You don't believe it until you actually see it. I'd been told by many that Prague was like Disneyland...but real. And they couldn't have been more right. Pastel facades intermingled with medieval architecture, and niceties that seem extravagant for the practicality of buildings. It is a Fantasyland in every sense of the word.The train and metro stations were our arrival points to the city. And while Prague's main train station (Hlavni Nadrazi) was very much urban, our metro stop (also our grand entrance to the streets of Prague) did not disappoint. A beautifully baroque courtyard lined with manicured trees, white ceramic pots, and plastered sculptures provided us a Renaissance-esque welcome. Outside the courtyard walls, cobblestone streets led us past well-preserved buildings a couple hundred years old. Even our hotel in the Little Quarter played the part well, with hardwood flooring, creaky stairs, and a gothic cellar where breakfast was served each morning.
Lacking the more modern grid-system only added to the city's charm. Serpentine streets wind their way down toward St. Charles Bridge, across (the Vistula River, that is) to Prague's Old Town, or up to St. Vitus Cathedral. Prague's crowned jewel, however, isn't the view from above, its from across. Perhaps the most magical skyline in the world, day or night, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Royal Palace sit pinnacled in the Castle Quarter surrounded by spires, domes, and colorful roofs.
But perhaps the most fantastical wonder of this Fantasyland is Old Town's astronomical clock. Dating back to 1410, this clock was designed to measure the 24-hour day, sunlight hours (which obviously vary throughout the year), hours after sunset, zodiac positioning, and lunar phases. Adding to this mechanical wonder are 16 animated statues (the 12 apostles, Vanity, Death, Greed, and Infidelity) that perform on the hour. Though still mesmerizing tourists today, 600 years ago the clock, its mechanical capabilities, and its hourly "show" must have seemed a bit like magic.
And Prague truly is magical...a City of Fantasy even today.
We really enjoyed our visit there. Did you get to go in the cathedral at all? How long did you stay? We hope to go back some day....but there are so many other places to see too :)
ReplyDeleteYep! Stayed just down from the cathedral in the little quarter. We stayed for about 5 day in Prague...loved it, but I'll tell you what. As cool as Prague is during Eastertime, it was crowded! Like Disneyland crowded! Semana Santa brought all the tourists from Spain on their week off.=)
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