Travel: Poland-Kraków

Finally in Krakow!

Krakow is one of the oldest and the second largest city in Poland. Its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our tour of the Old Town of Krakow started on the bank of the Vistula River, below Wawel Hill.

We learned the legend of the Wawel Dragon (Smok Wawelski ) and its cave.

Wawel Dragon sculpture by Bronisław Chromy.

The entire Old Town - Stare Miasto -is surrounded with a pathway lined with greenery, making the largest park in Krakow - Park Planty. In the past there were the Medieval city walls.

Our next destination was the Wawel complex.

Wawel Castle - Zamek królewski na Wawelu

Wawel Cathedral  -The Basilica of St Stanisław and St Wacław

Cathedral’s exterior is a mix of 5 different architectural styles.

A purported dragon bone hanging outside of Wawel Cathedral.

The Cathedral is the last resting place of Polish kings, national heroes, eminent poets, and the patron saint of Poland – Bishop Stanislaus.

The castle’s inner arcaded courtyard.

The left hand corner of the courtyard is believed to be one of the 7 chakra points of the world. Tour guides are forbidden to talk about the area and its supposed energy.

Wawel Thief Tower -Baszta Złodziejska na Wawelu.

Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul

St. Andrew's Church

St. Mary Magdalene Square and the monument to Fr Piotr Skarga 

Ulica Grodzka -Grodzka Street

Info Krakow point-Pawilon Wyspiański 2000 is a rare piece of

postmodern architecture present in Kraków's Old Town

St. Francis Church  

The MainMarket Square - Rynek Główny –is one of the largest medieval square in Europe and it is the heart of Old Town Krakow

The Cloth Hall - Sukiennice 

 

Adam Mickiewicz Monument

Town Tower-is the only remnant of the Town Hall built around 1300.

St.Mary’s Basilica - Kościół Mariacki

Saint Adalbert’s Church  

"Eros Bendato" made by Igor Mitoraj

Florianska Street

St.Florian's Gate- Brama Floriańska 

The Barbican

Barbican is one of the most exquisite examples of medieval military architecture in Europe.

The University Route

The Jagiellonian University is the oldest university in Poland.Founded in 1364  by Casimir III the Great.

Monument to NicolausCopernicus 

The Collegium Novum is the Neo-Gothic main building of the Jagiellonian University.

Courtyard of the Collegium Maius (oldest building of the Jagiellonian University) 

The Collegium Witkowski

U BabciMaliny restaurant look like a country log cabin.

Pierogi (dumplings) 

After a tasty lunch it was necessary to burn extra calories. Going to the salt mine in Wieliczka was an excellent training. 

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WieliczkaSalt Mines -Kopolnia Soli

Wieliczka Salt Mine was opened in the 13th century. It reaches almost 327 meters below the ground.

The first day in Krakow was very tiring. We've made over 20000 steps. That’s why we had to restore spent energy. Passing by various pastry shops we were tempted.

Who would resist such a challenge?