What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 29 June 2024.

It’s likely that Florenc first appeared in or soon after 1348, when Charles IV founded the New Town and needed traders to settle in it – so he invited people from, among other places, Florence.

The name is first documented in 1392.

Florenc became an important transport hub when the industrial district of Karlín was developed.

It remains known for its bus station and for being everyone’s third-favourite Prague metro transfer station (of three).

It’s hard to think of a street in Prague that has undergone more of a change in recent years, with the ongoing development of Central Business District Prague, or Nová Masaryčka, due to be completed next year.

Design of this building was supervised by the Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid, shortly before her death in 2016.

It’s going to result in Florenc and Náměstí Republiky being more connected to Žižkov than they currently are, and increase access to the bus station.

Na Florenci also features this quite nice park, located inside one of the business complexes; its shade and peacefulness (on a non-working day) are quite appreciated in the summer temperatures.