Adria Passage

The Rondocubist Adria Palace, designed by architects Josef Zasche and Pavel Janák, has stood at the beginning of Národní třída for almost 100 years. It was originally built as the headquarters of an Italian insurance company and stands out with its facade modeling and artistic elements, such as semi-circular or triangular cornices, towers with battlements, and sculptures by Jan Štursa and Bohumil Kafka. While Štursa’s sculpture “Adria” or “Seafaring” is located on the palace’s facade, Bohumil Kafka’s sculptural decoration, complementing the local clock, can be seen inside the building. The arcade is also enhanced by a mosaic floor depicting events for which one should have insurance. That was marketing back then!