Villa Amerika: Antonín Dvořák Museum
Vinohrady, Prague 2

The Antonín Dvořák Museum (Muzeum Antonína Dvořáka) was established at Villa Amerika in 1932 with the aim to collate, preserve and display the maestro's documents and personal effects, chronicling his life and works.

The museum exhibits a unique collection of the composer’s sheet music manuscripts, programmes, posters, works of art, period photographs, and personal objects and correspondence.

Antonín Dvořák was born on 8th September 1841 in Nelahozeves, a village not so far from Prague, which was at the time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (but now Czechia).

He was a composer of romantic music, his inspiration drawn from the idioms and melodies of Moravian and Bohemian folk songs.

Dvořák composed symphonic, choral and chamber music. His works include the New World Symphony, the Slavonic Dances, the American String Quartet and the Cello Concerto in B minor. He also wrote operas, of which the best known is Rusalka.

Although Dvořák spent most of his time living in or near Prague, he also travelled abroad: Dvořák spent 3 years in America working as the director of the National Conservatory of Music; he visited England 9 times, often conducting his own works; and, influenced by Tchaikovsky, he conducted orchestras in Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia.

The museum draws admirers of Antonín Dvořák from all over the world.

History of Villa Amerika
Villa Amerika was constructed between 1712-1720 by Count Jan Václav Michna of Vacínov, to the design of the architect Kilián Ignác Diezenhofer.

For two centuries, this beautiful Baroque summer house hosted the higher echelons of the aristocracy, who were attracted by its stylish interiors, well-manicured grounds and regular musical soirees.

Rooms to look out for include the lovely Music Salon, which boasts a wonderful ceiling fresco "Rise of Apollo" by Jan Ferdinand Schor and an imposing Baroque fireplace.