European Vacation - Prague, Czech Republic

Walking through Prague you will realize how old this city is and what a rich and exciting history it has. Unlike most European cities, Prague was never bombed (but that doesn't mean it didn't go through a war). This is why it still has the look, feel and smell of ancient time—the smell of old Europe.

Prague is the capital city of the relatively small Czech Republic. Even before the fall of Communism in 1989, "Golden Prague" had been attracting an ever-growing host of visitors from abroad. Now that the barriers are down, Prague sometimes referred to, as “city of a hundred-spires” has become one of Europe’s favorite tourist destinations.

Top Prague attractions include:

Charles Bridge ranks among the most significant tourist sights of the city. The Bridge, which is 516 meters long contains16 pillars and three bridge towers. One of them, the Old Town Bridge Tower is considered to be the most beautiful bridge tower in Europe due to its rich sculpture decoration. Thirty sculptures, which decorate the Bridge, date mainly from the baroque period—from the 18th century.
Prague Castle, the largest castle in the world, with St. Vitus Cathedral. Two monumental statues of battling Titans over the front gate set the mood as you enter into the vast complex, which includes a palace, three churches, royal stables, a monastery and the manicured surrounding gardens. Supreme and towering over Prague is the magnificent and huge St Vitus Cathedral.
The Jewish quarter is a small area known as Josefov between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River. Most of it can be walked through and around in a few hours but any detailed explorations needs time. The Jewish cemetery, Old-new synagogue, Klausen Synagogue and the Pinkas synagogue are the most worthwhile sights.
Lesser Quarter is one of Prague’s historical and oldest boroughs. This preserved compact town area contains a number of Renaissance and Baroque churches, palaces, houses and park gardens.
Municipal House is Prague’s most prominent Art Nouveau building and houses many exhibition halls and an auditorium. On October 28, 1918 the Municipal House was the scene of the proclamation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia.

The Smetana Hall, situated in the heart of the building is sometimes used as a concert hall and ballroom. The interior is decorated with works by leading Czech artists of the first decade of the century most notably the famous Alfons Mucha.
The Lennon Wall was formerly an ordinary wall in Prague, but since the 1980s, people have filled it with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs.

The wall continuously undergoes change and the original portrait of Lennon is long lost under layers of new paints. Even when the wall was re-painted by some authorities, on the second day it was again full of poems and flowers. Today, the wall represents a symbol of youth ideals such as love and peace.
National Theatre is built in neo-renaissance style, decorated with incredible paintings and sculptures that present a great part of Czech jewels. It offers three different genres of art: opera, ballet and plays.
Old Town. This historical treasure of Prague consists of a maze of narrow cobbled stone streets and offers plenty of restaurants, pubs, shops, entertainment, galleries and museums.
Old Town Square is in the heart of Old Town. The Jan Hus statue is the centerpiece among a variety of surrounding historical buildings. The most notable sights are the Church of our Lady at Tyn, the astronomical clock tower (a part of the town hall) and many buildings of the Romanesque, baroque and gothic styles.
The Prague Astronomical Clock is mounted on the Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.
Old Town Bridge Tower. Heralding the entrance to the Charles Bridge, and guarding any approach from either side is the blackened and aged looking Bridge Tower. The gothic tower peaked with a tiled roof offers a good birds eye view of the Charles Bridge, Vltava River, Prague Castle and Old Town.
Wenceslas Square is one of the main city squares and the center of the business and cultural communities.
Troja, baroque chateau, which includes a French garden, was built on the right bank of the Vltava River at the outskirts of the city in the 17th century. It was open to the public after an expensive re-construction. A collection from the Gallery of the Capital City Prague is located here. The Prague zoo is situated nearby.
Petrin Observation Tower is a small imitation of the Eiffel tower that was built in 1891. The tower is 60-meters high which may not seem particularly high except that the tower is, additionally on the top of Petrin hill. The view is magnificent.
Theatre of Estates most often presents Mozart operas but other composer's works can also be experienced here. The theatre is one of the most beautiful historical theatres in Europe. In 1786, Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" was performed here, and in 1787 Mozart conducted the premier of "Don Giovanni". Also “La Clemenza di Tito” had its premiere in Estates Theatre.
Vysehrad. The centerpiece is the Church of St Peter and Paul whose blackened shape stands grandly upon the hill over looking the Vltava River and can be clearly seen from the Prague castle.

Vysehrad was the site of the original castle around the 10th century so it is appropriate that its great artists, scribes, musicians and politicians lie buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. Most notable are the graves of Dvorak, Smetana, Alpons Mucha and many others whose tombs lie among a vast expenditure of elaborate gravestones, mosaics and flowerbeds.
City Transport Museum (Muzeum mestské hromadné dopravy) has a large, permanent collection of buses and trams dating from 1886 to the present day.
Dvorák Museum (Muzeum Antonína Dvoráka). Celebrating the life and achievements of one of the Czech Republic's most famous composers Antonín Dvorák, who lived between 1841 and 1904.
Mucha Museum (Muchovo Muzeum) is dedicated to perhaps the most well-known and admired Czech artist Alfons Mucha (1860-1939). Exhibits here include paintings, drawings and lithographs by the artist as well as personal effects.
Národni Muzeum (National Museum). The most interesting aspect of a visit here is the building itself. Of particular interest is the richly decorated Pantheon, built between 1885 and 1890. Boasting sumptuous stucco relief work and an ornate marble floor, it also features wall paintings by some of the most revered artists of the age, namely Václav Brožík and Vojtech Hynais.