Throughout my two weeks in Prague, I became familiar with the Metro System (subway) as a means of getting around the city. In my ventures, I discovered the oldest and most fascinating area of Old Town Prague, founded in 1231. The narrow streets, statues, centuries-old churches and other architectural marvels made me feel like I was walking through the pages of history.
I tried to remember this was the 'real thing' and not some modern-day Disneyland fabrication!
The Astronomical Clock, for instance, was mounted on the south side of the Old City Hall -- a city hall built in 1338 with clock started in 1410, almost 600 years ago!The clock is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the sun and moon in the sky; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.
(Click on any of these pictures to enlarge and get a closeup look at the detail.)
A short walk from the Old City Hall down Pariska Street and I found the Central Jewish Museum with an interesting history. The original museum was to preserve valuable artifacts from the Prague synagogues that had been demolished during the reconstruction of the Jewish Town at the beginning of the 20th century. The museum, however, was closed to the public after the Nazi occupation in 1939 but in 1942 the Nazis established the Central Jewish Museum to hold artifacts from all the liquidated Jewish communities and synagogues from around Europe... a slightly different purpose than the museum founders intended.
Across the Vltava River overlooking the city of Prague are Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Early foundations of the Prague Castle is recorded around 880 by prince BoĊivoj of the Premyslid dynasty with its surrounding buildings, such as St. Vitus Cathedral, added in the mid 1300s. 
The interior of St. Vitus is as spectacular as its exterior. Coronations of Czech kings and queens took place in this building as well as the construction of small chapels devoted to patron saints such as St. Wenceslas -- yes, 'the King Wenceslas' who went out to give alms to poor peasants on the Feast of Stephen.
Prague Castle became the seat of the first president of Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s and continues to be used for government purposes today.
Moving from the castle and cathedral, we were able to take in a beautiful view of the city as we made our way down to the Charles Bridge.
Charles IV ruled the country (1346-1378) and is remembered by the Czech people as their most beloved king. When Charles IV is elected and Prague becomes the capital of the Holy Roman Emperor in 1355, a bridge is constructed over the Vltava in 1357 in his honor. Charles Bridge and neighborhood are equally mesmerizing at night as they are during daylight hours.
