Situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia, for centuries it has been known as Zlatá Praha or Golden Prague - a glittering jewel of art and architecture deep in the heart of Europe.  Prague has been the political, cultural and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years.   Prague is a city of many charms – it is known as Golden Prague, Magic Prague, Prague of a hundred spires, Prague – mother of towns and has been an inspiration to generations of writers, poets and artists.         Prague's history dates back to the 9th century. It is a city associated with the significant personalities and history of the Czech state, a city whose beauty has amazed its visitors since the Middle Ages.         Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing most of its historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Art Nouveau to Baroque, Renaissance, Cubits, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultra-modern.           Nowadays it is a lively metropolis where one can still find a strong genius loci (spirit of the place). Prague is home to numerous government institutions and serves as the seat of the national, as well as Central-Bohemian regional government.