Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

80  PR A GUE AREA B Y AREA

o Clam-Gallas p Mariánské
Palace Square
Clam-Gallasův Palác Mariánské Náměstí
Husova 20. Map 3 B4. Map 3 B3. X Staroměstská, Můstek.
X Staroměstská. Open for concerts
and temporary exhibitions only; Two statues dominate the square
usually 10am–6pm Tue–Sun.
from the corners of the forbid-
The interior of this magnificent ding Town Hall, built in 1912.
Baroque palace suffered during One illustrates the story of the
its use as a store for the city long-lived Rabbi Löw (see p90) A 19th-century sign on the House
archives, but it has been finally being caught by the at the Golden Snake
restored to its former glory. The Angel of Death. The other
palace, designed by Viennese is the Iron Man, a local ghost a Charles Street
court architect Johann Bernhard condemned to roam the Old Karlova Ulice
Fischer von Erlach, was built Town after murdering his Map 3 A4. X Staroměstská.
in 1713–30 for the Supreme mistress. A niche in the garden
Marshal of Bohemia, Jan Gallas wall of the Clam-Gallas Palace Dating back to the 12th century,
de Campo. Its grand portals, each houses a statue of the River this narrow, winding street
flanked by two pairs of Hercules Vltava, depicted as a nymph was part of the Royal Route
sculpted by Matthias Braun, give pouring water from a jug. (see pp174–5), along which
a taste of what lies within. The There is a story that an old coronation processions passed
main staircase is also decorated soldier once made the nymph on the way to Prague Castle.
with Braun statues, set off by a sole beneficiary of his will. Many original Gothic and
ceiling fresco, The Triumph of The square is a popular Renaissance houses remain,
Apollo by Carlo Carlone. Clam- meeting point and often attracts most converted into shops
Gallas Palace also has a theatre, visitors in the winter months to attract tourists.
where Beethoven performed. with a Christmas market. A café at the House at the
Golden Snake (No. 18) was
established in 1714 by an
Armenian, Deodatus Damajan,
who handed out slanderous
pamphlets from here. It is now
a restaurant. Look out for At the
Golden Well (No. 3), which has a
magnificent Baroque façade and
stucco reliefs of saints including
St Roch and St Sebastian, who
are believed to offer protection
against plagues.

s Church of
St Francis
Kostel Sv. Františka
Křižovnické náměstí 3. Map 3 A4.
Tel 221 108 255. X Staroměstská.
v 17, 18. @ 207. Open 10am–7pm
daily. 5 7am Mon–Fri, 9am Sun.
The Baroque Church of St Francis
was constructed between 1679
and 1685 by architects Gaudenzio
Casanova and Domenico
Canevalle, and was built on the
remains of the original church
of St Francis of Assisi of 1270.
The church has a striking 40m-
(130ft-)-high cupola. Statues
of Bohemian patrons stand
in alcoves in the façade. The
interior is richly appointed with
Matthias Braun’s statues on a portal of the Clam-Gallas Palace (c.1714) frescoes and important artwork.

080-081_EW_Prague.indd 80 20/03/17 11:28 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm