St. Martin's Dom, Bratislava by Heinz Pinggera
Italian painter Heinz Pinggera, born in 1900, painted a series of picturesque views of Bratislava at the beginning the 20th century. He enjoyed depicting idyllic corners, many of which have since ceased to exist.
We shared another painting postcard of his, depicting the Marian Column in Franciscan Square.
Bratislava was prevailingly a viticultural town for almost 1,000 years, which impacted its look. Vineyards still reached the edge of the city at the beginning the 20th century. Just a few steps from town streets, vineyards, paths and trails began, intertwined with gardens and small forests.
The most marked road was Novosvetská Street. It crossed from Michalská Street along Kozia Street, then across the Novosvetská Street all the way to Brnianska.
In the first third of the 19th century, vineyards started to make way for gardens and gradually, the more affluent started to build their villas in the surrounding areas. Today, this originally wine-growing area is fully developed.
In this postcard, St Martin’s Cathedral can be seen and far away behind it, the floodplains on which the borough of Petržalka lies today. The view is no longer possible, as it is obscured with tall buildings.
This story was first published by The Slovak Spectator on February 16, 2015. It has been updated to be relevant today.
