Michalská is one of the oldest and most famous streets in Bratislava. It crosses the north-south axis of the Old Town. This busy thoroughfare is lined with luxury shops and is a pleasant route for an urban stroll. The buildings, once merchants' houses, are mostly Renaissance. The impressive Michael's Gate (Michalská Brána), symbol of Bratislava, is the only one of the four gates of the ramparts to have been preserved.