Prague (play /ˈprɑːɡ/; Czech: Praha pronounced [ˈpraɦa] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.[4] Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million.[5] The city has a temperate oceanic climate with warm summers and chilly winters. Prague has been a political, cultural and economic centre of Europe[citation needed] and particularly central Europe[citation needed] during its 1,100 year existence. For centuries, during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.[6][7] Later it was an important city in the Habsburg Monarchy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire,[citation needed] and after World War I became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city played major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in 20th-century history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era. Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Main attractions include the following: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Prague boasts more than ten major museums, along with countless theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. Also, Prague is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including the famous Charles University. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009.[8][9] Prague is classified as a Beta+ global city according to GaWC studies, comparable to Berlin, Rome, or Vancouver. A modern public transportation system connects the city. Prague is also accessible by road, train, and air. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of Europe's (and the world's) most popular tourist destinations. It is the sixth most-visited European city after London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin.[31] Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing most of its historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Art Nouveau to Baroque, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultra-modern. Some popular sights include: Prague Castle with the St. Vitus Cathedral which store the Czech Crown Jewels Old Town (Staré Město) with its Old Town Square The Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on Old Town Square The picturesque Charles Bridge (Karlův Most) The vaulted Gothic Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga) of 1270 New Town (Nové město) with its busy and historic Wenceslas Square National Museum on the Wenceslas Square Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) with its Infant Jesus of Prague Josefov (the old Jewish quarter) with Old Jewish Cemetery and Old New Synagogue Jan Žižka equestrian statue in Vítkov Park, Žižkov -- Prague 3. The Lennon Wall Vinohrady, a cadastral district that was once covered in vineyards Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, with its huge collections of glass, furniture, textile, toys, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Art Deco and so on The museum of the Heydrich assassination in the crypt of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius Vyšehrad Castle and Cemetery where many famous Czechs are buried, including the composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana Písek Gate, the last preserved city gate of Baroque fortification Petřínská rozhledna, an observation tower on Petřín Hill, which resembles the Eiffel Tower Anděl, a busy part of the city with modern architecture and a shopping mall Žižkov Television Tower (Žižkovský vysílač) with observation deck -- Prague 3. The New Jewish Cemetery in Olšany, location of Franz Kafka's grave -- Prague 3. The Metronome, a giant, functional metronome that looms over the city The Dancing House (Fred and Ginger Building) Stiassny's Jubilee Synagogue is the largest in Prague The Mucha Museum, showcasing the Art Nouveau works of Alfons Mucha The vast cemeteries that are also used for walks by the locals, such as Olšany Cemetery Places connected to writers living in the city, such as Franz Kafka (one popular destination is the Franz Kafka Museum, also his grave at the New Jewish cemetery near the metro station Želivského) The Prague Zoo, selected as the 7th best zoo in the world by Forbes magazine The Nusle bridge with tube for underground

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