Rings of Fire in Old Town, Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
(click here to redirect to stop #1)
Rings of Fire in Old Town, Prague
This is the final photograph from my Motherland Tour of the Czech Republic. It is also my favorite photo I captured in this most photogenic of cities. Many thanks to my patient travel partners/family members who put up with my constant stopping and starting for photos as we toured the city and countryside. Special thanks also to my father, who not only brought me to this region when I was a small child, but also flew his (not so young anymore) bones over to Europe to again accompany me to this region, this time with MY small children. His love of travel and adventure is insatiable, and thanks to him it has passed through me to my children. This was an exceptional trip, and we absolutely could not have pulled it off without you, Dad! I love you and hope to travel with you again soon!
Sunrise Over the Charles Bridge, Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
(click here to redirect to stop #1)
Sunrise Over the Charles Bridge, Prague.
Time to wrap up the Motherland Tour with my favorite 2 shots from the journey. Sunrise over The Charles Bridge is my second favorite. This was an interesting shoot..super early, and I was one of about 8 other photographers lined up at this very spot waiting for the perfect capture. It was also a pleasant surprise to see the bridge totally void of all tourists and venders…very peaceful, as was the stroll back to the flat through the empty early morning streets.
Choir and Apse, St Nicholas Cathedral – Prague, Czech Republic.
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
(click here to redirect to stop #1)
St Nicholas Choir and Apse, Prague, Czech Republic.
The Church of St Nicholas is a excellent example of High Baroque architecture. Built between 1704-1755, it is one of the most valuable Baroque buildings north of the Alps. Three generations of great Baroque architects – father, son and son-in-law – worked on the church: Kryštof Dientzenhofer, Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer and Anselmo Lurago. The Baroque organs have over 4,000 pipes up to six metres in length and were played by Mozart in 1787. Mozart’s spectacular masterpiece, Mass in C, was first performed in the Church of Saint Nicholas shortly after his visit.
Baroque was a period of artistic style that was popular during the High and Late Middle Ages (15th- 17th centuries) and is characterized by drama, rich color, and dramatic contrast between light and shadow. It used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, theater, and music.
Baroque vs Gothic:
Compare this image to my last post, St Vitus Cathedral Choir and Apse, which is a Late Gothic Cathedral (started in 1344) . This style of architecture flourished during the High and Late medieval period (11th – 14th centuries), and incorporated soaring towers, spires, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses which enabled the use of thinner walls and larger windows than previously feasible during the Romanesque architecture of the early middle ages.
Which style do you prefer?
Choir and Apse, St Vitus Cathedral – Prague, Czech Republic.
St Vitus Cathedral: Choir, Apse – Prague, Czech Republic
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
St Vitus Choir and Apse, Prague, Czech Republic.
Roman Catholic Gothic Cathedral was founded on 21 November 1344 . This cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and is the biggest and most important church in the country. Located within Prague Castle , it contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors.
Vltata River – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Vltata River, Prague
I have dropped behind posting since going and returning from holiday. I am going to get the rest of these Prague pics posted so I can get on to something else…but I’m still holding on to what I think are the bet two. Will post them soon (last). In the meantime, here is a view up the Vltata River.
Old Town Bridge Tower, Charles Bridge – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Charles Bridge from beneath the Old Town Bridge Tower – Prague
This is your view of the Charles Bridge after you stumble to the ground beneath the Old Town Bridge Tower on you way home in the early morning after an all-night pub crawl enjoying some of Prague’s finest beers, which there are many!
Spanish Synagogue Altar – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Altar of the Spanish Synagogue in Prague.
The Spanish Synagogue is a Moorish Revival synagogue built in Prague in 1868. The synagogue is most remarkable for the elaborate style of the interior, every surface is covered by elaborate Islamic-style polychrome and gilded patterns, some painted and some carved or molded. It was called the Spanish Synagogue for its impressive Moorish interior design, influenced by the famous Alhambra. During the Second World War, the Germans used the building as a repository for property taken from the Jews. The building underwent a restoration in the late 1990s, and is currently owned by The Jewish Museum used as a museum and concert hall.
