ART: Venice Carnival

Masks are synonymous with the Carnival of Venice. People come from the world over to attend private and public masked balls and masked revelers of all ages invade the campo’s of Venice where music and dancing continues nearly day and night.

The Venice Carnival starts two Fridays before Ash Wednesday. ‘Carnival’ the word comes from the Latin for "Farewell, meat!” and on Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, so people have to consume all the meat, butter and eggs before the fast. This religious activity became the great cause for the people to party.

Historically the Venice Carnival started after 1162. It is believed that in that year the Republic scored a victory over Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia, they started the tradition of celebrating the victory by slaughtering a bull and twelve pigs around Shrove Tuesday. Slowly these celebrations gained momentum.

During the eighteenth century the Carnival was at its peak. The spirit of the Carnival is best demonstrated by the paintings of Francesco Guardi and the diaries of Giacomo Casanova. The period of 1930s saw a notable slide of the Carnival, when it was prohibited by Mussolini. In 1979, the Carnival was leased a new life through the efforts of some of the Venetians. Slowly the tradition got momentum and today the image of the masked revelers is the worldwide icon of Venice in February.

As of today, during the Carnival everybody is wearing masks and this abolishes all social divisions and everybody is free to enjoy. You can find groups of people of varying age groups partying, carousing, and singing, dancing and playing games in all the open spaces and on the streets. The Bautta, is a most common costume, consisting of a black silk hood, a lace cape, a voluminous cloak (the tabarro), and a three-cornered hat and a white mask which completely covers the face. The wearer can walk around without being recognized.

Since the 1980’s, the Venice Carnival has gained more popularity. Private and public masked balls, theatrical performances and an array of ancient games are being organized for the entertainment of tourist as well as locals. Italian folklore, history, and society inspire the types of masks worn today. The masks fall in several categories, like Commedia dell'Arte masks are inspired by traditional characters like satyrs, demons and lawyers to sailors, bakers, butchers Harlequin and Pierrot, the fantasy masks are inspired by history and also the imagination of the manufacturer.

Latest Venice Holiday apartments on Holiday Velvet:

Venice Jewel: sleeps up to 6 in Venice Cannaregio

Castello View: sleeps up to 4 in Venice Castello

Mini Palace: sleeps up to 2 in Venice San Polo

ART: Florence Museums

The city of Florence is located in the Tuscany Region of central Italy and the cultural and historical impact of the city is overwhelming. The city has many museums, and offers visitors one of the richest cultural experiences in the world.

THE "UFFIZI GALLERY"

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the greatest museums in Europe. The collection of artwork on display there includes paintings by Raphael, Titian and Botticelli. One of the most famous of these is the Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli, which was commissioned by the Medici family in 1482.
Address: Loggiato degli Uffizi, 6
Opening times: Tuesday - Sunday from 8.15 to 19.00
Phone: 055 238 8683
Reservations phone: 055 294 883


THE "ACCADEMY GALLERY"

The ACCADEMY GALLERY is among the very best museums in Florence. "The four prisoners" and the "Pieta of Palestina" some of the famous creations by Michelangelo are available at this museum. Among other things available here is the collection of paintings by the Grand Duke Peter Leopold.

Address: Via Ricasoli, 58-60
Opening times: Tuesday - Sunday from 8.15 to 18.50
Phone: 055 238 8609
Reservations phone: 055 294 883


THE NATIONAL MUSEUM "IL BARGELLO"

One of the oldest buildings in Florence accommodates The NATIONAL MUSEUM "IL BARGELLO". The name BARGELLO is adopted because in earlier times this building was the residence of the "Bargello" (head of police spies). The Bargello is full of famous works of some of the renowned masters like Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Cellini, Giambologna and Donatello.

Address: Via Del Proconsolo, 4
Opening times: Everyday from 8.15 to 13.50
Phone: 055 238 8606
Reservations phone: 055 294 883


THE MUSEUM OF "SAN MARCO"

MUSEUM OF SAN MARCO can be visited only for its architecture alone. The settings within have been designed in such a way, so as to simplify the monastic life. The museum is decorated with the frescoed interiors and the panels displayed in the large alms-house. The beautiful Last Supper frescoed work of Ghirlandaio and the illuminated manuscripts of the first public library of the Renaissance are the other things available at the museum.

