The dominant landmark of Bratislava's skyline is undoubtedly Bratislava Castle, majestically towering over the city and the Danube River. This monumental building, with its characteristic shape of an upturned table with four towers at its corners, is a symbol not only of the city, but also of all Slovakia. The history of the castle dates back to the Roman Empire, when there was a fortification on the hill. Over the centuries, the site underwent numerous transformations - from a medieval fortress, to a Renaissance royal residence, to a Baroque palace. In the 18th century, during the reign of Maria Theresa, the castle experienced its heyday as an important administrative center of the Kingdom of Hungary. After a fire in 1811, it remained in ruins for nearly 150 years, and it was not until the 1950s that reconstruction began, restoring it to its former glory.

Today, the castle's interiors hide the exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum, presenting the history of the region since ancient times. Of particular interest is the Knights' Hall and the treasury with a collection of coins and jewelry. The castle's terraces offer a breathtaking view of the entire city, the Danube River and neighboring Austria and Hungary. According to local legend, the castle's vaults hid the legendary treasure of the Knights Templar, which has still not been found.

Not far from the castle is St. Martin's Cathedral, another architectural gem of Bratislava. This Gothic temple, built in the 13th century, served as the coronation church of Hungarian kings for almost three centuries (1563-1830). As many as 19 monarchs were crowned within its walls, including the famous Maria Theresa in 1741. At the top of the cathedral's 85-meter tower, instead of the traditional cross, is a gilded replica of St. Stephen's crown weighing 150 kg, symbolizing the historic role of the temple. The interior of the cathedral is resplendent in its Gothic beauty, particularly impressive is the late 18th century high altar, which depicts St. Martin on horseback sharing his cloak with a beggar.

A curiosity is the crypt beneath the cathedral, where many church dignitaries and aristocrats are buried, including Cardinal Péter Pázmánya - the founder of Trnava University. Remains of an 11th century cemetery and fragments of an earlier Romanesque church have also been discovered in the vaults. Every year in September, the cathedral hosts a re-enactment of the historic coronation, attracting crowds of tourists from all over the world. Note the surviving cannonball marks on the cathedral's facade - a reminder of the Napoleonic Wars, when French troops shelled the city in 1809.

The heart of historic Bratislava is the charming Old Town (Staré Mesto), where you can discover fascinating sights and unusual stories at every turn. One of the highlights is Michal's Gate, the only surviving gate from the original medieval city fortifications. This Gothic structure from the 13th century, rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 18th century, is the symbolic entrance to the oldest part of the city. The gate's tower rises to a height of 51 meters and offers a magnificent view of the entire Old Town. Inside is the Museum of Weapons and City Fortifications, presenting the history of Bratislava's defenses. According to local legend, on Midsummer night the gate opens on its own, showing the ghosts of the former city guards.

Beneath the gate is a symbolic zero point from which distances to other European capitals were measured. Interestingly, at the top of the tower there is a statue of Archangel Michael fighting a dragon, which, according to beliefs, was supposed to protect the city from evil powers. Also worth noting is the distinctive narrow street leading from the gate deep into the Old Town - this is the famous Michalská Street, where you will find the narrowest house in Europe with a width of only 130 cm.

Walking through the Old Town, it is impossible to miss one of Bratislava's most distinctive attractions - the Čumil (Staring) sculpture. This charming figure of a worker looking out of a sewer has become a true symbol of the city and one of the most photographed objects. The sculpture, created by artist Viktor Hulík in 1997, is part of a project to revitalize urban space after the fall of communism. There are several interpretations of the figure's meaning - according to one, Čumil peeps under the skirts of passing women, while according to another, it is a worker resting after a hard day's work on sewer maintenance. Locals believe that rubbing his head brings good luck and wish fulfillment, so the top of the sculpture's head is always polished.

