The Vrtba Garden

"One of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Prague is the Vrtba Gardens, which are small but extremely beautiful. They are located very close to the Malá Strana Square. They are somewhat difficult to find, as you have to enter through Karmelitská Street to reach them. The gardens were designed at the height of the Baroque period at the beginning of the 18th century by František Kaňka as an addition to the palace of the Count of Vrtba and have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These small gardens are based on a stepped space, in order to integrate the gardens with the hillside on which they are located. In this way, the different terraces of the garden are connected by stairs, forming an ensemble in the style of Italian gardens, from which this one is clearly inspired. In the gardens you will find numerous statues of classical gods and mythological beings leading to an impressive viewpoint with one of the best views of the Malá Strana district and the Church of St. Nicholas. Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00 (April-October). Closed the rest of the year. Price: Adults: 65 CZK Children and students: 55 CZK"

"František Maxmilián Kaňka designed the garden while he was remodelling the Vrtba palace for Jan Josef, the Count of Vrtba. Despite the palace undergoing numerous modifications over the years, the garden has managed to preserve its Baroque characteristics, along with the original sculptures and statuary created by Matyáš Bernard Braun. UNESCO has included it on its list of historic cultural sites."

"The Vrtba Garden is one of several fine High Baroque gardens in the Czech capital. It is located on the slope of Petřín Hill, in the Malá Strana district of the city. You will find the entrance from the main street where the tram runs, just a short walk from the Malostranske Square."