Address: Piazza San Marco 3
Opening times: Monday - Friday from 8.15 to 13.50; Saturday and Sunday from 8.15 to 18.50
Phone: 055 238 8608
Reservations phone: 055 294 883


THE MUSEUM OF THE "CATHEDRAL"

Artworks from the Gothic Cathedral, the Baptisty and the Tower of Giotto (campanile) are the main attractions of The MUSEUM OF THE CATHEDRAL. The museums also house some of the most famous creations by Michelangelo, Donatello, Arnolfo di Cambio and Luca Della Robbia.

Address: P.za Duomo
Opening times: Monday - Friday from 8.15 to 13.50; Saturday and Sunday from 8.15 to 18.50
Phone: 055 230 2885


THE MUSEUM OF THE "HISTORY OF THE SCIENCE"

Items on display there include early telescopes, clocks, watches, compasses and other instruments invented by the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei. The museum has a large exhibition of extinct animals and birds. The museum also has a collection of extremely lifelike human wax figures.

Address: Piazza SS. Annunziata, 12
Phone: 055 249 1708
Opening hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Evening Openings
last Thursday of June and August
first Thursday of July and September 9:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

ART: Louvre, Orsay & Pompidou

The Louvre Museum - Paris

The Louvre Museum is the largest museum of France, houses collections of western art from the middle Ages to 1850. This museum also houses the antique civilizations divided in to eight departments: Oriental Antiquities, Islamic Art, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities. A section here is devoted to history of the Louvre which includes the medieval moats erected by Philippe Auguste in 1190.

Address: Cour Napoleon, A.P. 34, 36 quai du Louvre
Opening hours: Open: Museum: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. - Pyramid: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. - Museum late night opening: Monday (Richelieu Wing) and Wednesday: 9.45 p.m. Closed: Tuesday and holidays.
Phone: +33 (0)1 40 20 53 17


The Orsay Museum - Paris

The French government, on the eve of the 1900 World's Fair planned to build a central terminus on the site of the ruined Palais d'Orsay. Orsay station was the head of the southwestern French railroad network, from 1900 to 1939 and in 1977 the official decision to build the Musée d'Orsay was taken. This Paris museum shows the artistic creation of the western world from 1848 to 1914.

Address : 62, rue de Lille
Opening hours : The museum is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 6pm and on Thursdays from 9.30am to 9.45pm
Phone : +33 (0)1 40 49 48 14

The Centre Pompidou - Paris

The Centre Pompidou, also called Beaubourg, took birth in February 1977 to focus on all forms of modern and contemporary creation: sculpture, painting, books, cinema, video, performances, music, etc. The museum holds performances (theater, dance, and music), cinema, symposia and debates, and publications.

Address: Place Georges Pompidou
Opening hours: The Centre Pompidou is open every day from 11am to 10pm, except Tuesdays and May 1.
Phone: Standard: +33 (0)1 44 78 12 33 (recorded message, Sundays and public holidays, and from 7.30pm)

ART: Barcelona FC Museum

If you are a fan of football and interested in its history then the Barcelona FC Museum is the right destination for you. In 1920s club founder Joan Gamper dreamed of setting up a museum in Barcelona, but he didn’t succeed due to numerous reasons. In 1984, Joan Gamper’s dream became a reality, when President Joseph Luis Nunez was the head of the club. The museum was expanded in 1987, 1994 and 1998, now it is spread over a vast area of about 3500 sq. meters. This is the best museum in the world pertaining to the game of football. Yearly visitors to this museum are in excess of 1,160,000 and all around the world a number of such museums take ideas from this museum.

A visit to the museum takes you through to the four main sections of the museum and to the beautiful Nou Camp stadium itself. The club is almost a century old and the museum houses the numerous trophies won by the club, a series of photographs, sporting gears, a large number of objects and also hosts audiovisual shows taking you through the great history of the club.

