Statue of Francis Borgia, Charles Bridge

The Statue of Francis Borgia stands on the south side of Charles Bridge in Prague, one of thirty Baroque sculptures lining this famous crossing over the Vltava River. The group depicts a Jesuit saint flanked by two angels and is the work of Czech sculptor Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff.

Who was Francis Borgia?

Francis Borgia was born in 1510 in Gandía, Spain, a great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI. Before joining religious life, he lived as a Spanish nobleman — serving at the court of King Charles I, becoming viceroy of Catalonia in 1539, and inheriting the title of fourth Duke of Gandía after his father's death in 1543. He married the Portuguese noblewoman Leonor de Castro, with whom he had eight children.

The death of his wife in 1546 changed the course of his life. Borgia began settling his affairs so he could renounce his titles in favor of his eldest son and devote himself to religion. In 1547 he secretly joined the Society of Jesus, and in 1550 he traveled to Rome, where he was formally received into the order by Ignatius of Loyola himself. Fifteen years later, at the Second General Congregation in 1565, he was elected the third Superior General of the Jesuits. Francis Borgia played a major role in the order's early expansion, supporting the founding of colleges and centers of education worldwide. He died in 1572, and Pope Clement X canonized him as a saint in 1670.

What does the statue on the bridge look like?

The sculpture was carved in 1710 by Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, one of the leading Czech Baroque sculptors, responsible for several other figures on Charles Bridge. The central figure is Francis Borgia himself, portrayed as a churchman from the Borgia family. Two angels are placed asymmetrically at his sides — one holding an image of the Madonna, the other carrying vessels associated with the sacraments.

At the base of the pedestal are attributes referring to earlier stages of the saint's life: a helmet recalling his military service, a crown alluding to his time as viceroy of Catalonia, and a scarlet cardinal's hat symbolizing a dignity that Francis Borgia is said to have declined. The upper part of the pedestal bears the coat of arms of the patron who commissioned the work, a burgrave of Prague.

The statue visitors see on the bridge today is a copy made in 2018–2019. Like most of the Baroque sculptures on Charles Bridge, the 1710 original suffered from centuries of weather exposure and air pollution, which led to its replacement with a faithful reconstruction.

Where exactly is the statue located?

The statue stands on the south balustrade of Charles Bridge, among the other Baroque sculptures of saints that have given the bridge its distinctive, solemn character since the turn of the 18th century. Charles Bridge connects the Old Town with Malá Strana and is one of Prague's most visited attractions, so it's worth pausing to look at the individual statues while walking across in either direction.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Francis Borgia? He was a Spanish nobleman, Duke of Gandía and viceroy of Catalonia, who joined the Jesuits after his wife's death and became the order's third Superior General, before being canonized in 1670.

Who carved the statue on Charles Bridge? The 1710 sculpture is the work of Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, a Czech Baroque sculptor who created several other figures on the bridge.

What do the attributes on the pedestal represent? The helmet symbolizes the saint's earlier military service, the crown refers to his role as viceroy of Catalonia, and the scarlet hat recalls the cardinalate he is said to have turned down.

Is this the original 18th-century sculpture? No — the statue currently on display is a copy made in 2018–2019, replacing the 1710 original, which had been damaged by centuries of weather exposure.