Springtime destinations: Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia

Under the flag of the Slovak Republic, hoisted on the castle, lies a pleasant little town that can be an enjoyable destination for a short spring holiday, perhaps taking advantage of the Easter weekend, which this year is celebrated on 9 April.

The tourism portal Visit Bratislava offers a tour of the city's attractions designed for a long weekend, starting with a historical-sociological visit that takes you back to the socialist atmosphere of the 1900s. You can start at Slavín, the Soviet war memorial commemorating the liberation in April 1945. A war cemetery for 6845 Soviet soldiers who lost their lives in the battles to liberate the city and its surroundings in the final weeks of World War II. The monument, located in a scenic area, is now surrounded by the most luxurious villas in all of Bratislava, on one of the hills overlooking the city.

We continue on to Petržalka, the Slovak quarter built in the time of socialism, with interesting urban planning solutions. The excursion can be made aboard a vintage bus or in an old Škoda.

Art enthusiasts can amuse themselves among the traditional and modern galleries. In the city centre there is the Nedbalka and the Bratislava City Gallery, while on the outskirts is the Danube Gallery of Contemporary Art, a peculiar building with an unusual shape reminiscent of a boat aground in the middle of the Danube.

Staying on the river, or rather above the river, is the unusual Ufo restaurant, a rounded spaceship suspended over the bridge dedicated to the “Slovak national uprising”. To aid digestion, there will also be a walk on 8 April “aerea” on the perimeter of the UFO, at a height of 85 metres.

Roughly the same level as the majestic castle that dominates the hill overlooking the town. The site dates back to the settlement of the Celts and then evolved to its present appearance. The building houses the Historical Museum, which documents the development of society in Slovakia from the Middle Ages to the present day. An important numismatic collection is also exhibited there. The Crown Tower and the Treasury Chamber are some of the highlights of the visit.

As you stroll through the centre of Bratislava, be sure to make a diversion around the secessionist, 20th-century St Elizabeth's Church, known as the Blue Church because of its rather original exterior colour.

If you do not know where to sleep, you can choose the Hotel Perugia, a reminder of Italy and a tribute to the city with which Bratislava has been twinned for many years.

Images Acrimònia Magazine