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Dietrichstein Palace brno
The Palace situated in the upper part of Vegetable Market (Zelný trh)
is named after Cardinal František Prince of Dietrichstein for whom it was
designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla in 1614–1620
on the site of five medieval houses of burghers. Originally an early Baroque
building it was redesigned in the first half of the 17th century by Domenico
Martinelli; only the bearing walls and some of the vaulting were preserved.
Worthy of attention is particularly Martinelli’s entrance portal and the
vestibule. In the course of time Dietrichstein Palace went through numerous
changes which culminated in the first third of the 20th century when
an additional storey was built. However it was removed during later
conservation reconstruction and the Baroque appearance of the exterior
of the building was restored as faithfully as possible. Today the building is the
seat of the Moravian Land Museum.
Opening hours: all the year round; closed on Mo and Su
Zelný trh 8, 659 37 Brno
www.mzm.cz
Italian influence on Moravia has been seen since the 9th century. At
first it was associated with Christianisation of the Slavonic population;
however with the development of commercial relations and trade
routes the influence was rather cultural and political.
People used to travel to the Apennine peninsula to gain professional
knowledge and skill and in the opposite direction experts from Italy
came to our country. An important event was the reform of the Czech
currency to groschen; in 1300 Czech King Václav II. entrusted the
financiers of Florence to carry out this commission.
From the mid-14th century the principles of early humanism began to
develop; among the fervent supporters of this line of thought was the
Margrave of Brno, Jošt. We have evidence of the spreading of Italian
culture, among others, also in musical documents preserved in the
archives of Kroměříž, Olomouc and Brno.
However the actual boom broke out in the 16th century when a number
of Italian architects, sculptors and stonecutters began to arrive leaving
their mark in Moravia. To the present day we admire their Renaissance
and early Baroque monuments.
Domenico Martinelli
(*1650 Lucca, Tuscany – † 1718 ibidem)
Italian Baroque priest and architect worked not only in his homeland, but also in Moravia, Bohemia
and the Netherlands. Many of his buildings can be seen in the towns Rousínov, Letonice, Uherský Brod
and Bzenec. He built the castles in Slavkov, Valtice and Milotice; one of his most important buildings
is indisputably the palace of the Liechtenstein family in Vienna.
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Bishop’s Courtyard Brno
The Parnassus Fountain Brno
In the immediate neighbourhood of Dietrichstein Palace, below the Cathedral
of St. Peter and St. Paul, is Bishop’s Courtyard, once the residence of the
probost of the Brno Chapter which the Bishop of Olomouc purchased in 1588
and commissioned extensive remodelling in Renaissance style in which
Antonio Gabri took part.
Just like his elder brother Pietro he was an architect and master stonemason.
He settled in Brno as a journeyman, here he purchased his first house and with
his wife Mary he brought up 4 children. Ten years later he obtained freedom
of the town and was hired as master of the guild of stonemasons.
Gabri took part in the rebuilding of the tower of the Old Town Hall;
after his brother’s death he put the finishing touches to the provincial court
of law, the Jesuit College and the Augustinian monastery. He renovated
a number of houses in Brno which he then sold. He also elevated the tower
of St. James Church by “a few fathoms”. His most important building in Brno
is Schwanz House (today the House of the Lords of Lipé).
Among the stalls of greengrocers who, as tradition has it, occupy the square
on workdays, the Baroque Parnassus Fountain, from which a craggy rock
is growing, stands out. Towering at the top is a statue of Europe on a vanquished
dragon holding a sceptre; around her are three other allegoric figures
of Greece, Persia and Babylonia, a winged lion, bear and other small animals
and tiny dragons.
This unique example of Baroque naturalism and illusionism was built
to the design of Jan Bernard Fischer of Erlach, the author of the grotto is Adam
Tobiáš Kracker from Vienna who, together with Anton Riga and some Italian
sculptors whose names are unknown, is also the author of some of the
sculptural decorations.
Opening hours: all the year round, closed on Mo and Su
Muzejní 1, 602 00 Brno
www.mzm.cz
Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla
Italian architect who worked in Moravia until 1638. Apart from remodelling the Dietrichstein Palace
in Brno he is the author of a number of other important buildings such as the Loretto Chapel
in Mikulov, Lednice Castle, church and castle in Valtice and the Pauline cloister in Vranov near Brno.
His brother, the stucco worker Giovanni Tencalla, teamed up with him for instance to decorate the
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Valtice.
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Opening hours: freely accessible
Vegetable Market (Zelný trh), Brno
Jan Kapistrán
(* 1385 Naples area, Italy – 1456 Ilok, Croatia of today)
The pulpit on the outer northern side of the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is a reminder
of the activities of the Franciscan monk. Originally governor of Perugia, on the death of the king
of Naples he was removed from power and imprisoned; after his release he joined the order and began
his missionary journeys. With his impressive sermons he was extremely successful in Italy, Germany,
Poland, Hungary, and in the Czech Lands. In Moravia he was instrumental in establishing the Franciscan
order of barefooted monks. However his particular task was to convert the Hussites back to Catholicism.
He allegedly managed to convert some 16 thousand brothers.
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Canell’s House Brno
Old Town Hall Brno
In the charming alleyway which descends down to what is called the Malý
Špalíček (the “Little Block”) in which Andrea Erna, father of architect Jan
Křtitel, participated, we see a well-preserved portal from 1596. The author
is the then owner of the house, master stonemason Francesco Canevale.
We can still make out his coat of arms on the front of the house. He obtained
the building by marriage with a widow of another famous Italian stonemason
Antonio Silva who came from Morbia Inferiore in the Swiss canton
of Ticino.
Today the visitors of the Royal Ricc hotel can admire this historical building
in which the hotel is seated.