Col·lecció Futbolart by Pablo Ornaque, arguably one of the best individual collection of football history is permanently leased to the museum. This collection exhibits the football history right from its origin to the present day. In the other part of the museum there is ‘The Art Gallery’, which houses the work of the famous artists of the country like Dali, Miro, and Tapies. Temporary exhibtions are also organized on the premises which are devoted to the history of poster art pertaining to the club.

If you wish to research the history of the club, a visit to ‘The FC Barcelona Center for Documentation and Studies’, which is housed at the second floor of the museum, will be of great help. Newspaper and periodicals section, a library, historic archives and a photographic archive are the four main sections of this Center. This Center is full of the cultural heritage of the club.

A special tour called the Camp Nou tour gives you the chance to get familiar with the stadium. The tour takes you to the opposition changing rooms, through the tunnel to the main pitch area, the TV studio, the press rooms and the director’s area. This Barcelona tour gives you a chance to see the new dugouts across the stadium. The tour also gives a chance to enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent stadium and various FC Barcelona facilities.

ART: Paris Champs Elysées

The Champs-Elysées, means for the French "La plus belle avenue du monde". It starts from the Place de la Concorde and runs up to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This is where some of the most significant events of the year are held: New Year’s Eve gathering, 14th July military parade and the arrival of the Tour de France cycling race. The Champs-Elysées is at the center of Parisian life and the walk from the Champs-Elysées Clemenceau to the Etoile Charles de Gaulle metro stations are a perfect introduction to the city. Here you can find people from all over the world in shops, theaters and in restaurants.

The Champs-Elysées are 2 Km long and 80 meters wide. At the top of Champs-Elysées is The Arc de Triomphe, which was completed in 1836. This arc is a memorial of the soldiers killed in World War I and there is one permanently burning flame in the memory of those killed in the war. Here you’ll find the Tricolor hoisted at the arc. In French they call it “Les Champ” and it’s the most fashionable and luxurious area in Paris.

The season of Christmas starting from December and up to January with numerous illuminations is one of the most coveted times on the Champs Elysées.

The Champs-Elysées is the home of some of the very best cinemas, car showrooms, cafes, restaurants and beauty salons. If you’re missing your films then UGC and Gaumont, the two biggest French film distributors, screen a vide range of international films along The Champs-Elysées.

The Champs-Elysées also houses Citroën, Mercedes and Peugeot showrooms. Cafes and restaurants like Planet Hollywood, Häagen-Dazs ice-creams , the gigantic Pizza Pino ,the Copenhague Nordic restaurant ,the Brasserie Lowenbrau with its Bavarian orchestra ,the Chez Clément ,Batifol and Bistro de la Gare are some of the international cafes and restaurants available on the Champs.

ART: Paris Museums

French capital Paris houses some of the greatest museums and galleries. Below you’ll find some of our favourites.

ARTS ET METIERS, Musee des (history of science and technology)
Over 80,000 items are placed at this museum pertaining to the history of science. There is a huge collection of items from Renaissance Italy, China, Japan and US. This museum is an interesting place to visit for the children also.
Address: 60 rue Réaumur, Métro : Arts et Métiers
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10.00 to 18.00
Telephone.: +33 (0)1 53 01 82 00

BALZAC, Maison de (life and work in the home of Honoré de Balzac)
This is the place where Balzac lived and worked passionately on his masterpiece la Comédie humaine. Balzac hides himself here from blood-hungry money Landers from 1840-1847 and to cheat them he adopted a false name: M. De Breugnol.
Address: 47, rue Raynouard
Opening hours: 10 a.m.-5.40 p.m. 
Closed: Monday, bank holidays
Phone: +33 (0) 42 24 56 38

CAMONDO, Musee Nissim de (home, art and objects of banker Nissim de Camondo)
This is a three story mansion mostly houses the 18th-century French furniture. Rococo items, some of them belonging to the famous names of that era, like Madame de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette, are housed in the rooms. In the grand salon a beautiful portrait of a woman by Vigee-Leburn is placed.
Address: 63 rue de Monceau, 8e Arrondissement
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10am-5:30pm
Phone : +33 (0) 53-89-06-40