Not far from Čumil is the Old Town Hall - the oldest town hall in what is now Slovakia, dating back to the 13th century. This complex of buildings of various architectural styles, from Gothic to Baroque, was the administrative heart of the city for centuries. Today it houses the City History Museum, presenting the history of Bratislava from the earliest times to the present. Of particular interest is the opportunity to climb the City Hall tower, which offers a panoramic view of the Main Square (Hlavné námestie) and surrounding streets. In the basement of the City Hall are preserved medieval dungeons and a torture chamber, reminding us of the darker pages of the city's history.

Also noteworthy is the Primate's Palace, which is one of the most beautiful examples of classicist architecture in Bratislava. Built between 1778 and 1781 as the residence of the Archbishop of Ostrich, the palace became famous as the site of the signing of the Peace of Bratislava in 1805 after the Battle of Austerlitz, which ended the era of the Holy Roman Empire. The palace's interiors hide real treasures, including the famous Hall of Mirrors with precious English tapiseries from the 18th century depicting the tragic story of Hero and Leander. According to legend, these tapisseries ended up in the palace by mistake - they were intended for a British aristocrat, but were mistakenly delivered to Bratislava, and when the mistake was discovered, the archbishop refused to return them, offering instead a hefty compensation.

Although the center of Bratislava offers many attractions, it's also worth going off the beaten tourist track to discover lesser-known but equally fascinating places. One of them is Devín Castle, a monumental fortress located just 10 km from the city center, where the Morava River flows into the Danube. This strategic location meant that the site was inhabited as early as the Neolithic Age, and later became an important defensive point on the Amber Trail. The castle ruins, picturesquely located on a high rock (212 meters above sea level), offer not only a history lesson, but also breathtaking views of the Danube and the surrounding hills.

The history of Devín Castle is extremely rich - from Celtic settlement, through the Great Moravian period (9th century), to its glory days under Hungarian kings. In 1809 the fortress was blown up by Napoleonic troops, and its ruins became a symbol of Slovak national revival in the 19th century. Today, visitors can explore the remains of the medieval fortifications, the Renaissance palace and the mysterious underground. Of particular interest is the so-called 'Virgin Tower' - a lonely watchtower on the edge of a cliff, with which is connected the romantic legend of an unhappily in love girl who jumped from the tower into the Danube.

Archaeological excavations on the castle grounds have uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age settlement, a Celtic oppidum and a Roman watchtower from the 2nd century AD. During the summer season, the castle hosts numerous cultural events, including re-enactments of historic battles and medieval fairs. For nature lovers, an additional attraction is the nature reserve surrounding the castle, with rare species of plants and animals.

Returning to the city center, it is worth noting the less obvious attractions of the Old Town. One of them is the Franciscan Church - the oldest surviving religious building in Bratislava, consecrated in 1297 in the presence of King Andrew II. This Gothic temple hides real treasures, including the chapel of St. John the Evangelist from the 14th century and Renaissance tombstones of noble families. Particularly valuable is the Gothic crucifix from the 14th century and the Baroque high altar. Adjacent to the church, the Franciscan monastery has a charming cloister, which is an oasis of calm in the heart of the bustling city.

Nearby is the Academia Istropolitana, the first university in what is now Slovakia, founded by King Matthias Corvinus in 1465. Although the university functioned for only 25 years (until 1490), it was an important center of Renaissance learning and culture in Central Europe. Today, the historic building houses the College of Performing Arts, but the preserved Renaissance portal and Gothic vaults are reminders of its former glory.

For those who want to experience the less touristy face of Bratislava, I recommend a stroll through the Zuckermandel district, located at the foot of the castle hill. This once-Jewish quarter was largely destroyed during the construction of the SNP bridge in the 1970s, but has been undergoing revitalization in recent years, combining historic buildings with modern architecture. You can find charming cafes in historic houses, contemporary art galleries and viewpoints overlooking the Danube.

Also worth a visit is Kapitulska Street, one of Bratislava's oldest and best-preserved streets, where time seems to have stopped. This narrow, cobblestone street with Baroque and Classicist townhouses was for centuries the seat of the cathedral chapter. Of particular interest is the 15th century Canons' House and the Archbishop's Summer Palace. According to local legend, one of the basements of these historic buildings hid valuable relics from St. Martin's Cathedral during the Turkish wars, which were never found.