Northern Italy, specifically the area around Lake Como, used to be called Vlachy in Czech, and the Italians from the north who settled in Prague were called Vlaši (Vlachs). They were mainly aristocrats and scholars, but there were also many artists and craftsmen among them. Names such as Caratti, Lurago, Santini, Gallas, and Piccolomini can be found in practically every publication about Prague, as their bearers were some of the most prominent builders during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Our walking tour will lead from Hradčany to Malá Strana, to the area around Vlašská Street – the former Italian quarter, where you will find beautiful palaces and other significant buildings left behind by the Italians. We will also talk about the fate of the aforementioned names and tell you which Italian families settled in Bohemia permanently.