CARNAVALET, Musee (history of the City of Paris)
On display at this marvelous museum are the grandeur, the esteem, the innovation, the brilliance, the blood, sweat, and tears of Parisian history from prehistory to the 20th century. This museum is having more than 140 rooms, and houses a huge range of objects of archeology, painting, sculpture and furniture.
Address: 23, rue de Sévignee, 3rd Arrondissement.
Opening hours: 10h - 17h40; Closed Mondays and public holidays
Phone : +33 (0) 42 72 41 13

PICASSO, Musee National (work of painter Pablo Picasso in a hotel particular)
The museum repeats the truth that Picasso was part of each notable art work during his lifetime. The two floors of the museum contain the numerous work of Picasso.
Address: Hotel Sale, 5, rue de Thorigny.
Opening hours 9.45 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday's and New Years Day
Phone : +33 (0) 42 71 25 21

DELACROIX, Musee Eugene (home and studio of painter Eugene Delacroix)
Delacroix was the home and studio of the great French painter Eugene Delacroix, where he spent his last years (1857-1863). The museum has been arranged very smartly. One can find there the biblical sights and pastels of inland scenery.
Address: 6, rue de Furstenberg.
Opening hours: Winter: 9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m. - Summer 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. Clsoed Tuesday’s and New Years Day
Phone : +33 (0) 43 54 04 87

JACQUEMART-ANDRE, Musee (spectacular home and art collection of famous couple)
The couple Jacquemart-Andrés spent a lot of money on the wealth that decorate the museum today. Passing through the marble hall and meticulously arranged courtyard, one can imagine the things ahead. Paintings of the famous French painters of the 17th and 18th centuries, like Boucher, Chardin, Drouais, Fragonard, and Greuze adorn the salons. The salon de thé is absolutely the marvel.
Address: 158 Bd Haussmann, metro Miromesnil
Opening hours: Everyday 10h-18h
Phone : +33 (0) 45 62 11 59

ART: Venice St Marks - Rialto

Venice has risen from its beginnings as a bunch of mudflat clusters in a lagoon to a major trading area in Europe and recently, to a very popular tourist destination. This city is known for its great architecture as well as museums. There is also much to do in Venice for persons of all ages from sightseeing to entertainment and shopping.

SAINT MARKS / SAN MARCO
One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Basilica di San Marco. This is a mausoleum of the patron saint of the city of Venice and is the home of the governing councils. These structures are very dramatic and perhaps some of the best examples of Gothic architecture. The San Marco is the only Piazza in Venice and for this it is a vastly popular site. There are popular spots to view the entire bay of San Marco. If you fancy staying in the San Marco area of Venice, visit our San Marco accommodation pages.

RIALTO BRIDGE / PONTE RIALTO
There is also the Rialto Bridge that was constructed in the years 1588 – 1591. This bridge replaced many other bridge structures that bridged the Grand Canal and served well as the only foot crossing until 1854. An amazing part of this structure is the short construction time and its advanced features. This is one of the best design bridges of that time period and is a great place to visit. If you fancy staying in the Rialto area of Venice, visit our Rialto accommodation pages.

ART: Venice Film Festival

Did you know that the oldest film festival still held to this day is the Venice Film Festival? The first festival took place in 1932 and was called ‘Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica’ but it was not until 1979 that the Venice Film Festival started to be held annually.

The festival has a great following and attracts all genre of film and entrants in the festival are from around the world. The chief prize of the Venice Film Festival is the Leone d’Oro, the ‘Golden Lion’. The winner of the Golden Lion in 2005 was a film entitled Brokeback Mountain.

This year the festival will be held this year from August 30th to September 9th 2007. This festival attracts tourists as well as film professionals and artists, since it provides such great entertainment, and is genuinely exciting. You cannot compare it to the Oscars, but it certainly attracts all the glamour and celebrities of the movie industry.

Are you planning to visit Venice during the Film festival? Check out Holiday Velvet's apartments in Venice! Some examples are:

»Mini Palace: apartment in San Polo
»Ruzzini: apartment in Rialto
»Fenice: apartment in San Marco

ART: Prague New & Old

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is known for its amazing and enjoyable culture. There are two areas in Prague classified according to their age. There is the Old Town and the New Town, pretty straight forward, no? The New Town was created in response to the number of newcomers to Prague when it was made the centre of The Holy Roman Empire. The Old Town is still well developed and is as popular as the New town for visitors from all over the world. Both are glorious and fun to visit all year round.

