KRAKOW: the artistic and cultural center of Poland

Krakow is considered the most beautiful and important city of the Poland from the artistic and architectonic point of view. It was the capital of the country for three centuries, until the end of 1500.
Krakow is crossed from the Vistula river and it was a crucial point of the ancient amber way. It is also the cultural center of the nation and an important university town, where Copernicus studied in the beautiful gothic building of the Collegium Maius.
Krakow always has been famous for its architectonic structure that alternates the Romanesque, Gothic and Italian Renaissance style.
The architectonic complex of the Wawel hill is an example of this stylistic balance: it was the residence of the kings of Poland and dominates the Vistula river and the city.
The Rynek Glowny (central market) is one of largest medieval public squares in Europe, in the middle of it there is the Sukiennice (market of the fabrics), a beautiful gothic building that today has become a lively bazaar.
The cultural life in Krakow is animated by 14 theatres, an Opera Theatre, the Philharmonic society and interesting museums.
In the Muzeum Czartoryskich is exposed the extraordinary work “lady with ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci.
The night-life is characterized by typical restaurants and a lot of pubs, like usual for an university and lively city where students and young people stay.
Krakow’s wide green spaces make it to be also a quite and pleasant city and to visit.

To know more:
www.polonia.it/itinerari/matopolska/cracovia_a.html (Italian)
www.cracow-life.com
www.explore-krakow.com

Reportage: 141 photos on CD-Rom