The oldest secular building in Brno is associated with the names of several
Italian master builders. The part of the building with the tower was built
as early as the 13th century; two centuries later master Antonín Pilgram
created the typical portal with the crooked pinnacle.
Extensive reconstruction was carried out in the 16th century, much by
Antonio and Pietro Gabri. Pietro elevated the tower by almost four meters
and around it a gallery and dome with steeples. The two brothers also built
the charming arcade courtyard gallery, the portal into the town treasury,
the Renaissance stairway leading to the tower and the adjoining building
of the court of law.
The Italian stonecutter Antonio Silva restored the original Pilgram’s portal
and designed the corbels, balusters and pillars on the tower. The coloured
stained-glass dates from 1893 and was created to the templates with Italian
patterns of book paintings; Italian themes and ancient allegories based
on Roman law can also be seen on the wall paintings (1790) in the Renaissance
courtroom.
The building was damaged during the siege of the Swedish army and builder
Jan Křtitel Erna was commissioned to repair the building.
Based on a legend the dragon of Brno – the “dragon” suspended in the passage
of the Old Town Hall, is connected with merchants of Venice who were said to
have brought the skin of a crocodile, at that time an unknown animal.
Opening hours: the outside is freely accessible, interiors and tower IV–X
Radnická 8
602 00 Brno
http://www.kultura-brno.cz/radnice.php
http://www.hrady.cz/index.php?OID=1967
Starobrněnská 10
602 00 Brno
http://www.hotelsprague.cz/hotels-brno/hotel-royal-ricc-brno-c.php
Francesco Canevale
(* ? – † 1606 Brno)
He came from north Italy to Brno in 1580. In the period from 1597 to 1600 he ran his own stonecutting
works and died in Brno. He derived his name from the Italian word canelle – cinnamon tree which
he depicted in his coat of arms. He took part in the reconstruction of the Old and New Town Hall
and Schwanz House.
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Antonio and Pietro Gabri
(* ? Lombardy – † 1593 Brno; * ? Lombardy – † 1585, Brno)
The brothers probably come from Lombardy and among their Italian, German and Swiss colleagues
with whom they came to Moravia in the late 16 th century they were indeed striking figures. The
place where they learned the art of building is unknown; however the style of their work points
to a north-Italian school of architecture. To Brno they brought with them the fresh spirit of the
Renaissance. They both settled in Brno permanently and both died here.
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New Town Hall Brno
Schwanz’s House Brno
Once the centre of land administration where the Moravian estates met
and courts held sessions it took over from its “Old” colleague in 1935 and since
then has been called the New Town Hall.
The complex of buildings consists of part of the medieval Dominican
monastery with a Gothic cloister. The impressive Renaissance staircase
and the assembly halls were made by the Gabri brothers in 1582 to 1583
at the request of the Moravian aristocracy. In the same period Giorgio
Gialdi created the sculptural decorations. In the 18th century Ercole Gaetano
Fanti the Austrian painter of Italian origin added to the attractiveness
of the prestige rooms; apart from other works he is also the author
of the copy of Rubens’s painting of the Assumption of Our Lady above the altar
in the church in Valtice.
Moritz Grimm is the author of the later reconstruction in Baroque style.
Today the building is the seat of the municipal administrative bodies – the
Lord Mayor and the Brno Municipal Council; also the local authorities and
council meet here.
The Church of St. Michael adjoins the New Town Hall which was reconstructed
in the 17th century in Baroque style to the design of Jan Křtitel Erna.
The owner of the present House of the Lords of Lipé Kryštof Schwanz the wine
merchant had the building remodelled in Renaissance style. The renowned
architect Antonio Gabri was responsible for the modifications which were
carried out in 1589 to 1596 and Giorgio Gialdi, another Italian artist,
for the sculptural decorations in mannerism style. To the present day we
admire scenes on ancient, biblical and working themes on the frontage.
One of the later prominent owners of the house was the commander
of the defenders of Brno against the Swedish army Luis Raduit de Souches.
At the end of WW2 the building was heavily damaged and in the following
50 years dilapidated. It was completely restored in 2005. Today the House
of the Lords of Lipé houses a shopping mall with many small shops and coffee
bars attracting visitors to lounge in the roofed courtyard.
Opening hours: freely accessible
Dům pánů z Lipé
náměstí Svobody 15
602 00 Brno
www.dpl.cz
Opening hours: the outside is freely accessible, interiors on special occasions
Dominikánské náměstí 1
602 00 Brno
www.brno.cz /index.php?nav01=2222&nav02=6&obrazek=57
The grosch (“penny”) reform
In 1300 King Václav II decided to entrust three bankers from Florence to carry out a currency reform.
“The King sent to Florence for conscientious experts, that is to say Reinhard, Alfardo and Cynon
of Lombardy, who were so experienced in such matters that with benefit they were able to
operate such an important task. And so in the year of Our Lord 1300 in the month of July the coins
of the Prague groschen and small coins counting twelve to the grosch were introduced, and each
coin was marked with the name of Václav who launched them“, can be read in the Zbraslav Chronicle
from the early 14th century.
For their well done work the masters of the mint Rinieri, Appard and Cino acquired considerable
property in Brno. Appard became Lord of the castle in Černá Hora.
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Giorgio Gialdi
(* ? – † before 1622)
Italian sculptor working in Moravia from 1582. He created the sculptures on the portal of the Chapel
of St. Stanislav of the Cathedral in Olomouc. In Brno he is said to be the author of the now nonexistent fountain with statues of the Four Elements, decorations of Schwanz’s House and the Wedding
(formerly Knight’s) Hall of the New Town Hall. He also remodelled the northern bastion of the castle
in Mikulov into a prestige hall.
