Prague, so called The Magical City of Bridges, the One Hundred Spires, The Heart of Europe, is the capital city of the Czech Republic and has always played an important role in the history of Europe.
Over the centuries scores of important individuals have paid their tribute to Prague. Its beauty and imposing architecture has enchanted the likes of W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, G. Apollinaire, P. I. Tchaikovsky, F. M. Dostojevski, A. Rodin, O. Kokoschka as well as Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Pope John Paul II and others.
International festivals, congresses, meetings and trade fairs are held Prague. Eleven centuries of historical events, building, artistic creation and city life along with its beautiful natural setting have created a unique atmosphere.
It is an atmosphere that is grand and mysterious as well as being friendly and intimate and has always attracted tourists from all over the world.
TIPS TO VISIT IN PRAGUE
Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by the Prague Castle. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava River and consists of 6 parts:
San Mestro (Old Town), Josefov (the preserved part of the former Jewish Town and today a part of the Old Town), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strena (Lesser Town), Hradcany and Vysehrad.
PRAGUE'S MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS
High on the Petrin hillside, with magnificent views over the whole city, is Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle in Europe.
There are also excellent vistas to be enjoyed from:
The Old Town Hall Tower, the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Lesser Town Bridge Tower, St. Vitus Cathedral Tower, Petrin Observation Tower & Vysehrad.
Half Day Excursion Suggestions
Alternative 1
Discovery of the Old Town
The tour can start in front of the Municipal House, the jewel of Art Nouveau Architecture and than continue on the pedestrian zone to the Wenceslas Square, which is the biggest Square in the City and it is the most living area in Prague than our steps will lead to small picturesque streets and square of this part of the City and finally enter to the Old Town Square, which belongs to one of the most important place for every Czechs. You can admire the famous Old Town with its beautiful Astronomical clock, many gothic, renaissance and baroque buildings all around and also you can enter to the Tyn Church, where is buried the famous Dutch astrologist Tycho de Brahe. Behind the Tyn Church – the beautiful gothic church on Old Town Square – is area known as Ungelt.
At the end you will go via biggest shopping boulevard of Prague – Parizska street with its elegant and most prestigious shops and at the end you will see the panoramic view of the Prague Castle from the river side.
Visit of the most famous places in the Old Town
Alternative 2
Jewish Quarter and Its treasure....
It is a typical city tour combine with city walk partly through the Old Town part of the City of Prague and the most mystic area of Prague Jewish Quarter.
Jewish Synagogues and Cemetery
Large Jewish Ghetto before and during the Second World War defines the Jewish Quarter nowadays in Prague in the Old Town. Just of the Old Town Square you can find the cemetery which covers over 12000 grave stones.
Nice visit also of the synagogues with the Jewish Traditional expositions and also the memorials of the Holocaust.
The Mayor of the Jewish Town Mordechai Maisel, who financed the extensive Renaissance reconstruction of the ghetto, built the Maisel Synagogue in 1590 – 1592. The exhibition in the Maisel Synagogue presents a cross-section of the history of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia.
The Klaus Synagogue is located by the entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery and was completed in 1694. This synagogue held an important place in the history of Prague’s Jewish Town. It was the largest synagogue in the ghetto. The current exhibition contains objects related to Jewish religious traditions and customs.
The Pinkas Synagogue was built in 1535 and after the 2nd World War it was turned into a Memorial to the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia murdered by the Nazis. On its walls are inscribed the names of the Jewish victims, their personal data and the name of their village.
Visit of the most mystic area in Prague (Jewish Cemetery)
Alternative 3
Old Town in theme of « Art Nouveau » architecture
This is tour that is very recommendable for the people who like the Architecture.
Style developed in the 19th century and mostly honoured by the famous painter Alfons Mucha. The style is represented on many architectonical buildings in the Old Town and mostly the treasury house Municipal House where you find several halls decorated and painted in this style. In this house you can find the biggest concert hall, which is used during the famous Prague Spring Festival. The visit of the interior of the house is worthy.
The tour continues with the visit of the Museum of Mucha, Panska 7 Street, right by Wenceslav Square or some footsteps from the Municipal House.
Than you can walk through the marvellous streets of Prague such as Parizska, Celetna, Na Prikopech, where they can see all the buildings of the Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Cubism style.
Visit of the most famous place in different way (Municipal House, Old Town Square)
Visit of the painting gallery of Mr. Alfons Mucha
Alternative 4
Royal Visit of the Prague Castle
It is hot tip among the city tours as it is the most important place in Prague and it belongs to one of the most beautiful area in Europe.
Prague Castle
Hradcany are not only the world famous Prague Castle but also a lot of palaces, churches and monuments.
The visit of Hradcany could start on Strahov, (tram station Pohorelec, n.22, 23) where is situated the Strahov Monastery with it's unique libraries – you can enter. Than continue to the Loretta square. Here you can find the Cernin Palace, where is situated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Loretta church – you can enter.
Your steps will than lead to the Hradcany Square, where is the main entrance to the Prague Castle. In the centre of the square stands a pest column with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The square is surrounded by the palaces Stenberg - example of the Renaissance architecture, Toscana, early Baroque building, Martinic with it's portal from the 16th century and Renaissance Archbishop's Palace with Rococo façade.
Than you will already see the First Castle Courtyard with Matthias Gateway from 1614, where stay the most photographed Castle Guards and you visit of Prague Castle can start.
The best is yet to come: St. Vitus cathedral – you can enter, the Knights court, where we can see the Vladislav hall, from which the 2nd defenestration of Prague took place before the 30 years war started. The St. George Basilica is a must for everybody - a Romanic church - one of the oldest of the city as well as the Golden Lane - where during the Middle age Alchemists used to live trying to invent “Gold”!