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38 maltatoday SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018 Travel ≠≠ CITY BREAKS On the UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1992, the historic city centre of Prague, the Czech Republic's capital city, offers fantastic weekend breaks. Check out the characteristic winding alleys and varying architectural styles, Romanesque rotundas, Gothic cathedrals, Baroque and Renaissance palaces, art nouveau, classicist, cubist and functionalist houses and modern buildings in this fairy-tale town of magical beauty in the heart of Europe. NEED TO KNOW How to get there Prague is pretty easy to get to from Malta. Just a two hour and a half hour flight away, Prague is serviced by Airmalta. Best time to visit Prague is a great city to visit at any time of year. Daylight is longest in the spring and the warmer weather means more people are out and about and travelling during the summer. If you don't mind the cold, the winter months are less busy and Prague becomes particularly magical under a layer of snow. Currency The official currency in the Czech Replublic is the Czech crown. Although the Czech Republic is part of the European Union, the euro is not widely accepted here. Some shops, hotels and restaurants will accept payment in euro, though the exchange rate may not be favourable. Visas As part of the European Union, Europeans do not need a travel visa to get to Prague. Prague – A modern city with a fairytale backdrop BEST SPOT FOR SIGHTSEEING Prague Castle is the most popular spot visited in Prague. Uncover the secret of the magic Golden lane, famous for its picturesque houses and stories of al- chemists transforming metal into gold. Gain insight into the Saint-George Basilica ancestral convent and learn about the story of the Black Tower of Europe's largest medieval castle. Stroll around the Royal Gardens of the castle, founded on the site of the oldest vineyards and famous for its beautiful floral ornament or to the Lion's Court, an attractive renaissance building, built in the 1580s, which used to house wild animals. Vysehrad or "Castle on the heights" is a beautiful place to visit at any time or day or any time of year. To get into the essence of the place, walk around the huge, beautiful park that covers the area. Even more astonishing than the park or historic buildings are the views of the city, the bridges over Vltava and the Prague Castle. The best viewing point are from the Gothic ruins of Libuses Bath's. Walks at sunset and by night are sure to leave an impres- sion but get yourself oriented before darkness falls to make sure you don't get lost. Visit the astronomical clock construct- ed in 1410, the mechanisms of which are still functional. 80 years later the clock was rebuilt by Hanus and as leg- end has it, the clockmaker was blinded by councillors so that he would never build a greater instrument. The story goes that Hanus deliberately damaged the clock before he died and cursed the instrument so that anyone who tried to repair the clock would either have gone mad or died. To this day you can read a number of things off the clock but not the time. Not only is Charles Bridge a histori- cal jewel but its statues can make your wishes come true. If you feel sceptical, feel the cobblestones beneath your feet and experience the mystical atmos- phere of the narrow streets and you will be instantly converted.