The Church of St. Cyril and Methodius in Karlín
Karlín, formerly the first suburb of Prague, founded in early 19th century, has a regular rectangular network of streets with a large central square. The church of St. Cyril and Methodius on Karlínské square, inspired by Roman basilicas, belongs among the most renowned landmarks next to the Baroque Invalidovna, a boarding house for war invalids and their families. The foundation stone of the building was laid down on June 10th 1854 in the presence of emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi. The church was ceremoniously consecrated on October 18th 1863 on the occasion of the millennium since the arrival of the Slavic apostles of faith to Moravia.
The hewn-stone building with two towers is reminiscent of Romanesque churches, but differs from them with the spectacular adornment of its interiors. Many top artists of the age participated, e.g. the painters Josef Mánes and František Ženíšek, the portal is by the sculptor Václav Levý.
