Prague

Home to about 1.2 million people, Prague is a cosmopolitan city in the heart of the Czech Republic and has a long history as one of the cultural, artistic and political centers of eastern Europe. The beautiful city is set in central Czech Republic and offers visitors a stunning landscape of green forests, rolling hillsides and the blue Vltava River that flows for about 20 miles directly through the city.

Prague is also home to a great array of pristine architectural styles and presents a stunning collection of well-preserved buildings. Some of the styles scattered throughout the city include Baroque, Art Nouveau, Renaissance, Cubist and Neo-Gothic. As the political center of the country, Prague is the seat of the Czech Government and houses of Parliament in addition to various national television stations and other media outlets, including Radio Free Europe. The area is also an educational center for much of eastern Europe, and hosts over 10 universities and colleges, including Charles University, one of the oldest universities in Europe.

The city is divided into four general areas: on the left side of the Vltava River is Hradčany (home of Prague Castle), below the castle is Lesser Quarter, across the river from Lesser Quarter is Old Town, and to the south of Old Town lies New Town. Hradčany is known for the magnificent Prague Castle and surrounding palaces, churches, and halls that are great for exploring. Visit Lesser Quarter for a medieval feeling, complete with narrow, winding streets and 9th-12th century buildings. Old Town Square is the highlight of Old Town, and was once the main central market for the small settlement of early Prague. Finally, New Town is (fittingly) the "newest" part of the city, with much of its construction dating back to the 14th century. New Town also is home to popular Wenceslas Square - a horse market when it was originally built, it now accomodates various shops and businesses and is a popular gathering place for demonstrations and celebrations.