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The Noblewomen’s Institute
Church of St. Thomas
and Governor’s Palace Brno
Jan Křtitel Erna was commissioned to build an educational institute for girls
of noble families with funds from the legacy of Countess Johanna Františka
Priski Magnis. Between 1674 and 1679 he built a two-storey Baroque palace
in the centre of the town with a bay turret. A century later an additional
storey was built by V. J. Eitelberger and connected with the neighbouring
Althan Palace which was damaged during WW2 to such an extent that it had
to be pulled down. However the Noblewomen’s Institute was salvaged and
was restored to its original shape to the design of Professor Bohuslav Fuchs.
In the interior you can see the chapel with late-Baroque frescoes and you
can visit exhibitions which are staged by the Ethnographic Institute of the
Moravian Land Museum. The building has been declared a historic landmark.
The former Augustinian monastery was founded by Moravian margrave Jan
Jindřich of the Luxembourg family in 1350. Damaged during the Thirty-Year’s
War a new Baroque triple-nave church was built between 1665 and 1675
to the design of Jan Křtitel Erna, architect of Italian origin. Of the original
furnishings the stone Pieta from around 1385 has been preserved, probably
by Jindřich Parléř.
The founder of the monastery and his son the Margrave Jošt are both buried
in the church; their statues adorn the neighbouring Governor’s Palace, the
former prelature. The author of the sculptures is Josef Leonard Weber; in the
18th century Moritz Grimm reconstructed the monastery and prelature. At
present the building houses collections of the Moravian Gallery.
Brno
Church of St. Thomas
Opening hours: all the year round
Moravské náměstí 1, 602 00 Brno
http://www.volny.cz/sv.tomas-brno
Governor’s Palace
Opening hours: all the year round, closed on Mo and Tu
Moravské náměstí 1, 602 00 Brno
http://www.moravska-galerie.cz/cs/moravska-galerie-v-brne/budovy/
mistodrzitelsky-palac
Opening hours: all the year round, closed on Mo and Su
Kobližná 1
659 37 Brno
www.mzm.cz
Jan Křtitel Erna
(* cca1625 Brno – † 1698 ibidem)
His father Andrea Erna came to Brno from the Milan region in the early 17 th century, settled here
as burgher and master of the mason’s and stonecutter’s guild. After his death the commissions
were taken over by his son who was an architect, author, builder, enterpriser and master bricklayer
all in one person. Inspired by the early Baroque of Vienna and by Italian temple patterns he created
many important works; the most noticeable ones in Brno are the portals of the Church of St. Thomas
and the Jesuit College, and the Noblewomen’s Institute. He also took part in the remodelling
of the Old Town Hall. We should not forget his activities outside Brno, castles and church buildings
in Tuřany, Valtice, Lednice and Jaroměřice.
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“Moravian” Jošt of the Luxembourg family
(* 1351 Brno – † 1411 ibidem)
Nephew of Charles IV, Moravian Margrave, elector of Brandenburg, the general vicar of the Roman
Empire in Italy, was elected Roman king in 1410, but just before the coronation he died. He played
an important role in the architecture and cultural development of Brno, he was in touch with
the early Italian humanists; among others part of his correspondence with Coluccio Saluttati,
Chancellor of Florence, has been preserved.
Italian art in collections of the Moravian Gallery
An integral part of the permanent exhibition “Art from Gothic to the 19th century – The Gaze of Medusa”
is a separate hall devoted to Italian paintings called L’Italia Magnifica – Italian Art of the 14th to 18th
centuries. Among the exhibits is a large panel with St. Francis and St. Sebastian from the 15th century
by Bernard Zangelli, painting of the Dead Christ Mourned Over by Angels ascribed to Paris Bordone,
painter from Venice (16th century), and paintings of Antonello da Saliba, Paolo Pagani, Bernard Strozzi
and Artemisia da Gentileschi.
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Spilberk Castle Brno
The Church of the AssumPtion
of the Virgin Mary Brno-Zábrdovice
In 1209 near the river Svitava Lev of Klobouky founded a Premonstratensian
monastery. In the course of centuries it suffered a number of fires and
destruction was completed during the Swedish siege of Brno in the 17th century.
Remains of the old monastery church were pulled down and in 1661
construction of a new Baroque church began. It was apparently one of the
first designs of the prominent architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla in Moravia.
Builder Pavel Weinberger implemented the design and the church was
completed within a mere 10 years.
Under the rule of Joseph II the monastery was dissolved on the basis
of the Josephinian reform and converted into a military hospital;
up to the present time it is the Military Hospital Brno. The church is
administered by the Roman Catholic Church and serves its original purpose.
The vicarage is seated in the building of the former castle; above the entrance
we still see the coat of arms of Lord Lev the founder of the monastery –
a unicorn and a hat.
Probably the most distinctive dominant of Brno is Spilberk Castle founded
in the mid-13th century on a small, but steep hillock above the historical
centre of the town. The history of this pleasing place, a much-favoured
destination of romantic and family outings to exhibitions, concerts or theatres
with a wonderful vista, is very dark. The connection between Spilberk Castle
and the history of Italy belongs to the unhappy moments.
Originally the Castle was the seat of the rulers of Moravia, but later on its
military importance came to the fore and before the mid-18th century it had
become the most massive and most important Baroque fortress in Moravia.
Nicolaus Peroni, a military engineer and builder of fortresses of Italian
origin, took part in the reconstruction.
In 1783 by decision of Emperor Joseph II the fortress prison acquired a civil
status and was to be used for the worst criminals; soon afterwards political
prisoners were gradually jailed here. In the first half of the 19th century
the cells intended for “state prisoners” newly built in the north wing
of the fortress were occupied by Italian Carbonari who sought the creation
of a unified, liberal and independent Italy. Among them was the poet
Silvio Pellico, music composer Pietro Maroncelli and journalist Federico
Confalonieri. At the entrance to the casemates is a plaque with the names
of all the imprisoned Carbonari and members of the Young Italy movement
and at the foot of the Spilberk hill is a memorial of the Italian martyrs.
