SLOVAKIA - BRATISLAVA

SLOVAKIA

Capital: Bratislava

Geographical size: 49 035 km²

Population: 5 415 949 (2014)

Official EU language(s): Slovak

Political system: parliamentary republic

EU member country since: 1 May 2004

Seats in the European Parliament: 13

Currency: Euro. 

BRATISLAVA

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and with a population of about 500,000, the country's largest city.

PLACES TO VISIT

• Bratislava Castle: The Castle is located on a hill above the Danube. It was reconstructed in 1950 after a fire in 1811 that left the castle ruined for more than a century. Most buildings contain administrative offices, but there is also a museum of Slovakia. 

• Blue church: It was built in 1911. The official name of the Blue Church is: Church of St Elizabeth. It is more commonly known as the Blue Church because all the ornamentations are blue.

• Slovak National Theatre: The national theatre company stages operas (Slavic and international), ballets and dramas. 

MUSEUMS

• Danubiana, Mullenset art museum: The mullenset art museum (museum of modern art) is on of the younguest museums of modern art in Europe. It was opened  on the 9th September 2000. It is a gallery of contemporary art where the art pieces are on sale. There is also  an audio-visual centre, a library, a shop and a restaurant. 

  

• Museum of Jewish culture: This museum was built inside the only surviving house (Zsigray Mansion) of the jewish neighbourhood after the World War II.  The aim of the musuem i the presentation of Jewish spiritual culture and the documentation of holocaust in Slovakia. The exhibitions iclude: objects of everyday life, documents and objects of visual art.

FOOD AND TYPICALL DISHES:

• Bryndzové halušky (sheep cheese gnocchi):. Boiled pasta (halušky) mixed with hot sheep cheese and topped with fried bacon. It is usually served with a glass of sour milk called žinčica 
• Kapustnica: It is a soup made with sauerkraut, mushrooms, pork, sausages, and various spices. It’s really delicious and very popular. It’s traditionally eaten on Christmas, but you will find this soup offered in all Slovak restaurants year around.