„Praga caput regni“ is written on the Prague coat of arms and this certainly rings true. Since its foundation, Prague has always played an important role in the history of the Czech Republic and Europe. It has had the reputation of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and important personalities have paid tribute to it. For instance, W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, P. I. Tchajkovskij, F. M. Dostojevskij, O. Kokoschka, as well as British Queen Elisabeth II and Pope John Paul II were all enchanted by the city and subsequently professed its beauty.

Over the centuries, many laudatory attributes have been given to Prague. The Merchant Ibrahim ibn Jacob, member of a delegation to the German Emperor, described the town in his tenth-century travel book as built of stone and lime. The designation „Stone Prague“ can be dated to that time. The aforementioned designation “Praga caput regni“ (Prague - head of the kingdom) was used for the first time by Jan Pašek of Vrat, who became a Prague mayor and ruled over both New and Old Prague Towns. In 1518 he had this slogan written on the Old Prague Town Hall, where it can still be seen today, while its author died unknown.

The designation „Golden Prague“ comes from the time of Czech King and German Emperor Charles IV, when the spires of the Prague Castle were gilded with gold. Another theory says that this attribute was given to Prague during the reign of Rudolph II, who generously sponsored alchemists looking for gold. Probably the most famous name - „Prague, the city of one hundred spires“ was used for the first time by Josef Hormayer at the beginning of 19th century. As this name indicates, it was inspired by the numerous Prague spires - at present, more than 500 of them rise above the city.

The designation „Prague - the heart of Europe“ is of a geographic origin. The Czech Republic is situated almost in the centre of Europe. Its distance to the Baltic Sea is more than 600 kilometres, the North sea is further than 700 kilometres away and the same distance separates Prague from the Adriatic sea. Prague is sometimes called the „Rome of the North“. If Rome is built on seven hills, then Prague is spread over nine.