Josefov, the Old Jewish Quarter that contains the remnants of Prague's former Jewish ghetto, a number of striking synagogues, and the Old Jewish Cemetery, all of which the Nazis once cruelly declared a "museum of an extinct race."

Prague is especially pretty during the Christmas holidays when the entire city becomes a gift-wrapped wonderland of color decorations, and lights. Toss in the heat of crackling fireplaces and the piquant taste of hot wine sold everywhere by street vendors, and this is winter's charm at its best. But here's another part of the secret: there is no better place to enjoy the warmth of the season than at the Aria Hotel, a hotel that is the essence of Prague itself and absolutely unlike any other in the world.

The Aria manages to blend together in one neat package all of the elements of class, style, elegance, history, and most importantly, a deep appreciation for music and its importance to Prague.

The Aria, located in the Mala Strana, is a reminder of the greatest composers and performers of all time. The four guest floors of the Aria are dedicated to a particular genre of music that helped shape Prague into what it is today. Each of the guestrooms features the music and history of a different artist or genre. On the classical floor, for example, there are rooms dedicated to Brahms and Bernstein; on the contemporary floor, the guestrooms highlight the musical styles of British Rock and Bossa Nova. On the opera floor, you can drift to sleep to the music of Puccini and Mozart, or you can opt to sway to the soulful sounds of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday on the jazz floor.

If it's true that music soothes the soul, then a holiday stay at the aptly named Aria will humble even the most grinchiest of grinches. With distinctive rooms such as the "Music Salon," with its berry-red hued walls, leather furniture, and working fireplace, the sophisticated Aria will feature special holiday programs all throughout the Christmas season. The Aria also has a rooftop garden, which is just right for enjoying a glass of fine wine, and afternoon snowfall, and the jingling of sleigh bells in the distance.

(CONTINUE...)