St. Nicolas Church (Malá Strana)

St. Nicholas Church is an artistic masterpiece that rises above the rooftops. There is also a church of the same name in Old Town, so try not to get confused between the two! Before its construction, a Gothic parish church stood here. This is where the neighbourhood’s bourgeoisie and merchants would meet. In the 17th century, the Jesuit Order contributed to Prague’s Baroque buildings, with varying degrees of elegance. As the birthplace of this extravagant architecture, Rome was not happy with the Jesuits building and adapting t it how they pleased. The Jesuits ended up scaling back their ambitions to keep Rome at bay. That is why St. Nicholas Church, completed in 1752, has a relatively austere appearance, but that does not make it less dynamic. Outside, a series of ripples creates the illusion of a moving façade. Inside, the various spaces blend together in an architectural symphony. This is the sublime work of the Dientzenhofers, a father and son duo of architects, who were relatively well-known in Central Europe at the time. Easily recognisable from the city’s best viewpoints, the church’s dome and bell tower have been landmarks since their addition in 1771. The dome has a 20 meter wide circumference, while the bell tower rises to 65 meters—making it an ideal observation post for the secret police in the past. Considered the most precious Baroque building north of the Alps, you can visit the St. Nicholas Church by paying the entrance fee. The lavish Baroque interior, adorned with statues and 3,000 square meters of frescoes and murals, makes the price worth it.