Summer Archbishop's Palace
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The Summer Archbishop's Palace or Summer Archiepiscopal Palace (in 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 of the archbishops of Esztergom (since Esztergom had been occupied by the Turks (Ottoman Empire) in 1543, the archbishops were based in Bratislava).
In 1761-1765 the 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 an atelier in the garden of the palace.
The garden of the palace 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 got lost, the St. John Statue stands in the courtyard of the Primate's Palace now, statues of atlants are in the town of Kittsee.
Today, the restored castle with an English garden houses the government of Slovakia (see External links).
