Prague's National Theater

It is clear when you spot the National Theater in the skyline of Prague, with its famous golden crown and the magnificent trigas with a glorious angel reining in cavorting horses that appear to be storming off the roof; this is one of the most important buildings in the city of Prague. This theater holds a special place in Czech history and in many Czech hearts, as it was one of the first theaters to perform only in Czech and not German. As you enter the main entrance take a second to savor the history of the theater. Its exquisite interior is beautiful in its ornate details. The main concert hall is simply gorgeous with the rich use of the color red and golden decorations. The painted ceiling features ten female allegories, while the stage screen features a painted story from Czech history. The decorations are matched by the quality of the performances. They blend together to make an impressive stately presentation of the Czech theater, an important institution throughout the history of the Czech Republic. The prices are fabulous; everyone can truly enjoy the theater, as ticket prices are CZK 50 (a last minute price for university students 30 minutes before the beginning of a performance) to CZK 1100. Of course, the CZK 50-100 tickets are located in the nosebleed section, however the view of the stage and most importantly, the translator screen located above the stage is very clear. Subtitles are in English and Czech, as most Operas are in Italian, French and Czech. The repertoire is selected from classical theater and opera, with local authors and composers thrown in. Tours are available. Information about the current program, as well as ticket prices, can be found on the National Theater's website.

 Národní třída 2, Praha 1, +420 224 901 448, www.narodni-divadlo.cz