Summer Archbishop's Palace
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The Summer Archbishop's Palace or Summer Archiepiscopal Palace (Slovak: Letný arcibiskupský palác) is a palace in Bratislava which houses the government of Slovakia (the Slovak Republic Government Office).
The palace was originally in the 17th century a Renaissance summer seat for the archbishops of Esztergom (since Esztergom had been occupied by the Ottoman Empire in 1543, the archbishops were based in Bratislava).
In 1761-1765, Austrian architect F. A. Hillebrandt had it converted into a large Baroque palace. Also, Rococo style decorations, a Rococo fence and a yard of honour were added. The sculptor Joseph Rafael Donner had a studio in the palace garden.
The palace garden with many of its precious decorations and statues ceased in the 19th century, when the palace was turned into a military hospital. Most of the statutes were lost; the St. John statue now stands in the courtyard of the Primate's Palace, and the statues of atlants are in the town of Kittsee.
Today, the restored palace with its English garden houses the government of Slovakia (see External links).
