Late summer days in Prague can get hot, sweaty and packed with tourists. All the benches in famous parks like the Waldstein gardens are taken, and views are obstructed by selfie sticks and backpacks. There are, however, a few places in the centre to escape the crowds and the city heat. One of these is the Vrtba Garden. This oasis was built in the 1700s in the baroque style as the private garden to the Vrtba family palace. A lavishly hand-painted sala terrana leads guests into the garden complex, a meticulously landscaped collection of open spaces on several levels. Original statues are scattered in fountains, and line the paths, gazing up at one of the best, and most underrated views in the city. The view from the top level of the garden is unusual to Prague, as most of the city's viewing points are well above the city centre. In contrast, this view is right in the middle of the Lesser Town, and the view platform is only a metre or two above the level of most of the buildings in the area; this provides a unique opportunity to see the rooftops of Prague 'from the inside'. We would like to live here, for the view alone; and guess what? Someone does. Just a few metres off the garden, a private terrace sits in between red roofs, drying laundry blowing in the breeze. There could be worse places to live, I guess. The garden charges a small entrance fee, but it is certainly a very small price to pay to keep the crowds out, and the the perfect landscaping in.
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AuthorMy name is Emilie. I live between Bristol and Prague, travel, drink coffee and explore as much as I can. Categories
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