Basilica of St. James
About Basilica of St. James
Get the inside scoop on Basilica of St. James from local experts, travel creators, and tastemakers. Browse genuine trip notes, Basilica of St. James reviews, photos, travel guides, and itineraries from real travelers and plan your trip with confidence.
What people say
Alba Casillas
"The Baroque Church of St. James the Greater (or Kostel Sv. Jakuba Vetsiho) in the heart of Prague’s Old Town is the home of a mummified arm and a rumored live burial.
As you enter, take a look to your immediate right. Up by the ceiling, you’ll see a withered black arm dangling by a meat hook. Legend has it that a thief tried to steal the jewels off the statue of the Virgin Mary. When he touched them, the statue reached out, grabbed his arm and held him there until the parishioners (many of whom happened to belong to the nearby butchers’ guild) discovered him. They couldn’t free the thief from the statue’s grasp so they were forced to amputate. As soon as the limb was severed, the statue dropped the arm and immediately returned to her normal pose. The arm was hung from a meat hook in the narthex as a remembrance and a warning and has been there ever since."
Read more in:
Billy Ghicas
Available for hire
"The Basilica of St. James, a stunning example of Gothic architecture, dates back to the 13th century. It features a richly decorated interior with impressive frescoes, a baroque altar, and a famous statue of St. James the Greater.
The statue of St. James in the basilica is famous for its missing hand, which was allegedly severed by a thief who tried to steal the statue’s valuables. The hand was later replaced, and the thief’s actions became a cautionary tale."
Read more in:
Sibley Slade
Available for hire
"The Basilica of St. James in the Old Town of Prague, Czech Republic. The church is home to the Madonna Pietatis and the tomb of Count Vratislav of Mitrovice. The church was founded in 1232, and was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century. It is open Tuesday to Sunday and is free to visit!"
Mentioned in these guides
Phone
Save this spot for later or start mapping out a new trip today