Bronze statue of Maria Theresa displayed in Bratislava

Hviezdoslav Square in Bratislava's Old Town saw the unveiling of a new bronze statue of the former Austro-Hungarian monarch, archduchess Maria Theresa on Wednesday afternoon. This is a reduced copy of the popular equestrian statue created in 1896 by Hungarian sculptor Ján Fadrusz, which was destroyed by Slovak nationalists in 1921. The public presentation will be held until 18:00 Thursday. Bratislava Beauty Registry (BOS) Executive Director Maroš Mačuha stated that the reason for the statue is to remind people of the Austro-Hungarian monarch Maria Theresa and her coronation. This particular copy was created based on photographs and by studying the surviving fragments of the original destroyed marble statue. A permanent location for this statue of the only female head of the Habsburg Dynasty has yet to be found, however BOS is working with Bratislava's town hall in an effort to have the statue placed permanently in the Old Town.