Prague is a European city that has a lot of charm, especially if we go to its old part. It is well known for its castle and the famous Charles Bridge, but the truth is that there is much more to see, from central squares to neighborhoods full of history, museums and operas. Today we are going to review the essential places of the city of Prague.
If you go to the city of Prague on vacation you will find yourself in a city with a very European style, with old buildings and typical architecture. There will be many things that will catch your attention and many points and monuments to visit, so make a list with the most important and do not miss anything.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is not a single building as we can imagine, but it is the palatial architectural complex biggest in the world. It consists of gardens, ecclesiastical buildings, the Cathedral of San Vito that we will talk about later, residential complexes and administrative buildings. This castle was built in the XNUMXth century and served as a residence for the royals and later for the presidents.
In this large complex you can see very interesting places, like the Callejón del Oro, which used to be the street of the goldsmiths and which now has picturesque colored houses. There are also several towers, such as the White Tower or the Powder Tower. Visiting hours are usually from 6:00 a.m. to 23:00 p.m., although monuments may have shorter hours. The price will depend on the route we take. Of course we will need a lot of time to see the most important places in this castle.
Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge is one of the most iconic images of Prague and shared. This connects the Old City with the Lesser Town or Malá Strana. It is undoubtedly the most traveled place and in which we cannot pass without taking a few photos. Its construction began in the 30th century, but it would not be until the 1393th century that they would finish it. In addition, it has XNUMX statues of saints, which were gradually added. If you want to make a wish, look for the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, the first to be added, and which was thrown into the river in XNUMX by order of Wenceslao V. If you put your hand on the image of his martyrdom and make the wish, seem to grant it to you.
The old city
The Old City has been the center of public life in the city since the remote Middle Ages, and today it is still a very important and tourist point. In it you can see beautiful cobbled streets, picturesque and old houses as well as street artists. The most central area is undoubtedly the Old Town Square, where there are stalls and cafes to spend time enjoying the atmosphere of the city. In this area we can see the Church of Our Lady of Týn in Gothic style, the Town Hall or the Clock Tower. The old buildings, fully cared for and in pretty colors, are really pretty.
The Jewish Quarter
Josefov is the name of the Jewish Quarter, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages. In this part of the city there are synagogues, but without a doubt the most representative and a visit that you should do is the Jewish cemetery, the only place where it was allowed to bury the Jews of the city. It was created in the XNUMXth century and it seems that time has not passed. A place that is already part of the history of the city, and that is impressive. Tickets can be purchased at the neighborhood synagogues.
If you want to know more about the history of the city's Jews, the Pinkas synagogue It is one of the most important, and on its walls are written the names of the Jews killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust, as well as the collection of some of the drawings made by the children of the Terezín concentration camp.
Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square is a central and historical place where some events occurred such as the beginning of the Velvet Revolution, but the truth is that it is a place that looks like a great avenue. In this place there are fashion stores, restaurants and hotels, so it has become more of a leisure space. It is not particularly interesting, but it is an area to visit if we want to do some shopping.
Terezín, the old concentration camp
Terezín is a town that is 61 kilometers from Prague, so we will have to take a day to visit the Theresienstadt concentration camp. It has the large fortress, which is the Jewish ghetto, and the small one, the concentration camp itself. Although this was not an extermination camp like Auschwitz, it is chilling to visit the place. In addition, there is not a large influx, so the visit will be even more solemn.