Yes, gold, and no, the small street is not paved in gold. But it could have been if the medieval chemists, aka the 16th century alchemists, found the "reaction" that turned ordinary metal to something precious, and this was the area they looked into.

No luck, the "reaction" wasn't there. But what turned to gold in the 16th century was the lane's name (goldsmiths were said to reside here), which sounded better than its predecessor, the Street of Alchemists or Alchemists' Alley, because, believe it or not, none of these "scientists" actually worked or lived in the area.

The Golden Lane came about after the construction of the northern wall of the Castle. This part of the castle was where modest residences for the castle servants-gatekeepers, guards, bell-ringers, and castle marksmen were built. These small colored houses that line the wall are now the last remaining specimens of the small-scale architecture of Prague Castle, which was still used until World War II.

A glimpse into a living quarter of the past

Reels of films. Possibly a home doubled as a cinema during the 20th century.

Among the Golden Lane's famous 20th century residents were Franz Kafka, a Czech-Jewish writer, who lived in house No. 22 from 1916 to 1917 to "write in peace," and Jaroslav Seifart, winner of 1984 Nobel Prize for Literature and a signatory of Charter 77, an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia, who resided in the area in 1929.

House No. 12 was the temporary residence to dramatist and prose fiction writer Jiri Maranek, who found inspiration in the romantic atmosphere of the lane. And if anybody wanted a glimpse of their future, they head to House No. 14, the home of renowned Prague tarot card reader and clairvoyant Matylda Prusova aka Madame de Thebes.

It was during the period of the First Republic when a move was taken to preserve the Golden Lane. The look and character was to be retained in the course of the castle's modifications.

Today, Golden Lane stands as another showcase of the past in the Prague Castle. While most of the residences exhibit the living quarters of the past, souvenir shops and museums are found in the area as well.

The staircase in house No. 12 leads to Daliborka, the terrace in front of the round cannon tower, a part of the Jagiello fortification system in the 14th century. This passage serves as a museum of armory. 

Father & child armory & weaponry set

Choose your weapon wisely….

The bird man warrior.

A museum is set along the terrace of the fortification

The bottom floor was initially used as a prison. The knight Dalibor of Kozojedy was the first and best-known prisoner in 1498, so was Baron Frantisek Antonin Spork of East Bohemia, who was an admirer and patron of art in the 18th century.

The tour of the Golden Lane ends at the connecting Dalibor Tower. It used to be the castle's dungeon and where an interesting collection of implements can be found, those used for torture. This must be the most dreaded room in the complex's past.

The way down to the dungeon.

Possibly the most dreaded room in the castle – the dungeon below the Dalibor Tower.

To whom the mold fits.

The admission ticket to the Prague Castle complex allows entry to the Golden Lane. Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on February 26, 2015.

The quick trip around Silay was very interesting. Ramon Hofileña, the heir and curator of the Hofileña Heritage House, certainly made it so. No wonder the home turned museum lists as the top entry to the must-visit places in the city. Check out the place and you'll find out why.

Munching on piaya, a local sweet delicacy, we, the Davao media team and our hosts from the Department of Tourism (DOT) 6, made our way to the second destination-Victorias, with hopes that it would be as interesting as the (Silay) opening salvo to the Western Visayas tour.

Victorias is the sugar capital of the region located 34 kilometers from Bacolod. One of its attractions is the Victorias Milling Corporation, the largest sugar refinery in the country and the largest integrated sugar mill in the world.

The controversial St. Joseph The Worker Parish

The Parish is also known as the Ossorio Chapel, after the abstract expressionist artist, Alfonso Ossorio, who painted the psychedelic-colored murals of the church.

The artworks’ colors are still as vibrant as it was on the day it was created, thanks a specially formulated paint —Carbon carbide ethyl silicate No.14

Mural at the rear exterior of the church, still in its original form

The church's facade with Ade Bethune’s mural created chipped soda glass components

The Holy Family in the Nazareth workshop, Ade Bethune’s mural (center of triptych on the Church’s façade)

Bethune applies the same technique on the Baptism of Jesus artwork found on the main wall of the room annexing the church’s entrance

More than an art piece. The sculpture by the footpath is a sundial

The house on the organic farm. The Balai-Balai is a dormitory for long-stay “students” of organic and probiotic farming

The topmost level of the structure offers this view of the garden

A chapel on the top level

No ordinary plants in the garden. Much of the landscaping components are more than just ornamental plants. (Right photo) Every inch of space is important & utilized—artistically. A sculptural vertical garden.

Ramon with his guests

Yes, we dined within the proximity of pigs, geese, chickens and compost pits. Surprisingly, there was zero stench, and Mr. Peñalosa pointed out that this is due to the organic feeds that the animals are fed with. The experience was totally new to me, and nice.

Are there more to see around Victorias? I believe so, but those will be reserved for the next visit to the region. Meanwhile, on to next city, please.

Special thanks to DOT 6 for hosting the Davao Media Familiarization Tour, and to Cebu Pacific (with direct flights to and from Davao City to Bacolod every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday).

*****

Just like the neighboring St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica underwent changes in its design through space enlargement and design additions brought about by necessity, change of ruler or devastation. 

In 973, the Romanesque basilica was enlarged with the addition of the Benedictine convent. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1142 and incorporated with new components— two white towers referred to as Adam (bigger southern tower) & Eve (the narrower northern tower), was added to its design.

The eastern side of the basilica. Rebuilt after the 1142 fire, the towers referred to as Adam & Eve, was incorporated into the Romanesque building’s design.

The southern entrance's Renaissance treatment—the tympanum bears a depiction of St.George’s battle with a dragon.

A 14th century Gothic chapel consecrated to St. Ludmila, which holds the relics of the saint (Ludmila is the first Czech Christian martyr and the widow of the 9th century ruler Prince Borivoj), was adjoined to the southern side of the chancel in the first half of the 13th century when is was built in Late Romanesque design.

The Gothic Chapel of St. Ludmila  (right) holds the relics of the saint (below)

The striking western façade that we see today is in Early Baroque, a feature added in the 17th century—red bricks with the statues of its founder, Vratislav I, and Mlada, the first abbess of the near convent (trivia: The abbess of this community had the right to crown the Bohemian queen consort). The southern entrance, however, bears a Renaissance treatment—the tympanum bears a depiction of St.George’s battle with a dragon.

The 17th century entrance in Early Baroque in the red bricks.

Another chapel was added to the church in the early 18th century –the Baroque Chapel of St. John Nepomuk, which holds an altar adorned with a painting of the saint by the artist V. V. Reiner.

The Baroque Chapel of St. John Nepomuk

The basilica’s interior is emits the old world vibe, pretty much what we see in medieval-themed movies —stone walls, long halls, its narrow width accentuates the lofty ceiling made of dark wood, light streaming in through the decorative windows on the higher part of the walls, which makes it necessary for additional lighting to illuminate the lower area of the room.

The Romanesque interior of St. George’s Basilica

The end of the hall holds another important feature of historical importance to the basilica. St. George´s Basilica was a burial place of rulers from Premyslid dynasty and at the domed nave adorned with paintings and frescoes of Bohemian Baroque painter V.V. Reiner, is where the tombs are situated including that of the basilica’s founder, Vratislav 1, a 14th century wooden tomb decorated with 15th century paintings.

The 12th century crypt underneath the nave choir.

The 16th century sculpture Brigita- the stone allegory of Vanity. The name of the statue is based on a legend.