National Gallery within the Sternberg Palace Hradoanske namesti 15. Most of the major Western European schools are represented in this impressive collection which is housed on the first and second floors of a 17th-century baroque palace, tucked away behind the Archbishop’s Palace in Prague Castle Square. The first floor concentrates on Italian Renaissance painting of the 14th and 15th centuries and includes works by Andrea Della Robbia, Sebastiano del Piombo and Piero della Francesca. The Dutch and Flemish schools of the 15th and 16th centuries are represented by the likes of Geertgen tot Sint Jans and the Brueghels, father and son. The second floor embraces
European painting of the 14th to 18th centuries, with artists like Dilrer, Tintoretto, Veronese, Rubens and Rembrandt.
A separate exhibition across the courtyard focuses on 19th- and 20th-century French painting. As well as works by the major Impressionists — Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin and van Gogh — there are some outstanding modern paintings by Matisse, Chagall, Braque and Picasso. Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 to 18.00 hrs. Closed: Monday.
The New World
Just beyond the Loreto Shrine is one of the prettiest little corners of old Prague, Novy slier This quarter of Hradaany was originally built in the 16th century on a track which led from Prague to Sir eS’ovice. The great astronomer Johannes Kepler stayed at the house U zlateho noha (At the Golden Fairy Bird), no. 1 in 1600. Also look out for U Zlate hruMcy (At the Golden Pear) at no. 3, which is now a wine bar.