Alpamayo is one of the most conspicuous peaks in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of the Peruvian Andes in the Ancash region, Peru, South America. Elevation 19,511 ft (5,947 meters). Has a 60 degree almost symmetrical pyramid shape.It is the most beautiful and conspicuous peak ever and has two sharp summits South and North.

Alpamayo mountain peak was climbed for the first time by a German expedition through the N ridge. It was voted “the most beautiful mountain in the world” in a worldwide survey of scenic beauty at Munich in 1966.

The most common climbing route, known as the Ferrari route, is situated on the southwest face of the mountain. It is considered a difficult climb, demanding good crampon and ice-climbing technique. ( Best months are the May to September dry season).

Alpamayo should not be underestimated!

It is a trail full of turquoise lagoons, mountains of more than 6000 masl, beautiful valleys and many high passes with magnificent views. The campsites are expansive and tranquill.

]]> http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/10/15/alpamayo-peru/feed/ 2 http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/09/15/nuremberg-germany/ http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/09/15/nuremberg-germany/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:48:52 +0000 Asya http://www.wayfaring.info/?p=12874

Nuremberg is second-biggest city in Germany, after Munich. The city is home to an appealing variety of historic buildings, museums, and interesting sightseeing opportunities. Nuremberg is famous for its sausages. Also the city offers a wide variety of annual events catering for all tastes. Opera or ballet in the State Theatre, cultural events in various city districts, cabaret and so on – the program is huge.

Much of the best sightseeing in the city of Nuremberg wait within the boundaries of the Altstadt, the Old Town quarter. Highlights here include the rebuilt Nuremberg Castle, the famed gingerbread at Hauptmarkt, the pedestrian thoroughfare of the Konigstrasse, the Pegnitz River, and the Altstadt Walking Tours, which covers a circuit of the area and passes the Nuremberg Castle along the way. Join a guided tour through the medieval dungeons in the Old Town Hall or discover the subterranean warren of the Felsengnge with rock-cut beer cellars.

Activities in Nuremberg: Nuremberg comes up with lots of parks and green spots along the river Pegnitz. Nice locations offering nice options for cycling, skating or just relaxing in one of the many beer gardens in Nuremberg.  From a simple picnic or afternoon retreat to the park to a technical hike, a round of golf, or a more adventurous sport, there are plenty of Nuremberg activities to keep you busy.

Outside the Haus der Kunst museum sits a canal, who is an underground surfing spot in Munich, Germany. The rapids suuply local surfing buffs with ample waves maintaining their surfing skills sharp throughout the winter. Its only one man at a time at the surfing hob, so future enthusiasts should be waiting. These German surfers need no worry about sharks:)

Munich is a historic German city, also capital of the German state Bavaria. The city is home to 1,5million people and one of the Germany’s major cultural centres. The city location is just right under the Alps nose, which is idyllic.

Munich is very successful place with its buzzing factories, newspapers and television stations. The city is something between Hollywood-type glamour and folkloric connections. For instance as some Americans transfer to New York and Los Angeles to seek opportunities, Germans transfer to Munich. More than two-thirds of German population living in Munich. The city has many nick names – ”Athens on the Isaar”, ”the German Silicon Valley” and ”Little Paris”.

Munich has a vast pedestrian zone in the center, so best way to sightseeing is on foot. As well as many of the major attractions can be reached only by walking. If you’re not up to strolling you can explore the city by its excellent public transportation system by taxi or rent a bicycle. Tourists can rent a bike at Radius Bikes in the Hauptbahnhof.

Munich is expensive city and has the highest rents in Germany. In spite of that fact, a nice place to meet some friends or to have a snack is Tabacco. It’s a small bar and restaurant situated downtown with simple wood paneling yellow ceiling and dark-brass chandeliers. The music is lounge and the bar is full with sophisticated crowd.

The city is well known for its purification. It is an oasis for opera lovers, summer games, trendy shops and museum.

Above the clouds, between the purest Alpine air, 1500m above the sea level is located Vigilius Mountain Resort. The only way to get there is only by cable car. There are no roads, no traffic, no noise. The place is within driving distance of Milan, Venice, Munich, Zurich, Verona and Innsbruck. 20 minutes from Bolzano, Italy.

