Neighbourhood

Santini Residence is situated in Nerudova street – one of the streets of the Royal Road, in the heart of one of the oldest and most romantic Prague parts – the Lesser Town, part known for its unprecedented magic, picturesque little streets and typical red roofs.
The Lesser Town is famous for its Cafés, favourite among Prague artists. There are plenty of small galleries, theatres, bars, but also unknown corners, which are waiting for you to discover them. However, Lesser Town is reputed above all for its house emblems, which decorate the façades of the houses over ages.

Nerudova street

It leads from the upper corner of the Lesser Town Square up the hill in the general direction of Prague Castle. The upper end of the street is connected to Town hall stairs and Úvoz street. It used to be the main way to the Castle, and formed part of the Royal Road. It is architectonically the most significant Lesser Town route, on its buildings, there are mainly baroque façades, and Gothic basements are preserved in some houses.

Historical house portals, antiquely decorated doors, door handles and above all historical house emblems are all very interesting. Until 1711 there used to stand, right in the middle of the street, the Strahov gate with battlement and drawbridge, also called Black or Hansturkovská based on the name of the owner of a nearby restaurant, Hans Turek. The Gate belonged to the Lesser Town fortification from the Přemysl II. era, which separated Lesser Town from Hradčany and Strahov. From 14^th to 17^th century, there used to be two streets. Upper west part of the street Při Úvozu was called Na Dláždění. Lower part of today’s Nerudova street was called Strahovská until the middle of 17^th century, afterwards German Sparrengasse, which translates into Czech as Ostruhová street, which it remained until the end of 19^th century.

After the death of the writer and poet Jan Neruda (1834 – 1891), who lived in the House of Two Suns, the street was renamed Nerudova. More than 100 years ago, there was a plan to build up a cog rail thru this steeply ascending street, but fortunately, the project was rejected. From 1973 Nerudova street is reserved for pedestrians.