Prague Things to Do Tips by Zvrlj

Krapnikova Stena | Grotto – Dripstone Wall (I&V) Wallenstein Garden and Palace Review

Very interesting part of the Wallenstein Garden is the one called The Secret or Secluded Garden. It is dominated by artificial dripstone rock, on which frogs, snakes, lions, monsters and grotesquely formed faces could be recognized.

This secretive and mysterious area is strong contrast to other, wide open and green parts of the Wallenstein Garden.

Address: Letenska Street, Valdstejnska Street

Directions: Mala Strana (Lesser Town), next to the Metro station Malostranska. Wallenstein Garden can be entered from Letenska Street and from Valdstejnska Street.

Valdstejnska Zahrada | Wallenstein Garden (I&V) Wallenstein Garden and Palace Review

The Wallenstein Garden, part of Wallenstein Palace complex, is Italian style baroque garden of Albrecht of Wallenstein. It contains copies of sculptures of Adrian de Vries, carved in the 1920s after originals which were taken away by the Swedes in 1648 and can now be seen in the Royal Garden of the Drottningholm Castle. Part of garden is the Secret or Secluded Garden with the dripstone wall. There is Salla Terrena in the Wallenstein Garden with frescoes by Baccio del Bianco, and it is used for theatrical performances and concerts.

Address: Letenska Street, Valdstejnska Street

Directions: Mala Strana (Lesser Town), next to the Metro station Malostranska. Wallenstein Garden can be entered from Letenska Street and from Valdstejnska Street.

Tancici Dum – "Ginger & Fred" (I&V) Dancing House Review

Dancing House also called "Ginger & Fred" is one of the most interesting and unusual modern buildings in Prague. It is artwork of Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunic and it was erected in the last decade of 20th century.

Address: Rasinovo nabrezi, Prague 2

Directions: Dancing House is on the corner of Resslova and Rasinovo nabrezi. It can be reached by walking from Metro station Karlovo namesti to north or from National Theatre to south.

Dream Reality Nightmare (I&V)

The Museum of Communism is focused on period of about 40 years of communist regimes in eastern Europe and the existence of Warsaw pact, and their influence to life in Prague and whole Czechoslovakia. In this Museum one can see the photos of the world's biggest Stalin monument made by Otakar Svec and located at Letna in Prague from 1955 until 1962, find out many details about Soviet military occupation of the Czechoslovakia and protest suicides of Jan Palach and Jan Zajic… There are a lot of original statues of communist ideologists and leaders, poster, flags… Some of the most typical interiors of that time, such as interrogation room, general store… are reconstructed. Museum has a tiny cinema in which movie about communism can be seen.

It is allowed to take photos in the Museum, without using flash.

Gift shop of the Museum offers very interesting souvenirs.

Address: Na Prikope 10

Directions: The Museum of Communism is in the center of the main shopping district, right between Metro stations Mustek, and station Namesti Republiky.

Phone: +420 224 212 966

Website: http://www.museumofcommunism.com

Equestrian Sculpture Of Saint Wenceslas (I&V) Wenceslas Square Review

Equestrian sculpture of St Vaclav (St Wenceslas) and four Saints – St Adalbert of Prague, St Ludmila, St Prokop and St Agnes "Czech", is the most famous work of Josef Vaclav Myslbek, founder of the modern Czech sculpting style. Creating of this sculpture lasted for more than 20 years, and since it had been located in the center of Wenceslas Square it had become one of Prague's most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of Czech statehood. The inscription on the base of the sculpture, designed by architect Alois Dryak, says: "Svaty Vaclave, vevodo ceske zeme, knize nas, nedej zahynouti nam ni budoucim" ("Saint Wenceslas, duke of the Czech land, prince of ours, do not let perish us nor our descendants").

Address: Vaclavske namesti | Wenceslas Square

Directions: Wenceslas Square can be reached by Metro – the nearest stations are Mustek and Narodni muzeum .