The Hotel inside is so warm and stylish. A unique sensory experience is created by the use of the naturally scented larch wood throughout – that has been painstakingly crafted to achieve three different finishes: Floors are covered in roughly patterned larch, a fine grain has been used for all panelling and finishes, and a fluted look for the doors. All guestrooms face either east or west, but always to the outside – that is brought even closer by floor-to-ceiling windows leading on to generous balconies.

There are spa located on three floors with indoor pool, whirlpool which extends into the open air, sauna, steam and the paradise garden, unique vigilius feedback method with individually selected spa treatments, hay bath, vigilius massage, shiatsu, shiseido Qi massage and more.

Each room consist CD player, modem line, phone, laundry service, exclusive bath amenities
satellite TV & DVD on request.

Princess of India Barbie doll is awe-inspiring in her sari – the best-known type of Indian clothing. Made of soft, shimmering materials, this extraordinary pink sari features golden accents and is draped around her body and over her head in an intricate style. Like some princesses, she wears a golden headpiece called a tikka, a forehead ornament. The tikka hangs above her bindi, the dot on her forehead. A golden choker and earrings complete this wonderful costume.

Of course, her features never change either. Rajasthan a vast timeless land of mysticism and magnificence is a spectacular mixture of rich culture. Ancient traditions and glorious heritage. Sheer brilliance in colour and remarkable vibrancy in design assume characteristic significance in the world of traditional Rajasthani wear. Barbie drapes herself in her Rajasthani finery complete with trinkets, bracelets, bangles, and rings worn by traditional Rajasthani women giving a strikingly divine cosmetic effect unmatched anywhere Rajasthan. The land her people and customs exhorts you to celebrate and savour the best from the home of the enigmatic Rajputs. Dressed in rich, bridal colours that capture the essences of tradition, Sundari Gujarati Barbie doll glows in indescribabe radiance. Her trousseau includes a pure silk “Gharchola” (sari worn in traditional Gukarati style) with elegant zari (gold and silver thread inlay ) work and a golden border. She is adorned in rustic but eye catching jewellery inlaid with stones, which look like mina (semi-precious gems) work.

Festival Fun is a set containing Barbie and Kelly from India. It is a Special Edition set released in the year 2000, exclusively for an Indian market. Shortly thereafter, these gorgeous dolls were stopped in production. Today these hard to find dolls are considered collectors items and highly valuable. Responding to a reporter’s comment that some were concerned about the message conveyed by Diwali Barbie’s blue eyes and fair skin, a spokesperson for Mattel told India-West in an email Oct. 16, Representing 45 nationalities and sold in more than 150 nations throughout the world, Barbie doll has shown girls that beauty is represented by a diversity of looks. The Diwali Barbie sells the exotic to a Western society eager to be a part of the foreign mystery that is India and the Indian woman. It sells Barbie as the United States has understood it with an “ethnic twist”.

A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers are available for tasting and purchase. HPCC-06 will take place immediately before Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival. 22nd September to 9th October 2007. For 16 days around 7 million visitors come to Munich and consume approximately 6 million liters of beer in 14 giant beer tents. The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday September 16th, 2007. The parade is traditionally part of the two-week festival gathering visitors from all over the world. Organizers of the world’s largest folk festival expect up to six million visitors to enjoy Bavarian beer in huge tents and exciting roller coasters on the fairgrounds. All activities take place in vast marquees hosted by the various Munich breweries and seating several thousand revellers apiece. The beer, the food and the music all combine to create an atmosphere which is unequalled.

International visitors not only have the opportunity to access German’s well-known types of beer such as and 333 Beer. Singing and dancing performances by Germany’s artists will also be presented at the festival. There’s not much relation to its namesake festival back in Germany, but it is a beer festival, there are a whole lot of vendors and it was lovely sunny day. Those tents all shelter different breweries, there’s a stage at the far end, some games set up on the field at the near end, and food for sale up above.
Powerful waitresses, some of them capable of carrying eight full beer glasses, blow whistles or shout “Vorsicht!” (”Look Out!”) as they barge their way through the crowds. Collisions are rare but messy, especially if they’re bearing giant trays laden with pork knuckles and chicken. Brezels the size of steering wheels are also on offer.
Of course, it is always best to get to know the real thing.

