Italy
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Prague 1, day 271: Na Florenci
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 Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 196: Karlova
Originally published on X on 9 April 2024. Charles/Karel/Karl was born in 1316, as the son of John of Bohemia and his wife Elizabeth. Because these family trees aren’t confusing enough, his birth name was actually Václav, but he chose the name Charles at his confirmation. In 1323, his father sent him to France, where Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 41: Thunovská
Originally published on X on 17 October 2023. In the 1300s, this area was given the hugely creative and cryptic name of ‘Pod stupni Pražského hradu’ (Under the steps of Prague Castle), and you can read about those steps here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-40-zamecke-schody/ At some point, the name ‘Kavčí hora’ also appears, which will be hugely distracting Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 37: Nerudova
Originally published on X on 11 October 2023. We’re very much in ‘your friends and family who only visited Prague once have walked along here’ territory now. Jan Nepomuk Neruda was born on Újezd in Malá Strana in 1834. Four years later, his dad opened up a shop at U Dvou slunců (The Two Suns) Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 32: Šporkova
Originally published on X on 30 September 2023. Once upon a time, there was a Renaissance house in this street, owned by, amongst others, the House of Martinice, a noble family who claimed to have originated from the ancient Vršovci clan. A descendant of that family, Heinrich Clam-Martinic, would end up being one of the Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 31: Vlašská
Originally published on X on 29 September 2023. Way, way, back (as in ‘invading Macedonia in 270 BC’ way back), there was a Celtic tribe known in Latin as the Volcae. Their name found its way into Proto-Germanic as *Walhaz, which came to mean a foreigner who spoke a Romance language, or a Celt who Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 16: Kapucínská
Originally published on X on 10 September 2023. The Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum / Order of Friars Minor Capuchin was founded in 1525, when a friar called Matteo Serafini decided that friars should go back to behaving in a way which their founder, St Francis of Assisi, would’ve approved of. Persecuted for this, they were Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 10: Chotkova
Originally published on X on 1 September 2023. Carl Bernhard Graf Chotek von Chotkowa und Wognin was born in Vienna in 1783. His father, Johann Nepomuk Rudolph Graf Chotek von Chotkow und Wognin, after serving as finance minister in Vienna, became Supreme Burgave of Bohemia from 1802 to 1805; in this role, he was responsible Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 127: Benátská
Originally published on X on 17 March 2023. The original Benátská was built as far back as 1489. By the 19th century, there was a Velká Benátská, which ceased to exist when the Botanical Gardens were built. There was also a Malá Benátská, and the present-day street more or less follows that street’s pattern. Benátky Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 32: Římská
Originally published on Twitter on 8 December 2022. Římská was built in 1884. Řím is Rome. And yet I’m writing this from the airport in Athens. I bet there’s a Latin or a Greek word for this. Awesome sunrise from where I’m sitting right now, too. Until 1926, the street – which was shorter at Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 1: Italská
Originally published on Twitter on 7 November 2022. Italská was created (though not built) in 1926. Italská was formed by joining parts of two other streets – Žižkova (built in 1889 – see multiple Prague 3 posts if you want to learn about Jan Žižka), and Divišova, built in 1884. Prokop Diviš (1698-1765) was a Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 