Vacation Time: Prague!
- Kayli Liebenberg
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
City of Spires
REPORTING BY Elena M. Zepeda
DELIVERING THE CHARM OF CENTURIES PAST with a fresh modern vibe, Old Town Prague is a visually rich living museum. Its winding cobblestone streets are lined with a vibrant mix of historic architecture and trendy cafés and galleries. With more than 300 churches rising above its rooftops, the Czech capital truly earns its nickname: the City of Spires.
DIVIDED BY THE VLTAVA RIVER, Prague is united by the iconic Charles Bridge. Built in the 14th century out of Bohemian sandstone, the bridge is lined with 30 baroque statues, plus a throng of street artists, musicians and souvenir sellers. It’s best seen at sunrise in the early morning mist, or at sunset right when the sky turns gold.
HEARTY AND COMFORTING CZECH CUISINE is all about tradition and rich flavours. Think tender beef in creamy svíčková sauce, crispy pork knuckle and the ever so wonderful trdelník pastries packed full of sugar and nuts. Remember to pair your meal with a famous local beer like Kozel or Pilsner Urquell. Savour the city’s culture one bite (and sip) at a time!
PERCHED HIGH ON HRADČANY HILL, Prague Castle is a masterpiece of medieval and early Renaissance architecture. Spanning over 70,000 square metres, it is one of the largest castle complexes in the world, also home to St Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace. Golden Lane, on the castle’s southern wall, is lined with tiny, 16th-century houses – many just a few metres wide.
JOSEFOV, PRAGUE’S JEWISH QUARTER, preserves centuries of culture and history. Visit the Spanish Synagogue, built in 1868 in ornate Moorish Revival style, and the Gothic Altneuschul, Europe’s oldest active synagogue, built in 1270. As you wander Josefov’s narrow streets, be sure to explore the Old Jewish Cemetery with its tightly packed tombstones dating back to 1439.
PRAGUE IS A CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS and arguably it’s the nightlife that makes it one of Europe’s most-visited cities. Whether you’re up for a classic cocktail at Hemingway Bar, live jazz at U Malého Glena, or an avant-garde, steampunk experience at Cross Club, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for, and more.
AT OLD TOWN SQUARE the incredible architecture spans 800 years from medieval to Art Nouveau and it’s here you find Prague Orloj, 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 indicating the month. Sculptures of the apostles pop out when the clock strikes the hour.
