I have always been fascinated by the arts my entire life. I grew up as a dancer, artist, and crafter, spending my time after school painting or at my dance studio. However, growing up in New Jersey, architecture never interested me. I found myself unexcited by the skyscrapers in nearby New York City or the old houses that lined my street. However, the moment I touched down in Prague and found myself on the way to the apartment that I would call home for the semester, I became obsessed with every building, church, and street in sight. 

View of Prague from a boat trip on the Vltava river that runs through the city. 

Me and other CEA CAPA students who lived in my building in front of the famous Lennon Wall that signifies freedom, peace, and the post-communism era. 

The famous Crawling Babies in Kampa Park, created by Czech artist David Cerny. 

Cryptic churches sat on cobblestone streets, parks stood above waning hilltops, and I could see a tall, Eiffel tower-esque structure from my window. I would soon learn that the beautiful churches were often Baroque in style, the names of each park, and that I was correct about the tall tower, as it was created as a replica to the one in Paris.  

My roommate and I in front of one of my favorite buildings in Prague: the Power Tower located in the center of the city. 

Prague’s Zizkov TV Tower, featuring another work of art by David Cerny. His babies are shown crawling up the structure, which can be seen from all spots within the city. 

Throughout my semester in Prague, my view of architecture transformed. As someone who rarely looked up as I walked through my hometown or across my college campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I found myself unable to peel eyes from every single building that I passed as I made my way throughout Prague. I wanted to know the name, origin, and history of every church, synagogue, and archway that I passed.  

My best friends and I in front of the beautiful Wallerstein Garden in Prague, located directly across from our University there: Anglo-American University. 

Tram’s are an essential piece of infrastructure within Prague and can be found within almost every street, gliding down the cobblestones. Here, a tram makes its way through Mala Strana, one of the most picturesque parts of the city. 

I had the privilege of taking the Art and Architecture in the Golden City class at the CEA CAPA center as part of my academics. Prior to the class, I was apprehensive because I had never had an affinity towards historical art or architecture. However, I immediately felt a strong sense of excitement every time my classmates and I ventured to a new site across the city led by a Prague native who became my favorite professor abroad.  

My friend and I exploring the gorgeous streets of the Jewish Quarter, where synagogues can be seen on every corner and colorful buildings line the streets. 

This is a close up photo of the Maiselova Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, which was erected in 1592. 

I got to visit both well-known and local sites in the city, from the Prague Castle to the Vietnamese SAPA market. Although it’s been over a year since I first saw the stunning features that make Prague so special, I will never forget how my eyes lit up every day. I may have seen the same church in Prague 7 every single day as I left my apartment, yet each time, I found a new reason to be grateful for choosing to study abroad in a city so impacted by architecture.  

One of my favorite, unique sites in Prague is the Vysehrad Fortress, located on a steep hill above Prague. In this photo, my mom and I were marveling at the stunning tile work on the Basilica. 

I am now proud to be able to point out whether or not a building has influence from Romanesque, Cubist, or Baroque styles, and can name countless structures in Prague such as the Vysehrad Fortress, St.Vitus Cathedral, or The Lennon Wall that have been vital to the city since its inception. Studying abroad in Prague was the best decision I ever made, and I am forever grateful to have been able to spend time in a city that completely altered my view of Architecture.