Known as the City of a Hundred Spires, Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. The city is bisected by the Vltava River and is surrounded by Gothic churches and baroque buildings.
Charles Bridge
Located on the Vltava River, Charles Bridge is one of the most important and iconic landmarks of Prague. It connects the Lesser Town (Mala Strana) and the Old Town (Stare Mesto) in Prague.
The bridge is lined with 30 large statues of religious figures. The most artistic of these is the Statue of Saints Vincent Ferrer and Procopius. The sculpture was created in 1712 by Ferdinand Brokoff. The original cross in the crucifixion and Calvary of Jesus Christ was made of wood.
The oldest statue on the bridge is the John of Nepomuk monument, which was thrown in the water in 1393. The plaque on the monument is polished to a shine. It has been said that touching the plaque will bring good luck.
Another cool statue is the Head of Franz Kafka. It is not the first to have this honor, but it is the largest. The statue has a golden sword and lion at his feet. It is shown better from a boat.
There are also some lesser known spots to see on the Charles Bridge. There are many street artists who paint on the spot. They also do musical instruments on the bridge. There are also free open-air art galleries.
The most popular statue on the bridge is the St. John of Nepomuk, a martyr saint from the reign of Wenceslas IV. He is also the oldest of the 30 statues that line the bridge. The plaque on the statue is polished to a shine, and it is claimed that touching the statue will bring you good luck.
Wenceslas Square
Located in the heart of Prague's New Town, Wenceslas Square is an attractive place for shopping, eating and socializing. This historic and cultural hub is also home to a monument to Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Czechs. There are several other sights in the area, including the National Museum. Visiting Wenceslas Square is a great way to get a good look at Prague.
The National Museum building was built in 1891. It was originally located in Sternberg Palace in Hradcany. It later moved to the Nosticky Palace in Mala Strana. The museum is home to a collection of art and natural history displays. There are also several exhibitions that take place at the National Museum on Czech holidays.
Wenceslas Square is a historical site that has seen many important events in its history. The square was the setting for the Velvet Revolution, which ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia. It was also the site of the 1989 anticommunist protests.
There are also many bars and nightlife establishments in the vicinity of Wenceslas Square. There are two subway stops nearby.
A trip to Wenceslas Square gives visitors an opportunity to explore the diverse architecture and historical significance of the area. It also offers a glimpse into the culture of the Czech people.
The first floor of towering buildings contains shops and restaurants. The upper part of the square is more of a boulevard than a plaza. In the middle of the square is a statue of St. Wenceslas on horseback. It was sculpted by Josef Vaclav Myslbek in 1912.
Jiskra Puppet Theatre
Located on the outskirts of Prague, Jiskra Puppet Theatre is a traditional marionette theater. Despite its remote location, it has a wide array of shows based on different genres. Its performances happen almost every evening. They are in Czech and are suitable for all ages.
Jiskra Puppet Theatre is also a great place to buy handcrafted puppets. They are made according to the templates of the leading Czech artists. It is also a good place for children to enjoy puppet theatrics.
The Czech Republic is known for its puppetry. It is a tradition that goes back centuries. There are many festivals that celebrate this art form. In 2016, UNESCO recognized Czech puppetry as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage."
The Alfred Grevin Wax Museum is another place to visit. It is located in the former Count's Chambers of Prague Castle. It was opened in 1882 and exhibits wax statues of famous people. It also has a Hall of Mirrors.
The Petrin View Tower is a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower. The Tower has two hundred and ninety-nine steps to get to the top. Its displays include over one thousand Barbie dolls.
The KGB Museum in Prague is an interesting destination. It offers visitors a glimpse of life under the Soviet Union. It contains weapons of all kinds, uniforms, spy cameras, and even a death mask of Vladimir Lenin. It also has phone booths and patches.
Sedlec Ossuary
Located in the Czech Republic, Sedlec Ossuary is a famous tourist attraction. Thousands of people visit this place each year.
In the 1700s, the aristocratic Schwarzenberg family purchased the property from the monastery and began maintaining the building. The ossuary is now home to the bones of more than 40,000 people. The church is built in typical medieval Czech gothic style with a vaulted upper level.
The ossuary is open to visitors daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets can be bought online in advance or at the bus station on the day of travel.
The ossuary was once overflowing with human bones. The aristocratic family hired woodcarver Frantisek Rint in 1870 to arrange the bones in different patterns. The chapel is small but there are details on the walls and nooks and crannies. The skulls and eyeless sockets make you feel like you are surrounded by the dead.
The chapel is a unique site and has a macabre story. The skulls hang from the ceiling in chains. The Catholic cherubs on top of the skulls make the site even more haunting.
The ossuary contains human bones from the Black Death victims. These bones were moved to the ossuary when the size of the cemetery became too small to accommodate new burials.
The ossuary in Sedlec is a favorite place for people to bury their loved ones. The bones are real, as they were buried in the ground during the Middle Ages.
Kampa Island
Located on the Vltava river, Kampa is a small island that feels like a different world. The area has many interesting landmarks and attractions. It is also home to a modern art museum, which is definitely worth a visit.
Kampa is a smaller island that is found on the Vltava River in Prague. It was formerly a mill island. The island was the favored destination of many artists in the past. Several mills ran along the millstream. Today, the area is commercially developed with luxury hotels and restaurants.
Among the notable attractions in the area are the Sova mills and the Kampa Museum. The museum houses a magnificent collection of Central European modern art. It also has the largest collection of Frantisek Kupka works.
There are also numerous other attractions in the area. The Lennon Wall is a memorial to John Lennon. It was a political symbol of peace during the Communist regime. The statue was later whitewashed.
Kampa is also home to the largest yellow penguin in the world. At night, the penguins glow and light up.
During the summer, Kampa is a popular destination for the annual Carodejnice festival, a pagan celebration. This event is supervised by the fire brigade.
The best way to visit Kampa is to take a boat trip. You can take a rowboat or a steamboat. The cruise costs about $15. The island is open to the public, which is a nice bonus.
Old Town Square
Located in the heart of Prague's Old Town, the Old Town Square has long been a landmark of the city. It is a popular tourist attraction with many interesting historical sights and buildings. It is also home to the magnificent Tyn Cathedral. It is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the Czech Republic.
The Storch House is another notable building on the square. It was built in Neo-Gothic style in the 19th century. The facade is decorated with a Gothic bay window, painted signs and floral motifs. It also hosts contemporary art exhibits and musical events.
The Powder Gate is a Gothic tower that separates the Old Town from the New Town. It offers breathtaking views of the Golden City. It is also the oldest gate in the city and the second oldest pillar in Europe after Munich.
The Jan Hus memorial is a tribute to a religious reformer who was burned at the stake for his beliefs. The statue was unveiled on the 500th anniversary of the event in 1915. The inscription reads "Wish truth to everyone".
The Church of Saint Nicholas is another Barque beauty on the Square. It was designed by prolific Bohemian architect Kilian Ignaz Dietzenhofer. It features large green topped towers. It is not the same church as the one across the river in Mala Strana. It is open most days.
The Old Town Square has many restaurants, gift shops and nightclubs. It is easy to get to by walking or by taking the metro. The Staromestska and Namesti Republiky metro stations are a few minutes' walk away. There are also 194 bus stops along the square.