The Allianz Arena, opened in 2005 and home to both Munich clubs – Bayern and TSV 1860, was designed purely as football stadium. It took less than three years to build this architecturally unique arena. Here you find out all you need to know about Europes state of the art stadium.
Capacity

* Total: 69,901 capacity undercover (including.Executive boxes and business seats)
* Total of 66,000 seats
* Lower Tier: 20,000 seats (with standing : 69,901)
* Middle Tier: 24,000 seats
* Upper Tier: 22,000 seats
* in the North and South Stands: 10,400 standing: a relationship of 1-1.3 Vario-Seats
* 2,200 business seats and about 400 seats for the press
* 106 VIP boxes of various sizes accommodating 1,374 guests
* 165 special seats for the disabled at main entrance/exterior ground level (no change of level)

* 9,800 parking places in four x four-storey Esplanade car parks (the largest in Europe)
* Entrance height: 2 metres
* 1,200 parking places on two levels in the stadium
* 350 coach places (240 to the north and 110 to the south of the Esplanade)
* 130 parking spaces for the disabled

Inside the Arena
6,000 m² of catering facilities devided into following sections:

* 28 kiosks
* 2 fan-restaurants (one in the north- and one in the south-stand), each with 1,000 seats
Restaurant Arena a la Carte accommodating 400 people
Press club with about 350 seats
* Mixed Zone ( 520 m²)
* offices and conference rooms
* comfortably appointed media areas
* a nursery
* 54 ticket counters
* shopping facilities
* changing rooms ( 4 for players: FC Bayern 2, TSV 1860 2 ; 4 for coaches ; 2 for referees)
* 2 warm-up rooms, each 110m²
* 550 WC-cubicles in the Arena
* 190 monitors in the Arena

* 190 monitors in the Arena
* Total surface (barrier to barrier): 120 m x 83 m
* Spectator distance from pitch: 7.5 m minimum
* Pitchside barrier height: approx 1.2 m

Seat row gradients:
* Lower tier: approx 24°
* Middle tier: approx 30°
* Upper tier: approx 34°

* 2 x 100 m2
LED Video Walls in 16:9 format, 42.5 m above ground
* 232 floodlights, 45 m high

Arena & Esplanade dimensions
Stadium dimensions: 258 m x 227 m x 50 m (gross figure)

* 7 levels
* Admesurement: 840 m
* Façade and roof: 66,500 m² in total, comprising 2,760 inflated panels
* Roof area: 38,000 m²
* Façade: 28,500 m²
* Illuminated area (three colours available); 25,500 m²
* Area occupied by stadium: 37,600 m²
* Total site area: 171,000 m²
Esplanade dimensions: 543 m x 136 m x 0-12 m
* 4 levels
* Admesurement: 1.358 m
* Covered area: approx 73,900 m²

1. Island of Sylt, Germany

The island is closer to the coasts of Danmark, but it is german and is the place where the elite spends its summer vacation. This is tevtonian equivalent of Martas Vineyard with sand dunes, sea lighthouses and cute buildings, in which are located boutiques of Lui Vuitton and Hugo Boss. Beaches at the eastern coast of the island are suitable for families, but the western beaches are the real Mecca for the surfers. Indeed the village is known as “Sylt’s Saint Tropes”. Sylt is favourite destination for vacation of Boris Becker, Claudia Schiffer and Ralf Schumacher. You can reach the island by flight from Munich of Frankfurt, or by train from Hamburg.

2. Island of Kea, Greece

Kea, the closest of the Cyclades to the mainland, has a reputation as the island that the Greeks were clever enough to keep to themselves. It is a place with a laid-back atmosphere, great walking, good swimming and nice beaches, while Ioulidha, the town at the centre, has a collection of delightful tavernas. On Island of Kea you can meet lots of Athenian families and yachting types of people. Ferries to Kea leave from the port of Lavrio, a 90-minute bus ride from Athens.

