Quarter

Santini Residence is situated in the heart of one of the oldest Prague parts – Lesser Town, quarter known for its unrepeatable magic, picturesque little streets and typical red roofs.
Quarter famous for its Cafés, so favourite among Prague artists. Quarter full of small galleries, theatres, bars, but also unknown corners, which are waiting for you to explore them. Lesser Town however got to people's attention thanks to house emblems, which decorate the face of the houses for ages.

Nerudova Street

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

Historical house portals, antique decorated doors, locks and above all historical house emblems are very interesting. In the middle of the street, there used to stand until 1711 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 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. In Czech equivalent then Ostruhová street until the end of 19^th century.

After the death of a writer and a poet Jan Neruda (1834 – 1891), who lived in a 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.