Because You Can! City of Spires!

Prague for culture vultures PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe StockTHE RICHLY SYMBOLIC PRAGUE ORLOJ is the oldest astronomical clock still operating. Built in 1404, it has an astronomical dial, showing the location of the sun and moon, and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. Sculptures of the 12 Apostles, located in the clock’s upper windows, pop out when it strikes the hour.PRAGUE IS ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST-VISITED cities alongside London, Paris, Rome and Istanbul. And for good reason. The Czech capital is known for its rich history, vibrant arts scene and, of course, its beautifully preserved Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where almost every building is a work of art.THE INCREDIBLE ARCHITECTURE in Old Town Square spans 800 years from Medieval to Art Nouveau. For many, the visual highlight is the Church of Our Lady before Týn with its Gothic façade and spires. Venture down one of the cobbled streets leading off the square to explore more of the Old Town and get your first glimpse of the Vltava.KNOWN FOR ITS STARRING ROLE in numerous Hollywood movies, from Mission Impossible to Amadeus, not to mention the unforgettable INXS video Never Tear Us Apart, Charles Bridge is one of Prague’s best-known attractions. A pedestrianised bridge over the Vltava, lined with 30 Baroque statues, it connects Prague Castle with the Old Town.HIGH ABOVE THE CITY on the Vltava’s left bank, Prague Castle spans over 70,000 square metres, making it the largest castle complex in Europe. It’s also one of the prettiest, with spires, towers and palaces straight out of a fairy tale. The centre of Czech power since the 9th century, it’s the place to see some of the country’s greatest artistic and cultural treasures.THE BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED Estates Theatre is Old Town Prague’s major arts venue, hosting opera, drama and ballet performances. Opened in 1783, it premiered Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and the hooded ghost statue at one end of the building – Anna Chromy’s Il Commendatore – commemorates this.BUILT IN 1270, THE ALTNEUSCHUL is Europe’s oldest active synagogue. It stands right next to the Jewish Cemetery, where the oldest grave dates back to 1439. The surrounding Jewish quarter, established as a ghetto in the 13th century, is now one of the most expensive and exclusive residential areas in Prague.