Few cities embody the past as authentically as Prague, the Czech Republic’s atmospheric capital on the Vltava River that clings to its history with unwavering passion. Prague’s medieval architecture is its most prominent, but the city is also a rich repository of Romanesque, baroque and art nouveau buildings that stir the imagination. The main square in the heart of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, may be the most dramatic gathering of centuries-old structures, including the still-functioning Astronomical Clock, ticking since 1410. The city’s graceful, pedestrian-only Charles Bridge leads to Hradčany Castle and its rich complex of royal buildings.