# @christiansosa.art on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DNOml86SMk9
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33310318-christiansosaart-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c9e95ed4ba.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-08-11T20:29:25.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Christian Sosa (@Christiansosa.art) — https://gondola.cc/Christiansosa.art

## Caption

The Metronome was my favorite attraction in all of Prague. Towering 25 meters above Letná hill, the monument not only serves as a beautiful viewpoint of the city but also as a symbolic representation of some of Prague’s most fascinating history. 

In 1949, the Czechoslovak Communist Party decided to construct a large monument of Joseph Stalin where The Metronome currently stands today. A city-wide competition was enacted, and all visual artists in Praguye were obligated to participate. Construction began in 1952 using the winning design of Otakar Švec. The design was chosen because Stalin was not portrayed with the usual arm raised forward and clenched fist, but instead, the Soviet dictator held a book in one hand with the other close to his heart. Stalin stands in front of a worker, a farmer, a scientist, and a soldier. The Communist Party was not the first to consider a monument atop Letná hill; Otakar Švec, along with Kiri Stursa, planned to construct a statue of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk here in 1912. 

The Stalin Monument was unveiled on May 1, 1955, two years after Joseph Stalin’s death. The new Soviet Leader, Nikita Khrushchev, did not attend the monument’s unveiling. One year later, Khrushchev accused Stalin of mass murder at a congressional meeting. Stalin fell into disgrace, and the monument atop Letná hill became an embarrassment. Usable stone was removed from the structure, and the rest of it was demolished on November 6, 1962, using 800 kilos of explosives. 

The 7-ton Metronome was installed in 1991 as a symbol of a new era and the passage of time. The sculptor of the artwork, Vratislav Novák, actually named the piece Time Machine (Stroj času). It was originally meant to be a temporary installation, but the artwork still stands to this day and is visible from the edge of Old Town Square. 

Before I visited the Metronome, I did not know any of its history, but I was able to feel the youthful rebellious energy of the monument. A DJ was playing great house music on vinyl, graffiti lined the historic walls, and there were plenty of skaters hanging out enjoying the sunset. The Metronome is an absolute must-see in Prague! 
#MetronomePrague

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## Tags

metronomeprague

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