To find out more on Prague please visit our about Prague section.

ART: Berlin Christmas Markets

Berlin is quite famous for its Christmas Markets. There are many Christmas Markets throughout Berlin, actually around fifty for you to choose from! Some of the most recognized are the markets in Gendarmenmarkt which are a must visit for the Christmas shoppers. There are also several others such as those in Opernpalais with many attractions for the young at heart. These markets are fun, entertaining and you can find great holiday spirit and cheer. There are many great buys and purchases to be had.

Planning on shopping at the Berlin Christmas Markets? There are many options for accommodation in Berlin and it all depends on your interests. There are luxurious hotels in Berlin as well as more intimate apartments in Berlin - here is a sample of accommodation in Berlin by Holiday Velvet:

»Colorfields - Sleeps 2
»Pariser Hof - Sleeps 3
»Amstel House - B&B

ART: Ravello Festival

Ravello, perched high above the Amalfi Coast, is known for its tranquility and serenity and possesses a distinct laid back atmosphere - but this quiet town is not without its entertainment.

There is an open air festival that has been known to attract many musicians and artists. This festival is called by many names such as the Summer Music Festival, the Ravello Festival or the Wagner Festival. This is the one event that can make the town of Ravello transform from its usual peaceful atmosphere into one that is vibrant and exciting. Ravello at this time comes to life and is filled with persons all interested in the music festival.

The festival was originally a way to bolster tourism using the historical visit of Richard Wagner to Ravello. It has developed from its beginnings in 1953 where focus was only on Wagner’s music to today where it has expanded to include many genres of music. The festival is now two months long and includes music from orchestras, chamber groups, dance, art shows and many other exhibitions. There are many renowned visitors to the festival and the festival offers meetings with musicians and other artists as well as a film aspect that has been included.

The festival starts on the 30th of June and continues to the 17th of September with performances from over eight hundred artists. There are eight sections, some of which include the visual arts and film. Some performers included Luis Bacalov with the Orchestra Mozart Sinfonietta on the 5th of August and a piano concert by Arturo Stàlteri featuring music ranging from Genesis to the Rolling Stones. For more information on the Ravello Festival visit the website www.ravellofestival.com.

Accommodation in Ravello is obviously very scarce at the time of the festival, so you will need to book early in order to get a room. Some Villas in Ravello are beautiful and very luxurious, so holiday rentals in Ravello are not just music lovers but also for those who want to appreciate the Amalfi Coast in style.

ART: Positano Music Festival

In one of the most picturesque town of the Amalfi Coast, in Positano is held every year between the months of July and September The Festival Musica d'Estate; also commonly referred to as the Chamber Music Festival. This festival has many genres of music and has not been limited to merely classical music. You’ll find a fantastic diversity of jazz and folk music as well as modern music from around the world.

The Festival Musica d’Estate has many activities to suit the avid music fan and musician. There are private and public shows and concerts as well as talks and master classes that take place during the festival. These are conducted by persons renowned in the different types of music. This year the Festival was held from the 17th of July to the 30th of July. There were many artists present and classes were given for the piano, strings and vocals. The piano master classes were conducted by Great Maestro Aldo Ciccolini. Some performers and teachers at this festival were Eileen Huang, Hristo Popov and Joseph Rosen to name a few.

If you're planning on going to the Musica d'Estate in Positano, you could stay in one of our beautiful villas or apartments in Positano:

»Casa Pasitea.
»Giardino.
»Casa Gladioli.

ART: Prague Sights & Tours

Some of the most popular sights in Prague are the Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, the Lennon Wall and the Astronomical Clock to name a few. The Astronomical Clock is located in the Old Town Square and is one of the remnants of early engineering innovation. Some of the other sights of interest are the museums and the Prague Zoo. This zoo has a large collection of animals from around the world. If you don’t know Prague and desire some assistance there are many tours available catering for many languages; learning this way can be much easier and far more interesting. The tours all use many forms of transportation including bus tours or riverboats tours. There are also cruises that can provide dinner and entertainment.

To find out more on Prague please visit our about Prague section.

