Palaces to visit Prague

The building (Schwarzenberský palác) that faces Prague Castle is certainly the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Prague. It was built between 1545 and 1563 by Agostino Galli (known as Vlach). The entire facade is covered with Venetian-style sgraffito and diamond-tipped boss designs, the typical decorative element of this period, which is very nice to see from the side of Hradčanské Square and from Malá Strana's Nerudova Street where the perspective changes completely. The galleries of the Schwarzenberg Palace provide a prestigious setting for part of the wonderful art collection of the National Gallery. The other part is now on display in the Sternberg Palace. The exhibition, which will open in 2022, will showcase the works of both Czech and European Old Masters. The exhibition will feature magnificent paintings from various schools and periods from the pre-Renaissance to the Baroque. The national painter Karel Škréta (1610-1674), who is considered to have introduced Baroque painting to Prague, has his own room dedicated to him, with fifteen masterpieces to discover.

Like other buildings in the National Gallery, the visit is as much about the works on display as it is about the building itself. Be sure to look up regularly to admire the splendidly carved ceilings, and don't miss the stucco decorations, mirrors, floors and fireplaces that embellish each room.

The Lobkowicz Palace houses the National Museum's historical exhibition. It is located in the grounds of Prague Castle, in an alleyway that connects the third courtyard of the castle with Golden Lane. It's a large palace built in Renaissance style in the second half of the ^16th century and remodeled in Baroque style by Carlo Lurago a century later. Today, you can learn about Czech history here, as the palace houses the largest exhibition of its kind.

The monumental Wallenstein Palace, built between 1623 and 1629, dominates the right part of the square and Valdštejnská Street. You can see his portrait inside, in the knights' room. Italian artists were mainly involved in the construction of the palace. It is a late Renaissance building where the first manifestations of the Baroque period can be felt, particularly in the sala terrena of the garden. The palace houses the Senate and is not open to the public.