Prague (Praha in Czech) is the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 1.4 million. Prague has been known as one of the most beautiful European cities since the Middle Ages. Often called the "City of 100 Towers", the "Rooftop of Europe" or the "Heart of Europe", Prague was a place where many merchants, artists and inventors met. Prague is full of historical monuments in all major artistic styles. The historical center of Prague is situated on both banks of the Vltava river. This historical center has six districts, which were once independent cities that joined together in the 18th century. These districts are Staré Město (Old Town), Pražský hrad (Prague castle), Josefov (Old Jewish Town), Nové Město (New Town), Malá Strana (Lesser Town), Hradčany (Prague Castle Quarter) and Vyšehrad. It was Prince Bořivoj who established Prague Castle. There are also lots of museums, galleries, theaters, concert halls, and other historical buildings.
Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing most of its historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Romanesque, to Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic, Art Nouveau, Cubist, Neo-Classical and ultra-modern.
Prague is classified as an "Alpha-" global city according to GaWC studies, comparable to Vienna, Seoul and Washington, D.C. Prague ranked sixth in the Tripadvisor world list of best destinations in 2016.Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 6.4 million international visitors annually, as of 2014. Prague is the fifth most visited European city after London, Paris, Istanbul and Rome. Prague's low cost of living makes it a popular destination for expats relocating to Europe.
What can you visit:
Hradčany and Lesser Town (Malá Strana): Prague Castle with the St. Vitus Cathedral which stores the Czech Crown Jewels, The picturesque Charles Bridge (Karlův most), The Baroque Saint Nicholas Church, Church of Our Lady Victorious and Infant Jesus of Prague
Písek Gate, one of the last preserved city gate of Baroque fortification, Petřín Hill with Petřín Lookout Tower, Mirror Maze and Petřín funicular, Lennon Wall, The Franz Kafka Museum, Kampa Island, an island with a view of the Charles Bridge.
Old Town (Staré Město) and Josefov: The Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on Old Town City Hall, The Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn (Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem) from the 14th century with 80 m high towers, The vaulted Gothic Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga) of 1270, Old Jewish Cemetery, Powder Tower (Prašná brána), a Gothic tower of the old city gates, Spanish Synagogue with its beautiful interior, Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) with gothic and baroque architectural styles, The art nouveau Municipal House, a major civic landmark and concert hall known for its Art Nouveau architectural style and political history in the Czech Republic, Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, with an extensive collections including glass, furniture, textile, toys, Art Nouveau, Cubism and Art Deco, Clam-Gallas Palace, a baroque palace from 1713.
New Town (Nové Město): Busy and historic Wenceslas Square, The neo-renaissance National Museum with large scientific and historical collections, The National Theatre, a neo-Renaissance building with golden roof, alongside the banks of the Vltava river, The deconstructivist Dancing House (Fred and Ginger Building), Charles Square, the largest medieval square in Europe (now turned into a park), The Emmaus monastery and WW Memorial "Prague to Its Victorious Sons" at Palacky Square (Palackého náměstí), The Museum of the Heydrich assassination in the crypt of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Stiassny's Jubilee Synagogue is the largest in Prague, The Mucha Museum, showcasing the Art Nouveau works of Alphonse Mucha, Church of St. Apollinaire, Prague, Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Prague.
Vinohrady and Žižkov: National Monument in Vitkov with a large bronze equestrian statue of Jan Žižka in Vítkov Park, Žižkov – Prague 3
The neo-Gothic Church of St. Ludmila at Náměstí Míru (Peace Square) in Vinohrady, Žižkov Television Tower with sculptures of crawling babies, New Jewish Cemetery in Olšany, location of Franz Kafka's grave – Prague 3, The Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Church at George of Poděbrady Square (Jiřího z Poděbrad), The Vinohrady grand Neo-Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Pseudo Baroque, and Neo-Gothic buildings in the area between Náměstí Míru (Peace Square), Jiřího z Poděbrad square and Havlíčkovy sady park.
Other places: Vyšehrad Castle with Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, Vyšehrad cemetery and Prague oldest Rotunda of St. Martin, The Prague Metronome at Letná Park, a giant, functional metronome that looms over the city, Prague Zoo in Troja, selected as one of the world's best zoos by Forbes magazine, Industrial Palace (Průmyslový palác), Křižík's Light fountain, funfair Lunapark and Sea World Aquarium in Výstaviště compound in Holešovice, Letohrádek Hvězda (Star Villa) in Liboc, a renaissance villa in the shape of a six-pointed star surrounded by a game reserve, National Gallery in Prague with large collection of Czech and international paintings and sculptures by artists such as Mucha, Kupka, Picasso, Monet or Van Gogh, Anděl, a busy part of the city with modern architecture and a shopping mall, The large Nusle Bridge, spans the Nusle Valley, linking New Town to Pankrác, with the Metro running underneath the road, Strahov Monastery, an old Czech premonstratensian abbey founded in 1149 and monastic library.