Academia Istropolitana Building, Bratislava

The set of Late Gothic buildings which once housed Bratislava's first university lies in the western bloc of the city palaces in Ventúrska Street. The brief, less than 50-year history of the Academy is associated with celebrated Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus. He founded the Academy in 1465, with the first lectures commencing in 1467. After his death however the Academy was discontinued. Several existing buildings were used as its location, belonging to the Pressburg (Bratislava) magistrate Gmaitl and the King’s curie. A number of outstanding European scholars taught at the Academy, most reputed being the astronomer Johann Müller, known also under the name Regiomontanus. The former university tradition has been resumed by its present-day function - it now houses the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (VŠMU).