3. Island of Lopud, Croatia

Croatia is awash with minute, barely populated islands but Lopud, one of the Elafiti islands, with its handful of bars, shops and restaurants and a couple of hotels, is one of the most charming. There are no cars on the island, hand-pulled wooden carts being the preferred form of transportation. Unusually for Croatia, Lopud has sandy beaches, the largest of which is Sunj, reached by boat or forest path.To get there you need to Fly to Dubrovnik, 45-minute ferry to Lopud.

5. Comino, Malta

Gozo’s smaller sibling. So small, in fact, that there are only four permanent residents and a hotel that is only open between April and October. However, what Comino lacks in human interface, it makes up for in nature reserves, a bird sanctuary, beaches and the much-feted Blue Lagoon. Limited sights include the old isolation hospital, a tower, and a chapel dating back to the 14th century. To get there you need to Fly to Malta, then catch a ferry to Comino provided by the hotel.

6. Iles d’Hyeres, France

This collection of three islands off the Cote d’Azur is kept crowd-free through impressively high levels of French bureaucracy – numbers allowed to visit the island have been reduced (ferries stop running when a certain number of people are on the island) and smoking is usually banned in summer. Crack the rules and regulations, however, and you discover a particularly French idyll. Porquerolles, the largest of the islands, produces an acclaimed rose wine and has fabulous fish restaurants. Le Mas du Langoustier is one of France’s most romantic hotels, while the Notre Dame beach is rated as one of the best in Provence. Ryanair flies into Toulon-Hyeres airport, which is a short drive to one of the ferry ports to the islands.

7. Eilean Shona, Scotland

An island off the coast of Scotland that has stayed off the radar by being privately owned (albeit by Richard Branson’s sister, Vanessa). Situated at the entrance to Loch Moidart, between the islands of Mull and Skye, there are five distinctly basic cottages and one substantially grander main house which comes with a cook/housekeeper. Neither cars nor bicycles are allowed on the island but rowing boats are provided free. Two miles long, there are 300 acres of woodland.Drive to Castle

9. Aland Islands, Finland

A veritable smorgasbord of islands – roughly 6,000 of them – that lie between Sweden and Finland, they are a blend of ancient Viking burial mounds and weatherboard house lifestyle fantasy. Unadulterated wholesomeness, with cycling and fishing opportunities galore, along with general Arthur Ransome-esque messing about in boats. The best time to visit is late August, when the Finnish schools have gone back and rental prices dip.

10. Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, Italy

Europe’s largest inland island (three kilometres long) is in the middle of Lake Iseo. It has a couple of villages, a handful of restaurants and bars, vineyards, a nice walk through the olive and walnut trees to the 13th-century church of Madonna della Ceriola and copious amounts of tranquillity. Fly to Brescia with Ryanair, then take a bus or train to Iseo, followed by a ferry.

11. Ile d’Aix, France

Just one mile long, the island where Napoleon negotiated his surrender to the British has a more rough and ready feel than the ile de Re, its celebrity-sated sibling to the north. The barracks built for Napoleon’s soldiers have evolved into housing and a summer-only cinema, there’s a particularly impressive fort, a museum commemorating Napoleon’s stay (La Maison de l’Empereur), sandy beaches, a hotel (predictably called the Napoleon), plenty of camping and – this being France – a boulangerie and several very good restaurants, including Cafe de l’Ocean and the more gourmand Les Paillotes. Fly to La Rochelle with Ryanair or Flybe. Bus to La Rochelle port, ferry to ile d’Aix.

12. Island of Losinj, Croatia

Located off Cres, Croatia’s largest island, Losinj has attractive Austro-Hungarian and Venetian touches and is peppered with ornate villas. There is a pine forest and a particularly nice harbour with a floating fruit market at one end. A three-hour ferry from Pula.

13. Island of Gotland, Sweden

Bang in the middle of the Baltic, Gotland is a land mass of Scandinavian perfection, offering a staggering array of medieval churches, bucolic farmland, fossil-filled beaches, highly chilled beach clubs and yachting. It is perhaps Europe’s most stylish island; the cobbled streets of Visby, Gotland’s medieval capital, are fringed with vintage fashion shops, Sixties-inspired coffee shops and frighteningly clever furniture stores. And being almost completely flat, the cycling is superb. Flight to Stockholm, then either another flight to Visby with Skyways, or a bus ride followed by a three-hour ferry to Visby.

14. Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland

Definitely one for the summer months, not least because that’s when the two main B&B options are open, Rathlin Island is north of Ballycastle in County Antrim and 14 miles from the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. Four miles long, it is home to around 70 people and copious seals. Caledonian MacBrayne (028 2076 9299; www.calmac.co.uk) runs twice daily ferries all year round from £3.80 day return.

15. Island of Porto Santo, Portugal

Located 75km from Madeira, Porto Santo achieved fame late last year when Monarch Airways disgorged a passenger it claimed was being disruptive. Once home to Christopher Columbus, Porto Santo, unlike Madeira, has 8km of fine yellow sand. Although it is not a party island, there’s a museum dedicated to Columbus while the volcanic landscape lends itself to good walks in spring and autumn. Thanks to Nato, a full airport runway was built in 1960; flights are currently via Funchal on Madeira (15-minute flight time) or Portugal.

Hram-pametnik Aleksander Nevski (St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church)

The St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Stauropigial Memorial-Church rises in the center of Sofia, in a big square bearing its name. Its importance is determined by the proximity of the National Assembly, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the ancient St. Sophia Orthodox Church, the Synodal Palace, the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical engineering, the Higher Institute of Art, the St. Cyril arid Metodius National Library and the St. Kliment Ohridskl Sofia University. Its foundation-stone was laid in 1882, building work began in 1904 and the church was completed in 1912. Built under the guidance of chief architect Professor Alexander N. Pomerantsev in co-operation with his gifted assistants, architects Alexauder N. Sniirnov and Alexander A. Yakovlev, at present the St. Alexander Nevslky Memorial-Church is a source of legitimate pride for the Bulgarian people and love for the Russian people. In its dimensions it is without an equal on the Balkan Peninsula, while the aesthetic achievements of its architecture and ornamentation rival those of the most renowned monuments of this kind in the world.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial-Church is an impressive five nave basilica of a cruciform domed type with basic Byzantine style elements, influenced in some parts by eastern models. Its builtup area is 3,170sq.m . and its total volume about 86,000sq.m. Its external length is 73.50m. and the width 50.52m. From the pavement level to the tower cross, the height of the memorial-church is 50.52 m, that of the central dome 46.27m and of the roof bridge 28m. The main dome has a commanding position over a number of half-domes, rounded and straight on the apses of the church which lend it impressive stateliness. It is balanced by the lighter, soaring tower which gives the entire edifice the character of a monument.

On the eastern side of the monitorial-church there are three altar apses, the central one of which, in comparison with the two lateral, projects and forms a semicircle. Over this apse, from a slightly receding point, rises the semispherical part of the main body of the church. There are similar projections, one on the southern side and another on the northern. Over the semidoms of these projections, on a broad cylindrical drum rests the main dome in the shape of an inverted bowl. Its diameter measures 18 m.

On the western side of the main three-door vaulted entrance of the northern rises the bell tower which ends in a dome. The latter is placed on threefold columns, between which there are wide apertures. Through them one sees the twelve bells, the largest of which is weighs 11,758 kg, the second largest 6,002 kg, the third 2,911 kg and the smallest 10 kg. On a nice and calm day the ringing of the largest bell is heard as far as 30km from Sofia. Below the bells ,it a considerable height over the main entrance is placed the mosaic icon of St. Alexander Nevsky by the Bulgarian artist Professor Anton Mitov.

The interior’of the St. AIexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Memorial-Church strikes one with its dimensions, the harmony of its architectural lines, its spaciousness and rich artistic decoration. The inside represents three naves and two aisles, the central nave considerably wider and lateral ones. Its central part is placed between four massive pillars which support the drum of the main dome through triangular spherical surfaces. All three naves are connected by high arches while smaller arches link them with the aisles.

