Grand Priory Palace, Prague

Situated just a hop, skip, and a jump south and a tad west of the Charles Bridge, Velkopřevorské Square is graced by the presence of the Grand Prior's Palace, hailed as one of the crème de la crème baroque structures in the area. While it's now under the stewardship of the Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta—yes, the modern-day descendants of the valiant Knights of Malta—sadly, it remains off-limits to us common folk. However, you'll discover a cozy café and a restaurant, where you can dine amid opulent Baroque vaults that harken back to a bygone era. Keep an eye out for pockets of early Baroque or Renaissance vaulting preserved in certain corners, adding a dash of historical charm to the ambiance.

Nestled near the palace's outer walls stands the venerable Beethoven sycamore, a living testament to Prague's storied past. Legend has it that the musical maestro Ludwig van Beethoven once sought solace under its leafy canopy during his sojourn to Prague in 1796.

Across the way, the eye-catching orange-and-white stucco façade of the Buquoy Palace catches the eye, a dazzling display of architectural prowess dating back to 1719, courtesy of Giovanni Santini. Today, it plays host to the French Embassy.

And who could forget the nearby John Lennon Peace Wall, a veritable shrine to youthful rebellion and artistic expression? Once a bastion of political dissent adorned with striking slogans and a larger-than-life likeness of the iconic Beatle, the wall bore the brunt of countless whitewashing efforts by the powers-that-be during the communist regime. Nowadays, while Lennon's serene visage may be hidden beneath layers of ever-changing graffiti, the spirit of freedom and creativity continues to flourish, making it a must-see destination for modern-day pilgrims of peace and harmony.