John Lennon was hailed in the communist world as an anti-establishment martyr and patron saint of disgruntled youth. After his death, in 1980, a giant and colorful picture of Lennon's head was painted on this wall and soon surrounded by graffiti dedicated to free speech and expression. The communist leaders regularly dispatched a whitewash crew to cover up the troublesome individualist propaganda. However, after the Velvet Revolution, the story goes, the French Ambassador (whose embassy is just across the street) asked the Mayor of Prague to call off his roller boys because he liked to look at the urban scrawl from his office window. In the past few years the wall has been patched up and re-painted several times. Locals and visitors still add their marks.

This Neo-Classical structure is the Estates Theatre built in 1783. On October 29, 1787, Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni had its debut here with Mozart at the piano conducting the orchestra.


Memorial in front of Estates Theatre commemorating the event.

Philosophical Hall and library in the Strahov Monastery in Prague. This library is over 800 years old. The ceiling fresco depicts the Struggle of Mankind to Know Real History by Franz Maulbertsch.

Detail from the ceiling in the Theological Hall.

Theological Hall and library in the Strahov Monastery with globes and very old books.

Originally intended as a concert hall and art gallery, the Rudolfinum was used during the inter war years as the seat of the Czech Parliament (before eventually being shut down by the Nazis). So legend has it, the Reich forces also insisted that a statue of the Jewish composer Mendelssohn be removed from the hall's balustrade gallery. However, as each illustrious composer came without name attached, it was decided to choose the one with the biggest nose. This turned out to be Wagner, Hitler's favorite composer.

Today, following restoration, the Rudolfinum once again fulfils its original purpose, being widely acknowledged as Prague's premier concert hall.

Statue of Czech composer Antonín Dvorák in front of the Rudolfinum.


On our last day in Prague we relaxed at a cafe in Old Town Square as the sun came out briefly for the first time during our visit, illuminating the square with a golden late afternoon light.