Prague (Czech: Praha ), see also other names), is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Its official name is hlavní mesto Praha, meaning the Capital City of Prague. ------------------------------------- Situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural, and economic center of the Czech state for over 1100 years. The city proper is home to nearly 1.2 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. ------------------------------------------------ Prague is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and belongs to the most visited cities on the continent. Since 1992, the historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Nicknames for Prague have included "the mother of cities" (Praga mater urbium, or "Praha matka mest" in Czech)", "city of a hundred spires" and "the golden city"