It’s not exactly the Garden of Eden, but the Vrtba Garden comes quite close to the ideal. One of Prague’s most precious Baroque gardens, it is sprawled over the gentle slopes of Petrin Hill. Well-concealed behind an unremarkable gate, this place is almost like the secret garden. You could easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it, and even when you do, the beauty concealed behind its unassuming walls would definitely surprise you.

It was dreamed up by exceptional architect Frantisek Kanka, who was in charge of renovating the Vrtba palace for Jan Josef, the Count of Vrba during the 18th century. Although the palace has gone through many reconstructions since then, the original flavor of its Baroque gardens retains its timeless beauty. It may be a little smaller than many of the other gardens in the city, but it has all the hallmarks of classic Baroque design: elegant staircases and architecture interspersed amidst the shrubbery, flower beds, well-trimmed hedges, terraces, statues and many others. One can quite clearly see why it’s been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site; its combination of artistic and historical value makes it a veritable feast for the senses and one you won’t soon forget.