PRAGUE The Magical City of Central Europe By: Luz Vargas 
Praga by the Vltava River |
Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe is located in the Czech Republic, bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia. The country is divided in three regions; namely, Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. Situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural, and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. For many decades during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, making the city one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, after London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin, receiving more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009. Here are some of the must-see places in this beautiful city of central Europe. 
The Prague Castle |
The history of Prague is intricately linked with the development of Prague Castle.Today, the castle complex encompasses numerous attractions: St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, the Powder Tower, and other monuments, courtyards, and historic buildings. The Castle is recognized by the Guinness World of Records as the largest and oldest castle in the whole wide world. This impressive medieval construction has been habited by the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here. No trip to the Czech Republic is complete without exploring Prague Castle. Charles Bridge is probably the second most famous tourist destinations in Prague. It is the oldest bridge in Prague and one of the most amazing bridges ever built. It has 16 pillars, with Gothic towers, and was built before the 15th century. Initially, this bridge was called the Prague Bridge. It only became known as Charles Bridge around 1870, and it has gone through so much physical trauma mainly from floods. During the day, it is nice to enjoy the many stores, restaurants and bars. There is not other time for a romantic walk than an evening by the Charles Bridge.  Charles Bridge |
If you want to see what an ancient town looks like, then visit "The Old Town". This is also considered as Prague's historical center as it houses a lot of historical buildings as well as monuments, the most popular of which is the Astronomical Clock or the Orloj. There are also a lot of historical churches that you can visit here.The Old town is filled with colorful buildings, good restaurants, and is quite interesting. The Jewish Quarter Josefov named after the emperor Josef II, whose reforms helped to ease living conditions for the Jews. the Place contains the remains of Prague's former Jewish ghetto. As many of the Jews died during the WWII and were forced by the communist regime to leave the country, There are two figures synonymous with this part of the city, Franz Kafka (1883 – 1924) and the mystical humunculus Golem created by Jehuda ben Bezalel, also known as Rabi Löw. Here, you will get to see old synagogues that are well maintained, and you will also see here the Jewish Cemetery, thought of as the oldest cemetery in Europe. There is also a burial site that you can visit which is said to be Prague Golem's. This historical Jewish ghetto is a must-visit place. 
Wenceslas Square |
Wenceslas Square 'The New Town" is one of two main squares in the city for fine shopping, leading hotels, the Central Train Station and the National Museum. Also you can go to Vankovka Gallery. This place used to be an industrial center but was later converted to a big shopping center. You can still see some historical industrial buildings here and, at the same time, shop till you drop. If you plan to visit Bohemia a famous "brewing" town, enjoy the architecture and have a brew. For more information visite http://www.prague.cz/ |