Famous Russian and Bulgarian artists took part in the decoration of the St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral. it is in formless which depict the Trinity, sciences from the Old and New Testament, apostles prophets, Russian and Bulgarian saints and some events from the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. One is particularly impressed by the murals: “The Atmighty” by the Prof. Peter E. Myassoedov, in the interspace of the central dome; “The Eucharist” by Prof. M. Sudkovski, on the eastern wall of the central altar of the church; “The Wedding at Cana in Galilee) by the well-known mosaicist Prof. Vladimir D. Boiotnov, on the wall surface of the southern arched recess; “Twelve Year Jesus in the Shrine” by Prof. Ivan Mrkvicka, on the wall surface of the northern arched recess; the large fresco “The Last Judgment” by Academician A. A. Kisselev, over the stand of the choir, which is reminiscent of V. M. Vasnetsov’s fresco of the same name in Vladimir’s Cathedral in Kiev; “The Resurrection of Lazarus” and “The Resurrection of the Son of the Widow from Nain” by A.M. Korin; “The Sermon on the Moun” and “Christ Blesses the Children” by Prof. I. Lanskoi; “The Taming of the Storm” by Prof. Nikola Marlnov; “St. Mary Magdalene” by Assen Belkovski; “St. Ivan of Rila Returns the Gifts to King Peter” by Academician G. Zhelyaskov; “The Temptation of Jesus Christ” and “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” by Prof. Ivan Mrkvicka. The latter is a mural of great impact, originality and masterful execution.

The iconostases, the big and small bishop’s thrones, the pulpit, the rail lattices of the solea, the balustrade of the choir stand, the entire flooring of the church and the seat of the priests along the wall of the altar apse are done in onyx and marble brought from all parts of the world, in a Byzantine style, interspersed with Old-Bulgarian patterns. One is particularly impressed by the small columns in light-green “onyx brazillano”; the two magnificent columns dividing the front of the central iconostasis, freshened by wide bands of light-ochre veined Moroccan (onyx ro”ge); the columns of the small bishop’s throne – “rouge oriental”; the dark-green columns of the iconostasis, the pedestal of the thrones and the large columns below the balcony of the choir – “verde di mare”, the rectangular tablet with the state insignia of the time placed in the middle of the back wall of the big bishop’s throne – “onyx d’or”, etc. The walls and pillars of the memorial-church are sheeted to a height of two meters with light-green artificial marble, manufactured by tire Berlin firm “Axeno Brothers”, which his a startling and unattainable similarity whit the natural product.

The ceiling of the canopy of the big bishop’s throne and the space over the central altar are ornamented with high-grade glass mosaics of a Venetian type, which in the former are figural and in the latter symbolic. The figured [mosaics were designed by the Bulgarian Prof. A. Mitov, and executed In Italy by the firm Paolo Triscornia di Freddo – Carrara. The symbolic mosaics over the central altar were done by the same firm on the spot, after the designs of architect Yakovlev, one of Prof. Pornerantsev’s assistants.

The royal gates of the three iconostases and the gates of the chapels in the narthex are in bronze with galvanized gilding on the face. Such are also the cornices over the side altars, the tympanum over the holy gates of the central iconostasis, the crown of the big bishop’s throne, etc.

The illuminates in the interior of the church, such as chandeliers, icon-lamps, candlesticks, are in copper alloy with double galvanize(l gilding. They are pieces of exquisite work in Byzantine style done by the firm of “Schmidt and Sohn” in Munich . The largest of the chandeliers, the central one, has three crowns, it hangs at a height of 27m, weighs some 2 000 kg, and has 136 electric candles.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Memorial-Church is equipped with a special stream and air, installation. It consists of four ventilation caloorific systems which play a dual role. The Vienna’s firm “Zentralheizungswerke” supplied the installations. An alarm and intercommunication system ensures the correct and safe operation of this installation. The air conditioning installation and the intercom system are housed in the crypt of the memorial-church.

The crypt runs below the entire interior of the church, porch altar and 1s3.75 m high. Its ceilings are vaulted in various ways and are interesting from an architectural point of view. Here is also the “foundation-stone” of he church , marked by by a large rectangle, covered by a pyramided roof. At present it is used as an exhibition hall and branch of National Art Gallery.