ART: Barcelona Beaches & Parks

Barcelona is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and is a great place for entertainment and art - and also for beaches and parks.

PARK GUELL
One of the most popular parks is the Guell Park. Commissioned by Eusebi Güell and designed by Antoni Gaudi, Guell Park Guell contains amazing stone structures, stunning tiling and fascinating buildings and was created as a stylish park for Barcelona aristocracy. There are also many other parks that boast beautiful gardens, statues and fountains that can be considered to be works of art. The parks of Barcelona are inviting and appealing and can provide a nice relaxing spot for anyone that appreciates nature and a peaceful atmosphere.

BARCELONA BEACHES
When visiting this great city, one must also check out the beaches, you cannot skip the beaches of Barcelona! Like many city beaches, the beaches in Barcelona are extremely popular and draw people from all ages. There are also locations available around the beaches where extra curricular activities such as jogging and biking can be done. There are also water sports on offer at some of the beaches that can provide kayaking and others. The main beach of Barcelona is in Barceloneta, which is in the heart of the city and next door to the marina and the port.

To find out more on Barcelona please visit our about Barcelona section.

ART: Barcelona Sonar Festival

Barcelona is well known for the music festivals and the Sonar Festival is one of the most popular. Every June, the Sonar Festival is a progressive music event held over three days and three nights. The festival was held this year from the 15th of June to the 17th of June. This was the 13th edition of the festival and featured both national and international artist that are well known.

The Festival boasts of over 300 activities and includes Dj sets, concerts and film. The festival uses all the latest technologies to provide a state of the art entertaining festival using all forms of multimedia. In Sonar Festival 2006 there were all kinds of music from electronic music to dance sounds as well as other exotic music types such as the sounds of Jamaica. This is a meeting point for artists, the public and music professionals from all sectors of music and the modern arts. There are two very distinct and separate parts to the Sonar Festival. The ‘Sonar by day’ which is held in the Museum of Contemporary Art, and features not only great live music and DJs, but also art installations, screenings of low-budget films, and also fairs where you can buy records. The ‘Sonar by night’ part attracts some of the biggest names in avant-garde and techno music.

This city has much to offer and has great food and accommodation in Barcelona. If you are seeking accommodation in Barcelona there are many hotels and other accommodations such as apartments that can provide luxury and comfort. Barcelona is a gem of a holiday destination with activities for persons of all ages.

Thinking about going to the Sonar festival in 2007? check out some of Holiday Velvet's apartments in Barcelona and the Gothic Quarter:

»Ramblas Bacardi - Sleeps 4 people
»Flat Tibidabo Slope - Sleeps 8 people
»Rambla 1 - Sleeps 2

ART: Prague Spring Festival

The Prague Spring Festival of 2006 started on the 11th of May and continued until the 3rd of June: more than 2 weeks of fun.

In a continuous tradition from 1946, the Prague Spring Festival celebrates classical music through concerts. The festival frequently celebrates musical anniversaries through its programme and displays Czech composers alongside premiers of contemporary composers from around the world.

The international competition for young musicians made famous through TV shows is every bit as spectacular as in real life. The festival seems to only get more intense once the winner is known. Next year the festival will be the 62nd Prague Spring Festival (commencing on the 12th of May 2007) and will again feature many classical music artists. For more information on the Prague Spring Festival you can visit their website Prague Spring Festival.

In terms of finding accommodation in Prague, there are many apartments, and places that offer all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. If you’re looking for accommodation in Prague, you can opt to stay in one of the many tourist-focused hotels, or in a privately rented apartment. The latter have proved to be very popular with Western Europeans, to the point where buying accommodation in Prague is seen as a financial investment. Within the Old Town there is a wealth of great accommodation, and many luxurious hotels can be booked separately or as part of packages; but there is also bed and breakfast type accommodation in Prague that can be more reasonable. Prague is a great tourist destination that is safe and offers tourists an inviting atmosphere.

If you're planning on going to the Prague Spring Festival, Holiday Velvet has some wonderful apartments right in the historical center of Prague and near to the Old Town Square:

»Central - Sleeps 6 people
»Old Town - Sleeps 3 people
»Hastalska Alchymie - Sleeps 4 people

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