Website: http://www.vaclavak.cz/

Emauzy (I&V)

Emauzy Monastery with the Church of Our Lady and Slavic Patron Saints was founded by Charles IV in 1347 for Slavonic Benedictines. It was the only Slavonic monastery in the west Christianity of the Charles's empire, centre of scholarship and arts. Such personalities as Jan Hus, Jerome of Prague… were among the students.

On February 14th 1945, during an American air-raid in Prague, the Church was destroyed. Later on, in 1967, a modern structure by the project of architect F. M. Cerny was realized – an asymmetric 32 m high shell structure with a 40 cm thick construction of white concrete.

Address: Vysehradska 49/320

Directions: The nearest Metro station is Karlovo namesti, and two asymmetrical spires of Church can be seen as soon as street level is reached.

Phone: 221 979 211

Website: http://www.emauzy.cz/

Sternberg Palace (I&V) National Gallery Review

Collection of European Art from Antiquity to the End of the Baroque of National Gallery in Prague is housed in Sternberg Palace. It is neither huge castle nor huge collection, but it contains significant works of some of the greatest artists.

Among the masterpieces of this collection are "Adoration of the Magi" by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Albrecht Durer's "Feast of the Rose Garlands", El Greco's "Praying Christ", "Portrait of Jasper Schade" by Frans Hals, but also works of Hans Baldung Grien, Lucas Cranach, Francesco Melzi, Agnolo Bronzino, Francisco Goya, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn…

This short preview could not be complete without mentioning two beautiful Faiyum Portraits.

Address: Hradcanske namesti 15, Prague 1

Directions: Sternberg Palace is just by the west entrance to the Prague Castle. The nearest Metro station is Malostranska.

Website: http://www.ngprague.cz/2/detail/sternberg-palace/

The Art of Alphonse Mucha (I&V) Alphonse Mucha Museum Review

"'The Mucha Museum' offers you a unique view into the world of Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), one of the most celebrated artists of the Art Nouveau period."

There is no much to add to this official info leaflet text. Located on the ground floor of Baroque Kaunicky Palace, the Mucha Museum exhibits the most famous artworks of Alphonse Mucha, including his lithograph-posters with Sarah Bernhardt, but also his charcoal drawings, pastels, oil paintings, his applied arts works… Very interesting is the drawing Mucha made at the age of 8. Exhibition in the Mucha Museum includes Mucha photographs, memorabilia and excellent movie about Mucha, his life and art, which can be seen in a tiny Museum cinema.

There is very nice shop in the Mucha Museum offering books about Alphonse Mucha and posters, postcards, photos, calendars, glass, jewellery, hand painted silk scarves… with Alphonse Mucha and Art Nouveau motifs.

Address: Panska 7

Directions: The Mucha Museum can be reached from Vaclavske namesti via Na Prikope or Jindrisska. The nearest Metro station is Mustek.

Phone: +420-221 45 1333

Website: http://www.mucha.cz/

Kostel sv. Ludmily | Saint Ludmila Church (I&V)

The Saint Ludmila Church is a Neo-Gothic church built in the period from 1888 to 1893. It dominates the Namesti Miru Square. Its interior and exterior were decorated by many famous artists of that time, including sculptor Josef Vaclav Myslbek, author of the statue of St Wenceslas on Wenceslas Square.

Address: Namesti Miru

Directions: The Saint Ludmila Church is at the part of Prague called Vinohrady. The nearest Metro station is Namesti Miru, and station I.P.Pavlova is just nearby.

Kostel Nejsvetejsiho Srdce Pane (I&V)

There is amazingly beautiful and very unique church at the Jiriho z Podebrad Square – Church of the Most Sacred Heart of our Lord. This monumental church was built in the period from 1928 to 1932, and it is artwork of Slovenian architect Josip Plecnik.

Address: Jiriho z Podebrad Square

Directions: Church of the Most Sacred Heart of our Lord is at the Jiriho z Podebrad Square, at the part of Prague called Vinohrady. There is Metro station Jiriho z Podebrad.