Opening hours: casemates I–VI, IX–XII closed on Mu, VII–VIII daily
Špilberk 1, 662 24 Brno
www.spilberk.cz
Opening hours: all the year round
Lazaretní ulice
615 00 Brno-Zábrdovice
www.zabrdovice.cz
Nicolaus Peroni (Pieroni)
(* ? – † 1745 Brno)
Of Italian origin he came from a family of builders of fortresses. He was land engineer in the rank
of colonel and he saw to the construction of the Baroque fortification of Brno and Spilberk
in the first half of the 18th century. One century earlier his ancestor Giovanni Battista Pieroni had taken
part in the innovation of the fortification.
Giovanni Pietro Tencalla
(* 1629 Bissone, Ticino Canton, Switzerland of today – † 1702 ibidem)
The Italian-Swiss architect is author of a number of important secular and church buildings. In our
country the most important are the Hradisko monastery, Church of St. Michael and the Archbishop’s
Palace in Olomouc, Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Svatý Kopeček, and
participation in building the castles in Kroměříž, Vyškov and Valtice.
Silvio Pellico
(* 1789 Saluzzo, Italy – † 1854 Turin, Italy)
Poet, playwright, prose writer and journalist wrote down his involuntary stay in Spilberk in his book
“Le mie Prigioni” (My Prison). He was condemned for high treason and was released after 8 years in jail.
The street in Brno below the hill on which this former prison towers is named after him.
Pietro Maroncelli
(* 1796 Forli, Italy – † 1846 New York, USA)
Master of music and beaux arts he was a member of the Carbonari movement. He arrived at Spilberk
at the age of 26 years as a convict sentenced to death for high treason; later his death sentence
was commuted to 20 years of penal servitude. In Spilberk jail he lost his leg and eventually
after 10 years he was granted a pardon. He is the author of the text on the memorial of Italian martyrs
at Spilberk. “Sons of Italy condemned by Austrian undercover committees outside the law on Italian
soil to death as Carbonari”.
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The Church of the Annunciation
to the Virgin Mary Brno-Tuřany
Tunnels
in the Svitava River valley
Tuřany is one of the oldest places of pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary
in Moravia. Legend has it that here the people hid a statue of the Mother
of God which the apostles Cyril and Metodus had brought to Velehrad.
In 1050 when Horák, a farmer from Chrlice, was on his way home from the
fields he beheld a blaze of light coming out of a thorny rose bush. Inside he
discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary with the child Christ. Processions of
pilgrims headed to the place of the finding and so the original Romanesque
church had to be restored. Between 1693 and 1698 Jan Křtitel Erna built an
early Baroque Chapel of St. Anna to the north of it which served the Jesuits.
The church got its present appearance in the 19th century when the
monumental frontage and two tall belfries were added after the chapel
was extended.
In 1843 to 1849 on the north-east margin of Brno a system of railway tunnels
emerged which was built to improve railway connections to the Moravian
Carst.
The construction of 11 tunnels and 60 bridges of a total length of 1994
meters was planned for the line between Brno and Česká Třebová. The Italian
entrepreneur Felice Tallachini was granted the commission for the stretch
from Brno to Blansko on the basis of a public tender. The construction involved
3000 workers and 200 Italian experts were in charge of the tunnelling working
non-stop day and night. Every day they moved ahead 20 centimetres.
The tunnels had empire portals made of white blocks, the massive cornice
in the upper part was supported by an ancon and above it a smooth wall
towered which was pointed in the middle and evoked the impression
of a small roof. In the 1950’s the tunnels were gradually widened and their
appearance perished, some were even closed. The last to be dismantled
was the Obřany tunnel; regrettably the original intention to build the
portal in a suitable place was called off. The only preserved tunnel
is the Novohradský tunnel where the smart work of our ancestors can be seen
to the present day.
Opening hours: all the year round
Hanácká ulice
620 00 Brno
www.turany.cz
http://www.sweb.cz/farnost.turany
Egbert Belcredi
(* 1816 Jimramov – † 1894 Brno)
The owner of the Líšeň estates and descendant of the Belcredi family, who came from Lombardy
in Italy, was an enlightened aristocrat and patriot. He is regarded to be the most important
Moravian politician of his times. He was a supporter of a legal state programme of the Czech nation
and he supported Moravian interests. He became chairman of the Matice moravská (Moravian
Foundation) and Katolicko-politická jednota (Catholic-Political Association) in Brno, the Moravská
orlice (Moravian Eagle) and he played an important role in the building of the Besední dům (Assembly
House). One street in Líšeň bears his name and also the castle which the family was given back under
the terms of restitution.
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Opening hours: freely accessible monument
http://spz.logout.cz/infra/obrany.html
Jan Petr Cerroni
(* 1753 Uherské Hradiště – † 1826 Brno)
His father was a wealthy Italian businessman from Lombardy who came to live in Uherské Hradiště.
Jan Petr studied philosophy and law and became the Moravian-Silesian guberniyal secretary.
His interest in history and experience in administration of confiscated property encouraged
him to attempt to preserve various documents which gave rise to a collection of rare material
which is now the source of valuable information for researchers. Part of the collection is kept
in the Moravian Land Archive and in the Archives of the City of Brno.
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CASTLE Rosice
Castle Moravský Krumlov
The Castle in late Renaissance style dominates the skyline of the town
Rosice lying 20 km west of Brno and towers on the hill above the confluence
of the Bobrava River and Říčanský Brook.
A four-wing building it stands around an Italian-style inner courtyard,
remarkable for its preserved vaults, paintings and arcade passage with
embossments after Italian models from the Renaissance era, and Baroque
cabinets with stucco decorations.
