City break in Prague
We chose to visit Prague on foot, without forcing the note, getting lost on the cobbled streets, flanked by buildings that hide stories. Famous for its spectacular architecture, the Czech capital attracts you with Gothic cathedrals, Romanesque chapels, Baroque palaces and gardens, Art Nouveau buildings, Cubist or Rococo style. Color, lights and shadows, gilded details and sculpted columns, graceful arches or broken Gothic vaults, domes or towers like spears to the sky, all keep alive the memory of times gone by. I knew it had a lot to offer and that it was impossible to include everything in a city break.
Once we arrived in Old Town Square, we looked around all the buildings. In harmony, various architectures attract your attention by urging you to find out who built them and when. A dozen questions come to mind. You don't even know what to start with until your eyes are fixed on a building that proudly shows its age- the Old Town Hall used nowadays only for ceremonies.
You look at the tower and discover the clock. Do you want to know its story? It is one of the oldest building clocks ever built. According to some, it is the oldest, and others say it would be the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world. The latter claim that in 1092 Su Sung designed the first astronomical, hydromechanical clock. The second oldest clock would be the clock of Wells Cathedral. One thing is sure: the famous Prague clock has been operating for more than 600 years. Between 9:00 and 21:00, allegorical figures come to life at fixed hours, under the eyes of the curious gathered in the square. Vanity, greed, death or debauchery, each with a representative object - a mirror, a bag of money, an hourglass or a mandolin make the show while the 12 apostles parade at the windows. A fixed statuette representing Jesus, a philosopher, an astronomer, a historian and the archangel Michael complete this work of art. The minutes pass quickly; no matter how you measure the time, you struggle to decipher the dials: Babylonian time, Old Bohemian time, German time or sidereal time. If the story enchants you, forget what day you are on, you do not have to worry because the dial below the clock shows the day of the month, the day of the week, and even the holidays. The song of the rooster and the ringing of the bells made us look up to the top. The needles had circled the dial. It was time to move on because other attractions were waiting to be revealed to us. We were about to discover the House at Minute, a building decorated in sgraffito technique, with scenes from Greek mythology and the Bible, where Kafka lived with his family for seven years.
A real show takes place in the market. Laughter, cries of joy of children fascinated by giant bubbles, youth groups dressed that maintain the atmosphere of pleasure. At the same time, tourists and locals sit down enjoying the local specialities or quench their thirst with a cold beer like all composing a painting you will not soon forget.
Carol Bridge, once the Stone Bridge, besides the fact that it was and remained the primary connection between the two parts of the city, is an attraction in itself. Beginning in the time of Charles IV, in 1357 and completed 45 years later, it takes you over half a kilometre to Prague Castle. It was built to replace the old Judith Bridge, damaged by a heavy flood. The imposing towers at each end, testimonies of the past, contribute to its greatness.
We slipped through the motley crowd, embarrassed by the curious or discreet glances of the 30 baroque statues representing saints and personalities revered in the period 1683-1714, which were lined up on either side of the bridge. I knew they were replicas. The statues have been replaced one by one since 1965, and the originals are in the lapidary of the National Museum. Street artists, whether painters, cartoonists or singers, give a unique vibe to the bridge.
The residence of the kings of Bohemia, the emperors of the Roman Empire, the presidents of Czechoslovakia and currently the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic, Prague Castle, included in a fortified complex of buildings, arouses your curiosity since you stepped on the bridge. According to Guinness World Records, it is the largest medieval castle in the world.
Prague is dotted with many monuments. We also discovered some of them while wandering on the cobbled stations. A colossal memorial in the Old Town Square commemorates Jan Hus, a Czech Reformed theologian who contributed to the development of the Czech literary language, burned at stake for his anti-papal ideas. Created by the Czech sculptor Ladislav Salon, it was unveiled in 1915, on the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' death, becoming a symbol of opposition to foreign domination.
If the favourite legend of those who visit Prague is the one related to Libuse, the youngest daughter of the Czech leader Krok, who is said to have had the gift of seeing the future, prophesying the glory of Prague, then the Vysehrad fortress on the hill offers a beautiful view over the city is unmissable. We did not arrive, but we discovered its mythical figure adorning the balcony of a building on Karlova Street.
The cobbled paths led us through the shops where the artisans turned pieces of wood into agile dolls while the thoughts weaved stories with childhood memories. With a tradition of over 300 years, initially popular in rural areas where there is no other form of theatre, then extended to cities and passed down from generation to generation as a family craft, puppet theatre is today one of the most popular forms of entertainment—the Prague. The travelling troops of the puppeteers kept alive the humour and the Czech language that was allowed during the Prussian periods only if it was spoken by a puppet.
In Velkoprevorske Square, you can see the wall of John Lennon, a tribute to the British singer. You can end the day with a cruise on the Vltava, which can only offer you unforgettable moments.
The gastronomy, with Hungarian influences in some places, resembles that of Slovakia or Austria. Most of the culinary assortments cooked according to authentic recipes contain pork or beef with sauce and dumplings. Traditional food goes great with the famous Czech beer. Sweet flavours tempt you, so you can't resist the temptation to try local specialities. Palacinky, thin pancakes, made of a dough that hides simple ingredients, filled with a combination of jam, sweet cheese and ice cream, garnished with whipped cream and hazelnuts, wrapped like cigars or folded in a trunk are delicious.
Public transport is very well developed. You can opt for both subway and surface transportation. Even if the subway arrives faster in different parts of the city, it is preferable to travel by tram or bus to enjoy the views it is preferable. Tram 22 will take you everywhere through the Old Town. However, Prague is lovely, discovered on foot.
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