Bratislava has long lived under the shadow of its more famous neighboring capitals "Vienna, Budapest and Prague" but since the independence of Slovakia in 1993 and its integration into the European Union in 2004, Bratislava has come into its own as a major European city. Bratislava's past has been influenced by a variety of cultural groups, including Celts, Romans, Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews and Gypsies in addition to Slovaks. The first settlement on the site was founded around 5000 BC, with the first fortified town appearing as early as 200 BC. Today Bratislava is a mix of 19th century Hapsburg architecture, vestiges of Soviet times, and a new generation of Slovaks with an international outlook. With a population of only half a million, the city's friendly, welcoming atmosphere and manageable scale make it an excellent gateway to Central Europe and the Slavic world.
