Mariana Square or Marianplatz (Marianské náměstí) is a square in the center of Prague, one of the dominants of which is the New Town Hall (Nová radnice).
The name "Marianskaya" square was given in honor of the Church of the Virgin Mary, which was located on the square and was demolished in the 1790s.
From 1952 to 1990, the square was named after the Mayor of Prague Vaclav Vacek.
The square has acquired its current appearance since 2019, when a pedestrian zone with plants was created in the center of the square.
Mariana Square is located in the Old Town of Prague (Stare Mesto / Staré Město), not far from the famous The Old Town Square (Staroměstske naměstí), on which the Old Town Hall (Staroměstska radnice).
Mariana Square is surrounded by important public buildings, among which stands outThe New Town Hall (Nová radnice).
The New Town Hall is the central administrative building of Prague, which since 1945 has served as the residence of the City Administration, the Prague City Council, the Prague City Assembly and the Mayor of Prague. The building has offices and conference rooms.
The building of the New Town Hall was built in 1908-1911 according to the plans of architect Oswald Polivka.
In 1998, a memorial plaque of Milady Gorakova by the academic sculptor Yaroslava Lukeshova was installed in the town hall.
The new Town Hall is made in the Art Nouveau style. It is decorated with sculptures and reliefs by Stanislav Sukharda, Josef Marzhatka and Ladislav Shaloun. On the northern corner of the town hall there is a statue of the Iron Knight, and on the southern corner there is a statue of Rabbi Lev. The entrance to the town hall is framed by sculptural groups.
Sculpture "Iron Knight" by sculptor Ladislav Shaloun
Sculpture "Rabbi Low" by sculptor Ladislav Shaloun
Entrance with flanking sculptural groups by Stanislav Sukharda
View of the building of the New Town Hall in the ensemble of the Old Town of Prague from the observation deck in the tower of the Old Town Hall
The western side of Marianskaya Square is decorated with the building of the historical complex Clementinum (Klementinum) - the eastern entrance gate to the complex.
The south side of the square is occupied by the Baroque palace of the Clam-Gallas (Clam-Gallas?v palác).
The palace was built in 1713-1730 by the Imperial ambassador and Viceroy of Naples, Count Johann Wenzel von Gallas. The main portal of the palace with large statues by sculptor Matthias Bernhard Braun opens on Gusova Street.
Currently, the Prague City Archive is located within the walls of the former palace, as well as concerts and exhibitions are held.
Archive website: ahmp.cz .
A fountain with an allegorical statue of the Vltava (Fountain of Teresa, Kašna Terezka) by sculptor Vaclav Prahner designed by Josef Bergler is located in the wall of the Klam-Galassov Palace, facing Marianskaya Square.
In the courtyard of the Klam-Gallas Palace, a fountain with a statue of triton attracts attention.
Photo of the interiors of the Klam-Gallas Palace
The building of the Trauttmansdorff Palace (Trauttmansdorffský palác), made in the classical style with Baroque elements, is adjacent to the Klam-Gallas Palace.
On the site of the current palace there used to be a courtyard of the Gothic period, the first mention of which dates back to 1400 and from which the cellars have been preserved. It was this courtyard that became the basis of the palace, rebuilt in the Renaissance. A significant reconstruction was carried out in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, probably designed by Jan Blazhei Santini-Aichel. The later reconstruction and expansion of the palace in the classical style is the work of architect Alexander Helmich. In 1894, the palace was transformed into an apartment building.
The main entrance to the building is distinguished by the Baroque edicula portal and the coat of arms of the Trattmansdorfs of the 17th century. Window and door portals in the courtyard of the palace are also made in the Baroque style.
The northern side of Marianskaya Square is decorated with a three-dimensional building The Municipal Library of Prague (Městská knihovna v Praze) is the largest public library in the Czech Republic, containing more than 2.2 million items.
The library also houses an extensive music collection, a collection of DVDs with Czech and foreign films, as well as newspapers and magazines, maps, drawings and graphics. Cultural events, author readings, lectures and concerts are held in the halls of the library.
The library building on Marianskaya Square was built at the expense of the Prague City Insurance Company in 1925-1928, designed by architect Frantisek Roit, and it was the first purpose-built library building in Czechoslovakia and at the same time one of the most modern in Europe.
The main entrance to the library is made in the form of a columned balcony, which is decorated with sculptures of six allegories of art by the sculptor Ladislav Kofranek. The sculptures represent literature, sculpture, music, philosophy, drama and architecture.
In the lobby of the library building, the so-called "Idiom" attracts attention, which is a tall column consisting of 8000 books by the Slovak artist Matej Krena.
On the second floor of the library there are exhibition spaces for hosting leading Prague exhibitions. Exhibition spaces are part of Galleries of the capital city of Prague (Galerie hlavního města Prahy).
Library website: mlp.cz/cz .
The website of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague: ghmp.cz.
Coordinates of Marianskaya Square: 50°05'13.3"N 14°25'02.7"E (50.087036, 14.417406).
All accommodation facilities in Prague (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
