This entertaining travel guide (256 pages) was published in January of 2018 by Jonglez Publishing. The book takes you to Prague. Melissa read Secret Prague and loved it; it wouldn't be on our site if she didn't recommend it.
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If you’re intrigued by the idea of mysterious tombs, devilish sculptures, numerology, and other esoterica, this compact, fully-illustrated travel guide is for you.
Every page of this dense, compact volume features a color photo of something fantastic or fantastical, especially the architectural elements and unusual objects you might miss if you weren’t specifically looking for them: a cannonball embedded in the wall of a church, an old-time paternoster elevator, the secret symbols of alchemy throughout the city, a clock that runs backwards, and so much more.
Each chapter is dedicated to a different Prague neighborhood and includes a handy map of all the sights. No matter where you are in the city, you’ll find delights and diversions nearby.
Most of the recommended stops are found on the outside of buildings, in public squares, or in nature, so you can enjoy them at your leisure — no tickets, fees, or reservations required. Along with the address and description, you’ll also find entertaining backstories of the history and people involved.
A fun read all on its own for the tales from history and folklore, it’s an invaluable resource for visiting off-the-beaten-path Prague.
The timing of the construction of Charles Bridge is extraordinary: after consultation with the mathematician Havel of Strahov to determine the best time to lay the first stone, Charles IV chose the date 9 July 1357, at 5:31 in the morning. This timing made it possible set up a rather remarkable numerical palindrome: 1357, 9 July (the 7th month), to 5 hours 31 minutes in the morning gives the number 135797531, which could be read in both directions… The sum of the digits of the year of construction [1+3+5+7+9] is the same as the number of arches in the bridge [25]. — Martin Stejskal
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