On our second day in Prague, we decided to wander around the Old Town and check out Vyšehrad.
We started at Wenceslas Square, which is a blend of Prague’s rich history and today’s main shopping hub. The place definitely has unique energy. This is where things happen in Prague… revolutions, celebrations, demonstrations. It is buzzing with shops, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, and has one of the biggest shopping centers in Prague — Palladium.
As we continued down the main street, we stopped by at Lucerna Palace to check out Prague’s famous Upside-Down Horse statue – a satirical sculpture by Czech artist David Černý.
The piece is a parody of the famous statue of Saint Wenceslas in Wenceslas Square and is seen as a commentary on Czech politics and the absurdity of power.
After making few photos of the “horse” we continued our way to Svetozor Passage, where we got some pretty good ice cream and saw this awesome old stained glass window featuring a vintage Tesla radio.
I have to say, Prague is absolutely stunning. Every building feels like a masterpiece. I could easily spend an entire day just admiring the facades. I wish I knew the history behind all these architectural gems. There’s something mesmerizing about just wandering the streets and taking in the beauty of the city’s design.
By lunchtime, we made it to the heart of Prague—Old Town Square. It’s always bustling, but its super busy on the hour when crowds gather around the Astronomical Clock to catch its performance. We, of course, joined the throng to watch the show – mechanical parade of figures and chimes . The figure of Death was most entertaining part.
In the heart of Prague’s Old Town Square stands a statue of Jan Hus, a Czech religious reformer and philosopher. The monument is impossible to miss, symbolizing his significant role in history. Hus fought against corruption in the Catholic Church, particularly criticizing the Church’s monopoly on wine during Mass, which only clergy could drink at the time. No surprise that he had so many followers, who continue to fight for his believes after his execution by burning at the stake in 1415.
For lunch, we decided to try some Czech street food—ham and hashbrowns. It was definitely a hearty and savory, but very heavy for a stomach!
After lunch, we hopped on a tram to head over to Vyšehrad. It was a nice break from all the walking, and the tram ride gave us a chance to sit back and relax a bit.
Vyšehrad is a fortress on a hill with amazing views of the city. It’s way less crowded than the Old Town, so we can explore the old fortifications and the beautiful Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul without the hustle.
The famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana is buried in the beautiful Vyšehrad Cemetery.
Beware of sharks! 🙂
We decided to walk back to our hotel, and along the way, we came across a few more of Prague’s landmarks.
Some really cool cafes.
Dancing Buildings designed by Frank Gehry.
Further down we found a sculpture of Mary Poppins husband. JK! Actually it was made by Michal Trpák and called “Slight Uncertainty.” It’s meant to represent the struggles of the working middle class, especially during tough economic times. The figure really conveys a sense of sadness and instability.
After dinner, we decided to end the day with a classical music concert in a church. The music of Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart sounded dramatic and epic, especially with the church’s acoustics and the powerful organ. It was a memorable experience, and the atmosphere was truly special.