The castle was most probably built by the Italian architect Leonard Garo
de Bisono and debts that were discovered for work in Rosice also point
to the stonecutter Francesco Canevale. The sculptural decorations
are preserved only in part and are usually ascribed to the group of the Italian
master Giorgio Gialdi.
In the 16th century the original Gothic castle was rebuilt in Renaissance style;
the gem of the castle is the courtyard with arcades based on Genoese palace
architecture. The then owners of the castle, the Lords of Lipé, chose the Italian
architect Leonard Gara de Bisono as the head designer. Major changes
were carried out only 200 years later when the Liechtenstein family ordered
remodelling in Baroque style, building an English-style garden, chapel
and Classicist family vault.
The castle today is private property and only the Knight’s Hall is open;
here the monumental cycle of paintings based on the history of the Czech
nation called the Slavonic Epopee created by Alfons Mucha between 1910
and 1928 is installed.
Opening hours: IV and X on weekends, V–IX closed on Mo
Žerotínovo náměstí
665 01 Rosice
www.zamek.rosice.cz
Opening hours: IV–X, closed on Mo
Klášterní nám. 125
672 11 Moravský Krumlov
www.mkrumlov.cz
Francis of Paolo
(* 1416 Paolo, Italy – † 1507 Plessis-lès-Tours, France)
Italian hermit and founder of the monastic order of the Lesser Pauline Brothers who in 1992 returned
to the monastery in Vranov near Brno after a period of 200 years. The early Baroque parish church
of the Nativity of Our Lady from the first third of the 17th century is a unique landmark. Andrea Erna
built it to the design of Giovanni Maria Filippi.
Leonard Garo de Bisono
(* 1528 Bisono, Bissone, Switzerland of today – † 1574 Moravský Krumlov)
He came from a family of architects from a village near the Lugano Lake in what was then Italy. In
the 1950’s a tombstone with his sculpted portrait was discovered in the parish Church of All Saints in
Moravský Krumlov. Other members of his family also worked in Moravia, for instance Francesco Garo
in Dačice.
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Castle Ivančice
Church of the Name of Our Lady
Křtiny
Not only Brno has its House of the Lords of Lipé – the Town Hall in Ivančice
bears the same name and is decorated with the coats of arms of this noble
family. The Italian architect Antonio di Valdi together with Italian stonecutters
remodelled the originally Gothic stronghold into a Renaissance town
palace for his friend, rope-maker and real estate agent, Simon Pírek.
The square-based building resembles a typical Italian mansion and
prides itself on the lavishly decorated portal by Gialdi. At the present time
the building is the seat of the municipal offices.
Křtiny is usually called the entrance gate to the Moravian Karst; from of old
it has been an important place of pilgrimage to Our Lady. Originally
there were two medieval churches there but in the early18thcentury they
were found inadequate to accommodate the increasing numbers of pilgrims.
In 1718 the Abbot of the monastery in Zábrdovice commissioned Jan
Blažej Santini Aichel to completely rebuild the estate. He was successful in
accomplishing the demands of the Premonstratensians for a spacious church
sensitively integrated into the surrounding landscape and he built a new
Baroque church; the ground plan is a Greek cross in a concentric circle where
the passage of light through the space plays an important role.
Although the design had to be changed due to shortage of funds and
remained partly unfinished, this Baroque gem is Santini’s masterpiece.
Opening hours: during office hours
Palackého náměstí 6
664 91 Ivančice
www.muzeumbrnenska.cz
www.ivancice.cz
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Řeznovice
In the Ivančice town district Řeznovice we find a monument of European importance, a Romanesque
style chapel built around 1160 by the Přemyslide Conrad Otto. In its character it corresponds
to the style of buildings in Lombardy in north Italy from the same period. In terms of its architecture
it comes closest to the chapel in Regensburg in Bavaria in Germany.
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Opening hours: all the year round
679 05 Křtiny
http://krtiny.katolik.cz
www.santini.cz
Jan Blažej Santini Aichel
(* 1677 Prague – † 1723 ditto)
He was born as a member of the third generation of Italian stonecutters and masons naturalised
in Prague. He was slight in build and physically handicapped due to which he did not continue in
the family tradition but he learned to paint; the more imperfect his physique, the more unique his
spiritual contribution to architecture. He was to become the father of the Baroque-Gothic style and his
workshop produced genuine gems of architecture: the pilgrimage church on the Zelená hora Hill in
Žďár nad Sázavou entered on the UNESCO list, the monastery convent in Plasy, monastic churches in
Kladruby, Želiva, Sedlec near Kutná Hora, the Karlova Koruna Castle and a number of others.
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Church of the Visitation
OF THE Blessed Virgin Mary
Provost’s Church
of St. Peter and St. Paul
Rajhrad
Lomnice u Tišnova
The history of this church is linked with efforts to promote the Rajhrad
provostry to an abbacy. Jan Blažej Santini Aichel was commissioned to
work out the design at the time when it appeared that chances were good.
The building progressed relatively quickly even though the foundations
of the monumental church had to be mounted on wooden piles and grid
because of the bad subsoil. However Santini did not live to see the finished
building, he died a mere year after construction work had begun. Today
the monastery houses the Museum of Literature in Moravia.
In the late 17th century, when the Lomnice domain passed into the hands
of the new owner, František Count Serenyi, he decided to build a new church
in Baroque style instead of the existing medieval one.
The Italian architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla was commissioned to work
out the design and work began in 1669. Pavel Wimberg was recommended
as the builder on the basis of references from the church in Zábrdovice.
However under his management the work dragged on and in the end he was
dismissed and work was taken over by Jan Křtitel Erna who partly modified
the original design.
The church was completed in 1682 and consecrated one year later.
