St. Nicholas Church, Malá Strana, Prague
There are a few St. Nicholas Churches kicking around Prague – here is the one in Malá Strana (the Lesser Quarter). Begun in 1704, this Baroque grandpapa took 51 years to complete. Neither the original architect, the Bavarian Christoph Dientzenhofer, nor his son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, lived to see the finish. The
Ceiling, St. Nicholas Church, Malá Strana, Prague
St. Nicholas’s ceiling – The Apotheosis of St. Nicholas – comes to you courtesy of the Austrian artist, Johann Lukas Kracker. It’s one of the largest ceiling frescoes in Europe.
Organ, St. Nicholas Church, Malá Strana, Prague
Mozart played here. Or, to be more precise, Mozart played on this organ. Built by the Jesuit Thomas Scwharz (1745-1747), the organ has over 4,000 pipes. Mozart’s connection with Prague came about through his friendship with composer Frantisek Dusek and his wife Josefina. They first met in Salzburg, when the Duseks
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Graffiti, Malá Strana, Prague
Malá Strana (“Lesser” or “Little Quarter”) sits in the sunny shadow of Prague Castle. A devastating fire in 1541 wiped out much of the town, creating a tabula rasa for Renaissance and Baroque architects – and graffiti artists.
Certovka (Devil’s Stream), Malá Strana, Prague
Informally known as Prague’s Little Venice, Certovka (“Devil’s Stream”) is located in Malá Strana, Prague’s “Lesser Quarter.” In the 16th century, it was called Rosenberg’s ditch/race. Certovka gained its current moniker from the nearby House of the Seven Devils, which romantic guides will tell you is named after a jilted
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