Tuscany Palace

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Description

Tuscany Palace (sometimes referred to as Thun-Hohenštejnský Palace), is a monumental Baroque building located on the western side of the square in front of Prague Castle. Currently, the building houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Construction of the palace of Count Thun Hohenstein began in 1690 on the site of several small apartment houses, which had belonged to the Lobkovicz family. In 1718 the unfinished building was purchased from Thun by the Duchess of Tuscany (hence the current name "Tuscany Palace"), who completed construction of the palace.

Construction was carried out by the architect Giacomo Antonio Canavalle based on a design by architect Jean Baptiste Mathey. The building has four wings with a closed rectangular courtyard in the middle and two fountains in the building niches. The ornate front of the palace is decorated with two Tuscan arms and a sculptural decoration, which consists of allegorical figures by the sculptor Jan Brokoff.

In 1998 the building underwent a total renovation. Some of the space on the ground floor is open to the public, and is occasionally used for events.