Opening hours: all the year round, the Museum is closed on Mo
Museum of Literature in Moravia
Klášter 1
664 61 Rajhrad
Opening hours: occasionally
nám. Palackého 73
679 23 Lomnice
www.farnostlomnice.cz
Antonín Aichel
The grandfather of renowned Jan Blažej came from the small town of Roveredo which lies on the banks
of Lake Lugano. At that time the name of his native town was Aichel and in Bohemia Antonín added
it to his name. In 1635 at his wedding in Prague, architects Carlo Lurago and Santini de Bossi were his
witnesses. Later they were godfathers to his son Santini Aichel, father of Jan Blažej.
The Moravian Miramare
Industrialist Richard Ježek was fascinated by the charm of the Italian castle Miramare on the coast
of the Adriatic Sea near Trieste to that extent that in Blansko he had the administration building
and factory water tank built in the same style. The Windsor-style building was built to the design
of Jaromír Roučka. The monument is located on Svitavská Street and is not open to the public.
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Synagogue maior Boskovice
Castle Vyškov
The Grand Synagogue was built by the Italian architect Sylvester Fiota
who designed it at the request of the local Jewish community. By the end
of the century it was deemed too small; it was extended, rebuilt to become
a model for Baroque synagogues in Bohemia and Moravia.
A few years ago the dilapidating building underwent needful reconstruction
and since 2002 has been open to the public. It houses the exhibition
“The Jewish Town in Boskovice”. Across the road in the cellar of the house
By the Temple 3/5 is a preserved ritual bath, the mikve.
Today’s appearance of the originally Gothic castle dates back to the 17th
century to the time of Bishop Charles II of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn; it was
built to the design of architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. First the standing
two-storey part was remodelled (1665 to 1675), later another wing was added
(1680 to 1862).
At the present time the Renaissance castle houses the Museum of the Vyškov
Region with temporary exhibitions and eight permanent exhibitions of the
archaeological, historical, ethnographic and artistic collections.
Opening hours: IV–X
Traplova ulice
680 01 Boskovice
www.boskovice.cz/muzeum
Opening hours: V–X closed on Mo, XI–IV closed on Mo, Sa and Su
nám. Čs. armády 2
682 01 Vyškov
http://muzeum.vyskov.cz
Sylvestr Fiota
Italian builder from Chiavenna settled in Boskovice in 1598. He married, purchased two houses
and became a burgher. Apart from the Grand Synagogue he was involved in Renaissance-style
modifications of the Boskovice Castle and the church tower.
Churches in Rousínov
Architect Domenico Martinelli left his footprint in nearby Rousínov as well. He is the author of the
Church of St. Mary Magdalena which was engineered by Gulio Tini. The Church of St. Wenceslas in
Rousínovec was probably also influenced by Martinelli’s style and was built by his fellow worker Peter
Giulietti who came from the Milan duchy. Not far off, above the vineyards of Slavkov, towers the
chapel of the patron saint of vintners St. Urban. It was pulled down and in 1861 with only small
alterations built again to the original design of Martinelli.
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Castle Ivanovice na Hané
Church of the Assumption
of Our Lady Vyškov
The late Gothic church from the mid-15th century is a landmark of the town.
The Chapel of St. Otillie was added in 1690 and is lavishly decorated with
stuccoes by Italian artist Baltazar Fontana. In the following years the church
was destroyed by fire and was not repaired until the 18th century when the
western tower was added and the nave was remodelled in Baroque style to
the design of architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla.
The town lies less than 10 km from Vyškov and is proud of its more than
thousand-year history. The most important historical buildings – the Baroque
Church of St. Andrew and the Castle – are located in the centre of the town.
The late Renaissance appearance of the Castle is the result of extensive
reconstruction from the time when the owner was the Bukuvky family of
Bukuvky who commissioned the Italian builder Antonio Lorenzo Pariz
in 1608. The building was extended adding three two-storey wings with arcade
galleries and Tuscan columns. Jan Foncun is the author of the stonecutting
elements, coats of arms and inscriptions.
At present the Castle is awaiting urgent reconstruction and is closed to the
public.
Opening hours: all the year round (during church service)
Kostelní ulice
682 01 Vyškov
www.vyskov-mesto.cz
Baltazar Fontana
(* Chiasso, Switzerland of today – † 1733 ditto)
Baroque Italian sculptor and stucco-worker of the Baroque; apart from his homeland he also worked
in Moravia and Poland. His works can be seen in the Archbishop’s Castle in Kroměříž, in castles
in Uherčice, Vřesovice and Šebetov, in the Velehrad monastery, in the church of St. Michael, Hradisko
Monastery, the Archbishop’s Palace in Olomouc and the Svatý Kopeček Basilica.
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Wiedermannova ul.
683 23 Ivanovice na Hané
Antonio Lorenzo Pariz
Italian builder who worked in Brno from 1590 to 1608. He also took part in remodelling the Brno Castle
Spilberk after the fire in 1578 and he rebuilt the Castle in Kuřim.
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Castle Slavkov u Brna
Castle Bučovice
Transformation of the medieval stronghold into one of the most important
Baroque castles in Moravia lasted more than half a century. The reconstruction
commenced at the turn of the 17th century to the design of Domenico
Martinelli, followed by Ignác Valmaggini, Viennese architect of Italian
origin, and was finally completed by builder Václav Petruzzi in 1752.
Decorating the inside of the building lasted a further 15 years and was also
accomplished by Italian artists – the author of the frescoes is Andrea Lanzani
who worked together with stucco-worker Santino Bussi.
The Renaissance gardens with a flower parterre and orangery and Lanzani’s
frescoes and statues by Giovanni Giuliani were built at the same time
as the castle. Their appearance changed over the centuries and was partly
recovered to its original Baroque style in the 1970s.
