The Infant Jesus of Prague
The Infant Jesus of Prague statue is a key point of interest for many tourists visiting Prague's Church of Our Lady Victorious. This article explains the legends behind it, and associated with it.
The surprising tunnel under Prague 7
Sixteenth century Prague was smaller than it is today. Prague Castle was the only part of the city north of the river. The neighbourhood which is now known as Prague 7, or Holesovice, was not inhabited at the time. The Kings used to hunt and fish ? here.
The Unexpectedly Polish National Library of Malta
Valletta is an ornate and Baroque city built by the Knights of Malta. One of it’s most famous historical buildings is neo-classical which contrasts with the rest of the city. Welcome to Malta's (Polish) National Library.
Finding Prague’s lost Old Town fortifications
Tourists from the New World chuckle when they read that Prague's New Town dates back to the 14th century. The New World barely existed in those days. Prague's Old Town Fortifications have been lost but if you know where to look, you can rediscover the medieval limits of the Old Town of Prague.
The Spinsters’ Church
I hold on as the swaying of the boat almost makes me lose my balance. I am on a vaporetto heading to the Venetian island of Giudecca. I want to
Maltese windows
When the Knights of Malta built Valletta in the seventeenth century, it was admired by all who saw it. We don’t realise that it took 400 years or so to
The Buskett Forest and the Maltese Falcon
When the Knights were given the Maltese islands they were asked to pay tribute of a Maltese Falcon every year to the monarch of Sicily. It’s a strange request, and
Renaissance Pavillions … and Communism?
The Royal Garden beside the castle in Prague is a joy to behold. There is a Renaissance pavilion there which seems to have a connection to Czechia’s recent communism-tainted past.
The Communist Clock of Olomouc
In Prague, tourists push one another to catch a glimpse of the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. In Olomouc, there are not that many tourists in front of the
Fort St Angelo’s Fortifications
Fort St Angelo guarding the harbour. This is a quintessential view of Malta from the capital, Valletta. Many assume that the Knights built it for the Great Siege of Malta, but