 |
| City of a Hundred Spires |
Our time in the City of a Hundred Spires has come to an end, and wow, did it leave an impression. Before we hop our train to Budapest, I wanted to share a few final, unforgettable highlights from this magical city. If you love deep folklore, stunning views, and quirky hidden gems without the massive crowds, these are the ultimate places to add to your bucket list.
 |
| Dancing House |
The iconic Dancing House is a modern architectural masterpiece built in 1996 by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić. The building's two twisting towers look like they are spinning across the pavement, which is why locals lovingly nicknamed it "Fred and Ginger" after the famous Hollywood dance duo. While most tourists just take photos from across the street, the real secret is heading straight to the top. The Fred and Ginger Restaurant serves a fantastic breakfast, where you can relax while looking out over a completely unobstructed view of the Vltava River and the Prague Castle skyline.
 |
| View from the Fred and Ginger Restaurant |
For an escape from the crushing crowds at the Charles Bridge, Vyšehrad is an ancient 10th-century fort perched on a hill. Legend says this peaceful park was actually the very first seat of the Czech rulers before Prague Castle even existed. It is absolutely loaded with local folklore.
 |
| Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul |
 |
| Interior: Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul |
Inside the gorgeous Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, you can find the striking Devil’s Column mural painted on the walls.
 |
| Devil’s Column mural |
The mural connects to a wild story found right outside in the park, where three broken stone pillars stand propped against each other.
As the tale goes, a local priest made a bet with the Devil. The Devil flew all the way to Rome to grab a pillar from St. Peter's Basilica to win the wager, but St. Peter tripped him three times along the way. Arriving too late and losing the bet, the furious Devil hurled the pillar through the church roof, shattering it into the pieces that rest in the grass today.
 |
| Pieces of the Pillar |
The grounds also feature the quiet and beautiful VyÅ¡ehrad Cemetery, where it is incredibly moving to pay respects at the graves of legendary composers AntonÃn Dvořák and BedÅ™ich Smetana.
 |
| AntonÃn Dvořák gravesite |
 |
| Bedřich Smetana gravesite |
Back in the historic center, the Prague Central Library houses a famous book tower. It is a massive, cylindrical column built entirely out of stacked books.
 |
| Book Tower |
The best part is peering inside the opening; mirrors are placed at the very top and bottom, creating a mind-bending optical illusion that makes the book tunnel look like it stretches down into the center of the earth and up into infinity.
 |
| Book Tower - inside |
Prague's deep musical roots come alive at the Mirror Chapel, which hosts breathtaking concerts performed by members of the Royal Czech Orchestra. Hearing them play Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Dvořák’s soul-stirring Sing Unto the Lord a Joyful Song, and Smetana’s sweeping masterpiece, The Moldau, is unforgettable.
 |
| Mirror Chapel |
 |
| Mirror reflecting the organ |
Standing in that beautiful room, the ultimate piece of trivia is knowing that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself once played the organ right there during his 18th-century visits to Prague. You can practically feel the history vibrating in the air.
Next Stop: Hungary! 🚂
The bags are packed, and the train is officially rolling through the countryside. We'll see you in Budapest! ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