The castle premises in Bučovice stand as a unique example of Italian
Renaissance of the entire transalpine region. In contrast to other castles
it was not remodelled in Renaissance style but was build as a new building
to the design of Jacopo Strada, the imperial architect and keeper of art
collections of the Habsburg family.
In the arcade courtyard we see 19 columns decorated with 540 relieves
bearing motifs of war, coats of arms, chimerical animals and creatures,
mascarons and musical instruments. The interior decorations are in
Mannerism style and in the courtyard is a splendid fountain in the same style
made by Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla. Elia Canavale and Antonio Silva
are authors of the stone-cutting work.
Opening hours: VI–VIII daily, IV–V and IX–XI closed on Mo, XII–III as per order
Palackého nám. 1
684 01 Slavkov u Brna
www.zamek-slavkov.cz
Opening hours: IV a X on weekends, V–IX closed on Mo
Zámek 1
658 01 Bučovice
www.bucovice-zamek.cz
Santino Bussi
(* 1666 Bissone, today Switzerland – † 1736 Vienna, Austria)
Italian stucco-worker who lived and worked primarily in Vienna, he belongs to the representatives
of high Baroque. In our country his works can be seen for instance in Slavkov Castle, in Koloděje
and in the Clam-Gallas Palace in the Old Town quarter in Prague.
New castles in Nesovice
On the way from Brno to Bučovice on the left-hand side you will see a lovely light-coloured building.
It is a castle coupling the elements of the Italian manor and the “barco” villa and is made unusual
by unique volute roof gables and so-called swallow tails. This almost 500-year-old structure is a private
building and is not open to the public.
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Castle Buchlovice
Pilgrimage site with Basilica
OF THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY
and St. Cyril and St. Method Velehrad
Many legends are connected with this gem among Baroque manors
of the nobility. One of them claims that Jan Dětřich of Petřvald had the castle
built for his wife because she longed for a residence which would remind
her of her native Italy in contrast to the cold Buchlov castle. The truth
is that Agnes Eleonora of Colonna-Fels had Italian ancestors but she herself
came from the Tyrol.
In any case in 1699 the model for the building was indeed the Italian
“villa rustica”. Opinions as to the identity of the architect differ; even such
famous names as Domenico Martinelli or Carlo Fontana have been
mentioned. Baltazar Fontana is the author of the stucco decorations.
An extensive park is an integral part of the whole complex with two
buildings separated by a courtyard, the lower castle serving as the residence
and the upper castle intended for farming purposes. The originally
Italian garden was later on remodelled in French style and in the end
transformed in sentimental style.
Originally a Cistercian monastery it was built at the pilgrimage site, today
one of the most important in Morava, as early as the 13th century. At the turn
of the 17th and 18th centuries the grounds with the church in Romanesque
style influenced by early Gothic were remodelled in Baroque style.
Many prominent artists participated in the decorations of the Basilica,
one of the largest in the Czech Republic, among others sculptor and stuccoworker Baltazar Fontana, stone-cutter and marble-worker Andrea Allio
and painters Paulo Pagani and Ignác Raab. The collection of stone statues
“lapidarium” with 500 meters of corridors is also open.
Opening hours: all the year round
Stojanovo nádvoří 206
687 06 Velehrad
www.velehrad.cz
http://velehrad.maticevelehradska.cz
Opening hours: Castle in IV and X and on weekends and holidays,
V–VI and IX closed on Mo, VII–VIII daily; park all the year round
687 08 Buchlovice
www.zamek-buchlovice.cz
Chapel of St. Barbara at Modla
The style of the Chapel harbouring the family vault of the owners of the castle is late Moravian
Mannerism. The building lies about 15 minute on foot from Buchlov and was probably designed by
Giovanni Pietro Tencalla or Jan Křtitel Erna. It was completed in 1672.
Uherské Hradiště
In Uherské Hradiště we can also find traces of activities of Italian artists and architects. The Church
of the Annunciation to the Virgin is decorated with stuccoes from the workshop of Baltazar Fontana
who in 1757 rebuilt the Franciscan monastery where the influence of Italian illusionist paintings
is evident. The Church of St. Francis Xavier was built between 1670 and 1685 by Jan Jeroným Canevalle
to the design of Jan Dominik Orsi.
Uherský Brod
The author of a number of buildings in this town associated with the name of Jan Amos Komenský
is the Italian architect of no lesser fame in his branch, Domenico Martinelli. He modified the lordly
residence “Panský dům” (Manor) in Baroque style (1690). The Baroque columnar hall “Baraník”
(1690 to 1693) and the Church of the Immaculate Conception (1717 to 1733) were built to his design.
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Archbishop’s Palace Kroměříž
Floral Garden Kroměříž
The town is called the Athens of Haná; in 1998 the Castle complex
with gardens of great beauty and historical value were entered on UNESCO’s
list of cultural heritage.
Bishop Karel II. Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn had the early Baroque Archbishop’s
Palace built in 1664 - 1695 to the design of architects Filiberto Lucchese
and Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. The decorations in the Rose Salon are
complemented with paintings of the prominent Italian painter Jacopo Bassan
as well as the walls of the Vassal Hall made of imitation marble; the gilt stucco
decorations and the fireplace were also made by Italian artists.
The castle architects Filiberto Lucchese and Giovanni Pietro Tencalla
created late Renaissance Mannerism gardens behind the fortification walls
of the town. Many Italian artists took part in the decorations, among them
stucco-workers Quirino Castelli and Carlo Borsa and painter Carpoforo
Tencalla.
A park developed on the barren and boggy soil; a spectacular 244-meter long
colonnade with hundreds of antiquity-inspired statues and busts stretches
from the main entrance. The whole area was interwoven with a water system
feeding small ponds, lakes, fountains and what was called “water jokes”.
