centre
of the tym pa num is a sculp-
tural group including the
muse of comedy, Thalia.
The theatre stages perfor-
mances of ballet and opera,
and attend ing one of these
is the only way to see the
interior. In front of the theatre
is a fountain made in 1880
by sculp tor V Tilger. It depicts
the Trojan youth Ganymede
flying on the back of Zeus,
who is disguised in the form
of an eagle.

Impressive façade of the Neo-Renaissance Slovak National Theatre

New Bridge w

Nový Most

Staromestská. Map B5.

Also known as the Bridge of

the Slovak National Uprising

(SNP), this steel construct ion

was built between 1967 and

1972. It officially opened on
      26 August 1972, as the sec ond
      bridge over the Danube. This
      feat of engineer ing is sus-
      pended from one pylon on
      the south bank of the
      Danube. The sheer size
      of this single, open suspen-
      sion bridge is impressive; it
      is 431 m (1,414 ft) high
      and weighs 7,537 tonnes
      (8,308 tons). At the top
      of the pylon is a restau rant,
      whose saucer-like shape is
      reminiscent of the Starship
      Enterprise from Star Trek.
      From here there are beau tiful
      sweeping views of the city
      on the north bank, and of

designed by G Martinelli and

F Hildebrandt, and architect

V Dědeček’s house. In 1990,

the gallery’s collec tions were

also placed in the neigh bour-

ing Neo-Renaissance Esterházy

Palace. Designed by I Feigler

Jr and built between 1870 and

1876, Esterházy Palace is

reminis cent of an Italian

Renaissance town palace. On

the ground floor is the leg en d-

ary Berlinka Café, one of the

most popular cafés in the city.

The gallery boasts a number

of works of art. The finest are

the 13th- and 14th-cen tury

Slovak art collec tions, includ-

ing altarpieces and stat ues

from churches in the Spiš

region in eastern Slovakia.

The most compelling works

in the Baroque section are

those by sculptor Franz

Xaver Messerschmidt.

Modern Slovak art is also

well represented, with models

of buildings, photo graphs,

ceram ics, jewellery and post-

ers giving an eclectic overview

of the country’s creative out-

put over the last 100 years.

As well as Slovak artists,

the collection includes works

by a number of acclaimed

foreign artists including

Rubens, Caravaggio, Manet

and Picasso.

Reduta 0

Palackého 2. Map C5. Tel (02) 2047

5233. 
      

      1–7pm Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri;

      
      

      8am–2pm Wed. http://www.filharm.sk

      
      

Near the Slovak National
Theatre stands the imposing
building of the Reduta. Built
between 1913 and 1918, with
a grand lobby and staircase, it

used to stage social and

artistic events, sym phony

con certs and theatre per for-

man ces. Today the Reduta

is home to the Slovak

Philharmonic, and every

autumn it is the venue for the

Bratislava Music Festival. A

sec tion of the build ing, on the

side of Mostova ulica, houses

a casino and a restaurant.

The Reduta, home to the acclaimed

Slovak Philharmonic