Spanish Synagogue – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Dome of the Spanish Synagogue in Prague.
The Spanish Synagogue is a Moorish Revival synagogue built in Prague in 1868. The synagogue is most remarkable for the elaborate style of the interior, every surface is covered by elaborate Islamic-style polychrome and gilded patterns, some painted and some carved or molded. It was called the Spanish Synagogue for its impressive Moorish interior design, influenced by the famous Alhambra. During the Second World War, the Germans used the building as a repository for property taken from the Jews. The building underwent a restoration in the late 1990s, and is currently owned by The Jewish Museum used as a museum and concert hall.
Čechův Bridge – Prague (My 100th Post, TYVM! )
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Čechův Bridge is the shortest bridge on the Vltava river in Prague. It is named after Svatopluk Čech (1846 – 1908), a Czech writer, poet and journalist. This 169 m long bridge was constructed of stone (pillars) and iron (arches) between 1905 and 1908. The roadway was made of wood until 1961. As the only Art Nouveau style bridge in the Czech Republic, it is protected by the state.
Street Musician – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Every Old World capital city has their favorite local homegrown composer who’s music you can hear throughout the town in flavors ranging from cathedral performances to street string quartets to wandering minstrels, and Prague is no exception. This street musician on the Charles Bridge was ringing out some hauntingly beautiful Antonin Dvořák pieces, who was from Nelahozeves (near Prague, then part of Bohemia in the Austrian Empire, now Czech Republic).
Evening Action in Old Town Square – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Entering the Old Town Square in Prague is like being sent back in time 800 years! The Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí), which began life as the central marketplace for Prague, is one of Prague’s two main squares. With its magnificent Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles buildings and churches, the Square is considered one of the most beautiful historical sights in Europe. Not much beats sipping a nice cold Czech pilsner beer here as dusk settles in on a warm summer evening.
Charles Bridge (Stone Bridge, Karlův most) – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Lesser Town (Malá Strana). It was actually called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) during its first several centuries. Its construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357. 30 Baroque statues of religious figures line the bridge, however these are replicas and the originals may be seen on the National Museum.
Astronomical Clock – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
The Prague astronomical clock, or Prague orloj is a medieval astronomical clock located in The Old Town Square in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.
The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism itself is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; “The Walk of the Apostles”, a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy and a skeleton, mounted on the clock, was supposed nod his head in confirmation. Based on the legend, the only hope was represented by a boy born in the New Year´s night. (from wiki)
The Crossing, St Vitus Cathedral Ceiling – Prague, Czech Republic.
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
St Vitus Cathedral ceiling at the crossing of nave and transept, Prague, Czech Republic.
Roman Catholic Gothic Cathedral was founded on 21 November 1344 . This cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and is the biggest and most important church in the country. Located within Prague Castle , it contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors.
Man Hanging Out
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
“Man Hanging Out” by David Černý, a Prague artist. The man is Sigmund Freud.
Lovers on Bridge – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Early morning romance on the Charles Bridge.
Early Morning Stroll
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Very early morning stroller through the empty cobbled streets of Prague. This was a little bonus shot for me that I captured after taking sunrise pictures on the Charles Bridge (check back for them). I think that the leading lines of the white window grates directed straight at the stroller work well to make this simple shot very visually engaging.
Charles Bridge, Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Charles Bridge over the Vltava River. Commissioned by King Charles IV in 1357, Prague’s most stunning bridge spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures.
Imagine Peace
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Lennon Wall, where “young alcoholics, mentally deranged, sociopathic, and agents of Western capitalism” would come to voice their grievances against communism and oppression during the ’80s. At that time, western music and western symbols were banned in what was then Czechoslovakia.
Love Locks and Waterwheel – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
For the uninitiated, these are all padlocks with messages written or etched onto them, mostly consisting of (you) + (me) initials surrounded by a heart.
Prague, Czech Republic
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Next stop, Prague, the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic. St Vitus Cathedral over the Vltata River.
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