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October 19, 2009
The Transformative Power of Prague
Romanesque. Gothic. Renaissance. Baroque. If it’s a recognized style of architecture, you’re almost guaranteed to find an example of it in Prague. Now, I’m no expert on the differences between Rococo and Art Nouveau … but I can tell you that the Czech capital is home to some of the most stunning structures I’ve seen.
Among my favorites are St. Vitus Cathedral, with its beautiful rose window made of stained glass and gold … the candy-colored Kinsky Palace, facing Old Town Square, with its ornate façade of pink and white stucco … and, of course, the famous Charles Bridge, which spans the Vltava River and is lined with larger-than-life-size statues of Bohemian saints.
For me, though, it’s more than mere visual appeal that makes Prague’s architecture so enchanting. When I stroll through the city’s cobblestone streets, surrounded by such beautiful buildings and bridges, I feel transported—as if I’m stepping back in time. Prague comes alive for me, and I feel connected to the city in way that just wouldn’t be possible if it were filled instead with sleek skyscrapers and anonymous modern buildings.
Have you ever been somewhere where your physical setting evoked a powerful emotional connection? Email me at
harriet@gct.com
I’ll be featuring Holland and Belgium in my next update, but—as always—I look forward to reading all of your travel stories.
Harriet Lewis