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BRATISLAVA's largest square was named after the Slovak National Uprising (Slovenské Národné Povstanie - SNP) in 1962. Its previous names include Chlebový (Bread) and Zelený (Green) Market, Hydinový (Poultry) Market, Market (Trhové) Square, and Kaiser Wilhelm II Square. After 1945, it became Andrej Hlinka Square and later, Stalinovo (Stalin) Square.
In the 15th century, part of what is now SNP Square became Vavrinecký Cemetery, which was later converted back into a marketplace and placed behind the city walls to block outsiders from entering the town centre.
This postcard shows what SNP Square looked like in 1921, when it was called Square of the Republic (Námestie Republiky).
By Branislav Chovan
