Štvanice

Štvanice is an island on Vltava river, between Prague districts of Holešovice and Karlín. At the end of 17th century there was established a wooden arena in which were until 1816 held (which was repeatedly banned) dog hunts at animals (bears, bulls, deers and cows). From which is derived the name of island (Štvanice = Hunt, Chase). In the 1930s there was built the wooden winter Štvanice Stadium, which became the Ice skating centre of Prague, it was definitively demolished in 2011.

In 1986 there was opened a modern Tennis area Štvanice, which has 9 outdoor and 2 indoor courts, the central court has the capacity of 8.000 seats and is the annual place of ATP and WTA tournaments (Strabag Prague Open).

On the island is also a skatepark; it is a roofed skatepark, so it is the only institution, which allows to skateboarding in Prague throughout the whole year. In 2006 was added a neighboring indoor skate bowl. In the eastern part of the island there used to be a public swimming pool, which in the 1990s had a nudist resort, which is also interesting for being set up almost directly in the center of Prague, near is a hydro power plant and an adjustable water slalom track. Over the island leads Hlávkův bridge and Negrelliho viaduct.