The exhibition in the summer palace brings closer its history and repairs

Prague - Prague Castle will present to visitors of the Royal Summer Residence the history, decorations, and above all, the progress of several years of restoration of this Renaissance building. The construction, which is a unique example of Italian Renaissance architecture north of the Alps, has been under restoration since 2004. Repairs to the sculptural decorations are expected to be completed this year, while experts suggest that the restoration of the entire building will extend at least into the next year.
    The exhibition Royal Summer Residence - a Gem of Renaissance Architecture in Bohemia will run from Thursday until June 29. It includes photographs, plans of the building and its numerous extensions and alterations, as well as plaster casts of reliefs, more than 150 of which are on the building. The idea of documenting the reliefs in the form of casts was the first step towards organizing the exhibition.
    According to the exhibition curator Viktor Procházka, the restoration of the stone elements of the building has been done gradually - from simpler to more complex. First, the stone framing was repaired, followed by the reliefs. According to restorers, the reliefs on the western façade suffer the most, and they were the first to be restored. With the exception of the accessible western and northern façades, the reliefs on the remaining façades are at a considerable height and therefore not well-known. People can now view them in detail at the exhibition.
    On the upper floor of the Summer Residence, viewers will again be able to see the wall paintings from the 19th century, which completed the reconstruction for cultural purposes.
    The Royal Summer Residence, also known as the Summer Residence of Queen Anna, was commissioned by Ferdinand I between 1538 and 1560 on the eastern edge of the Royal Garden at Prague Castle. The residence was modeled after Paolo de la Stella's design. The architects and builders were Paolo de la Stella, who led the construction until his death in 1552. He was followed by Hans Tirol and Bonifác Wolmut, who completed the building.
    The Renaissance structure was built in several stages. Ferdinand commissioned its construction to celebrate his wedding to Anna Jagellonská, which took place in 1521. He personally selected symbolic themes for the reliefs, some of which express his desire for the establishment of a vast empire and the connection of ancient and Christian culture.
    The Summer Residence was intended for courtly entertainment and to enhance the experience of being in the garden. The building continued to be constructed until Ferdinand's death; the monarch was primarily concerned with its function in the future rather than its use during his time.
    Today, the Royal Summer Residence serves primarily for exhibitions of visual arts and artistic crafts.