Inside, the central altar is dedicated to St Alexander Nevski, the southern altar to St Boris (who brought Christianity to Bulgaria) and the northern altar to Saints Cyril and Methodius (who created the Cyrillic alphabet). A total of 32 Russian and 13 Bulgarian artists worked on the delicate murals. The Icon Museum is located in the crypt, to the left of the main entrance. Here, over 300 icons and mural frescoes from the country’s many monasteries, tracing the development of Bulgarian icon-painting from the late ninth century up to the end of the 19th century. There are English labels, as well as a guidebook available in Bulgarian and English. The square in front of the church, Ploshtad Aleksander Nevski, hosts stalls selling souvenirs, dubious antiques and bric-a-brac throughout the year.

Ploshtad Aleksander Nevski
Transport: Bus to Ploshtad Aleksander Nevski.
St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1800; services 0800 and 1700, Sat 1800, Sun 1700.
Admission: Free.

Icon Museum
Tel: (02) 877 697.
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission: Lv10.

While attractions across much of the Czech Republic are closed or keep limited hours outside the summer season, Prague caters for visitors all year round. Periods when the tourist crush is especially oppressive include the Easter and Christmas/New Year holidays, as well as May and June. Many Czechs go on holiday in July and August, during which time the supply of bottom-end accommodation actually increases, as student hostels are opened to visitors. If you can put up with the cold and the periodic smog alerts during weather inversions, hotel space is plentiful in winter (outside Christmas/New Year), and Prague is gorgeous under a mantle of snow.

Prague lies in the transitional area between maritime and continental climates, characterised by hot, showery summers, cold, snowy winters and generally changeable conditions. A typical day in Prague from June to August sees the mercury range from about 12°C (54°F) to 22°C (72°F). Temperatures from December to February push below freezing. Wide variations are common, sometimes surpassing 35°C (95°F) in summer and -20°C (-4°F) in winter. The closest thing to a ‘dry season’ is from January to March, when total precipitation (mostly as snow at that time) is less than a third of that during the wettest months, June to August. And yet January averages as many ‘wet’ days (about two out of five) as the summer months do. The summer’s long, sunny, hot spells tend to be broken by sudden, heavy thunderstorms. May and September have the most pleasant weather.

Sightseeing in Prague means wandering through an invigorating diversity of neighbourhoods and pounding the cobblestones between old fortifications, historically resplendent squares and streets, majestic church-fronts, green open-air cuttings, and countless museum and gallery ticket booths.

Ethnic restaurants are burgeoning in Prague, so your diet can stretch beyond standard meaty Czech fare. There are also plenty of restaurants and pubs that move beyond the frumpy dumpling approach to embrace top-quality local food presented in creative and international ways.

Prague’s past plays a big part in its entertainment scene by providing centuries-old stone cellars for musicians to blaze away in, sculpted facades for beerhalls to make noise behind, or grand auditoriums for the staging of classical events. Competing with these are suavely modern bars and clubs.Stroll through the greenbelt atop Petřín Hill and fill both your lungs and your eyes. The views of the city are magnificent and you’re far enough above the fug of the city to breath fresh air. Cycling in Prague is a hairy proposition – those steep cobblestones can be tricky, and the traffic is as thick as the air – but once out of the more populated areas, the freedom and mobility are their own reward. Renting a rowboat or pedal-boat to tour the Vltava River on your own power can give you an interesting new perspective on the city.

Getting in and out of Prague is a snap, thanks to the cheap and well-run trains of Czech Railways (ÄŒD) and the buses, which are even cheaper still, run more frequently and are quite comfortable. The budget prices and convenience of these modes of transports mean that air travellers to Prague are comparatively rare; if you do fly into the city, you’ll fetch up in RuzynÄ›, the international airport.

Prague’s RuzynÄ› airport, 17km (11mi) northwest of the city centre, is the Czech Republic’s only international airport. It’s served by dozens of international carriers, including ÄŒeske aerolinie (ÄŒSA), the state airline. Departure tax is included in the price of the ticket. Smaller Karlovy Vary airport primarily serves domestic travellers, but has regular flights to Moscow.

Trains run daily between Prague and most major European cities; Paris, Amsterdam, Munich and Vienna are some major hubs. Within the Czech Republic, Czech Railways (ÄŒD) provides cheap, efficient service. Various passes are available.

Buses tend to be faster, more frequent and marginally cheaper than the train. All domestic long-distance buses and most regional services depart the Florenc station, though many regional buses depart other terminals scattered throughout the city.