A rotunda with Foucault’s pendulum is located in the northern part and two
artificial mounds, so-called “Strawberry Hillocks”, dominate the southern
part.
Opening hours: IV and X on weekends and as per order, V–IX closed on Mo
Sněmovní nám. 1
767 01 Kroměříž
www.azz.cz
Opening hours: all the year round
Generála Svobody
767 01 Kroměříž
www.azz.cz
Karel II. Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn
(* 1623 Kladsko Region – † 1695 Olomouc)
The Bishop of Olomouc came from a family originally from South Tyrol in present-time Italy. He also
acted as a secular prince and in his electoral chapters he undertook to build and repair. He kept his
promise to an unprecedented extent. He is called the second founder of Kroměříž. He takes credit
for building the imposing castle and gardens as well as the hospital, granary and sewerage system.
In Olomouc he had the Archbishop’s Palace built, and adapted the castles in Mírov, Chropyně and
Vyškov.
Patrimonial Granary
The bishop’s Baroque granary in Novosady, once a suburb of Kroměříž, was built to the design
of G. P. Tencalla after his death in 1714. Builder J. A. Grimm remodelled it to its present appearance
in the late 18th century.
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Baroque Cemetery in Střílky
Behind a massive sandstone wall, less than 30 kilometres south of Kroměříž, lies the cemetery
established between 1730 and 1743 on an area of almost 2 000 m2. The author of this monument of
European importance was probably the architect of Kroměříž of Italian origin Ignác Josef Cyrani of
Bolleshaus.
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caSTLE Lednice
Castle and Church
The almost 200-kilometre Lednice-Valtice area was entered on the UNESCO
List of Cultural Heritage in 1996 and harbours manor houses, hunting
lodges, chapels, parks, gardens, rivers, ponds and forests. In the area stands
the originally Renaissance Castle in Lednice in the construction of which
a number of prominent artists participated - Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla,
Francesco Carrati and Andrea Erna and his son Jan Křtitel. The area
underwent the first important transformation in the late 17th century when
architect Domenico Martinelli together with Jan Bernard Fischer of Erlach
remodelled it in Baroque style. Today’s romantic appearance in the style of
English Tudor Gothic dates back to the 19th century.
The Castle is surrounded by gardens and a spacious Baroque park;
the authors of later modifications were Italian architects Fanti and Michelli.
The Castle belongs to the area entered on the UNESCO list and has
maintained its appearance from the mid-17th century. Giovanni Giacomo
Tencalla designed the new building in Mannerism style, in which his father
and son Erna continued. Later the Castle was remodelled in Baroque style
to the design of Jan Bernard Fischer of Erlach by architect Domenico
Martinelli.
G. G. Tencalla also worked on the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady.
However because the vault collapsed he had to leave and the building
was completed by Andrea Erna. Stonecutter Dominik Morelli and stuccoworkers Bernard Bianchi and Giovanni Tencalla, a relative of architect
Giacomo, took part in the decorations of the church; author of the altar
painting is Gaetano Fanti.
Valtice
Castle
Opening hours: V–IX closed on Mo, X on weekends
Zámek 1
694 01 Valtice
www.zamek-valtice.cz
Opening hours: IV and X on weekends and as per order, V–IX closed on Mo
Zámek 1
691 44 Lednice
www.zamek-lednice.info
Church
Opening hours: all the year round during church service (Mo, We, Fr, Su)
nám. Svobody
694 01 Valtice
www.radnice-valtice.cz/cz/cms.php/pamatky-kostel.php
Milotice Castle
This Baroque castle located in a village not far from the town Kyjov is called the gem of South-East
Moravia. Here again we find footprints of Italian artists. Giovanni Michael Fontana made the stucco
ceilings in the antechambers and we can say that Antonio Salla and Domenico Martinelli are potential
authors of the building.
Mikulov
The main residence of the Liechtenstein family, Mikulov Castle, had been rebuilt many times to
its present Baroque appearance. In the 16th century the Italian Gialdi remodelled one of the four
Renaissance bastions into a ceremonial hall; a century later Andrea Erna modified the building in
Mannerism style and he is apparently also the author of the nearby Church of St. John the Baptist.
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Golč’s Palace Znojmo
The building of the New Town Hall is a part of the exceptionally well preserved
urban conservation area of Renaissance and early Baroque character. The
entrance to the Renaissance Palace which was created by joining several
houses is through the so-called mázhauz from 1570. The author of the
sculpture of Adam and Eve on the main portal is the Italian sculptor Giorgio
Gialdi (1606). In the courtyard we can see two-storey Renaissance loggias
with Tuscany arcades. The Palace is named after Wallenstein’s general Golč
who owned the house. Today it is the seat of the municipal authorities.
Opening hours: all the year round during office hours
Obroková 10
669 02 Znojmo
www.znojmocity.cz
Uherčice Castle
This spacious Renaissance country seat consists of a manor, farm buildings and kitchen and ornamental
gardens. The original building from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries was soon extended
by a settlement with arcades on Tuscany columns. A century later architect Francesco Martinelli
modified the castle’s exterior. The splendid stucco decorations from the workshop of Baltazar Fontana
to be seen in the chapel, connecting corridor and halls, are remarkable works of art.
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Published by : South-Moravian Tourist Authority
Texts: S. Sanža
Translation: BM BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Photographs: Měst IC Boskovice archives, Czechtourism archives, MMB
archives, MZLU ŠLP Křtiny archives, Sdružení České dědictví UNESCO
archives, P. Nohel’s archives, TIC Beseda Znojmo archives, M. Bouška,
I. Durkajová, J. Frišová, V. Kotulán, J. Kruml, E. Obůrková, P. Přádka,
V.Urban.
Graphics: L. Němeček
Produced by: Propag servis Brno, Advertum
Printed by: POINT CZ
Published: 2008