The SNP Bridge (The UFO Bridge)

From the Cathedral follow the highway downstairs towards the river, next to the memorial statue of the victims of the holocaust. Notice that on the underpass of the highway there is a painting of a jewish synagogue, commemorating the jewish town of Bratislava. Ironically the Jewish town of Bratislava was not destroyed during the WW2. The big demolition occurred in the 1970s during Socialist Czechoslovakia, the area was to become part of a system of highways vital to modernising the city's infrastructure. This was part of the communist party plan to create a modern, highly developed city that would be a shining beacon against the capitalist west.

If you follow the highway just a bit more, it will lead you towards the square Rybné námestie. From here you can see where the highway is leading- probably the most controversial structure of the city, the Slovak National Uprising Bridge (SNP Bridge), known to the locals as UFO bridge because of the shape of a restaurant on the top.

Although admired by the communist architects and declared the structure of the 20th century in Slovakia, it came at a high price for Bratislava. Despite the protests, because of the construction of the bridge a large part of Bratislava's historical centre had to be destroyed, including a jewish quarter and a beautiful neologic synagogue. Regardless of the controversy it provokes, it is undoubtedly technically interesting and unique work and a great example of slovak modern history architecture. The picture exhibition on the pedestrian part of the bridge shows the process of construction of the bridge. It is also interesting to use the elevator to go to the top of the UFO, from where you can admire three countries at the same time. Slovakia, of course, is just below you. Then if you look to the opposite side of the river, a few kilometres farther in the distance up the stream of Danube, there is Austria. Hungary lies several kilometres the opposite direction. The restaurant in the UFO is not rotating, despite of the misleading rumours. But once you open the menu, the prices might easily make your head spin.