Spanish Synagogue

Prague's first synagogue, known as the Old School, once stood on this site. The present building was built in 1868  and is the newest of all the synagogues here.

Its Moorish design and hence its name

Rich stucco decorations on the walls

It now houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the Jews of  Bohemia

Franz Kafka

This sculpture  was erected  in memory of Franz Kafka (1883-1924)  in  a little square in Dusni Street in between a Catholic church (Church of the Holy Ghost) and a synagogue (Spanish Synagogue).

Kafka's works include The Trial, The Castle and The Metamorphosis. His complex and impersonal stories are so unique that his name inspired an adjective - Kafkaesque.

Church of the Holy Ghost

This church was built in the 14h Century as part of a convent of Benedictine nuns. As it was on a Monday and all churches in Czech Republic  are closed on Monday,  we were unable to see the church. Our intention was to see the Jewish Museums which are closed on Saturday.

Statue of St John Nepomuk

The Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

On our 3rd day in Prague, we started by visiting the Jewish Quarter, also known as Josefov,  a former Jewish ghetto. The name Josefov was derived from Emperor Josef II who improved the lives of the Jews. Here, the mystical Golem and the spirit of Franz Kafka live on.

The Jewish Museum is a complex of buildings consist of the cemetery, ceremonial hall and the synagogues.

End of day 2

We had our dinner at this restaurant near Staromestska metro Station before going back to the hotel.

Church of Our Lady of the Snow

Charles IV founded his church to mark his coronation in 1347. It was meant to be the second largest religious monument after St Vitus Cathedral but was not completed to that scale.

29 m high altar

The highest church in Prague with a 33 m high vault

Church of St Nicholas (Little Quarter)

Building of this church began in 1793 and only completed in 1761, after a delay of 50 years. It is the acknowledged masterpiece of of father-and-son architects by Christof and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, Prague's greatest proponents of High baroque, although neither lived to see the completion of the church.

A copper statue of St Nicholas surmounts the High Altar

One of the statues of Church Fathers

The Celebration of the Holy Trinity fills the high dome

This is the best Baroque church in Czech Republic and one of the best in central Europe.

Wallenstein Palace

Albrecht von Wallenstein built this palace between 1624 and 1630. His  intention was to overshadow the Prague Castle. Wallenstein purchased 23 houses, 3 gardens and a kiln and had them demolished to build the palace. It is now the Senate of the Czech Republic.

The Grotesquery is a strange imitation of the walls of a limestone cave

The Sala Terrena is where Wallenstein  dined

Old Castle Steps

We left the Prague Castle through the  eastern gate then going down the Old Castle Steps. Our next destination: Wallenstein Palace

A beautiful view of Prague from here

Dalibor Tower

This tower was built in the 15th Century. It was named after its first prisoner in 1498. Prisoners were often starved to death. However, Dalibor managed to keep himself alive by playing the violin and people who came to listen provided him with food.

The torture instruments can still be seen here.

There is an odd structure of a skull on top of  a crawling man. I can not find any information about this strange structure. Can anyone help?

The Golden Lane

Named after the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th Century. These brightly coloured houses were built right into the arches of the castle walls. They are mainly souvenirs shops now. There is an armour museum on the upper floor.

Franz Kafka used to live here at No.22 in 1916-17 and wrote some stories for the book A Country Doctor  here

Stained Glass in St Vitus's Cathedral

St Vitus is also famous for its stained glass.

The Rose Window

The Rose Window depicts the scenes from the biblical story of the creation

20th Century stained glass by Alfons Mucha

The Last Judgement

St Vitus's Cathedral (interior)

We came back to the Prague castle after lunch to see St Vitus.

The chancel was built by Peter Parler from 1372. It is remarkable for the soaring height of its vault.

Tomb of St John Nepomuk

St Wencelas Chapel

This Chapel holds  Tomb of St Wencelas. Gothic frescoes with scenes from the Bible and the life of the Saint cover the walls

The Royal Mausoleum