POLAND - KRAKOW

Krakow is the third largest city in Poland (population 720,000) and one of the oldest cities, too as its history dates back to the 7th century. In 1000, Krakow was granted its own bishopric and in 1038 it became the capital of the Piast kingdom. Krakow's Golden Age came by the end of the 15th century when it was the thriving metropolis of a vast and prosperous kingdom stretching from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. The kings ruled from Wawel Castle until 1596, but even afterwards, when Warsaw became the capital city, Polish royalty continued to be crowned and buried in the Wawel Cathedral. Throughout the 18th century, Krakow suffered a series of sieges, foreign occupations and plunders. In January 1945, a sudden encircling manoeuvre by the Soviet army forced the Germans to quickly evacuate the city, and Krakow was saved from destruction. As such, Krakow is the only Poland's large city that has preserved its old architecture almost intact.

No other city in Poland has so many historic buildings and monuments. UNESCO included the whole of Krakow's Old Town in the list of the World Cultural Heritage. The beautiful Old Town area remains its vibrant hub with numerous landmarks, museums, art galleries, music venues, theaters, university colleges, etc. on top of myriad boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Krakow is Poland's capital of culture as the city boasts the best museums and theaters in the country. It counts two Nobel Prize winners in literature among its residents. It is also home to one of the world's oldest and most distinguished universities. No wonder Krakow was named a European City of Culture in 2000.

There is a lot to see in Krakow such as the Wawel Royal Castle - home to three dynasties of Poland's monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite chambers are filled with priceless art, exquisite period furniture and rare ancient objects. The collection of the 16th-century monumental Flemish tapestries is unmatchable. The Wawel Cathedral, Basilica of the Virgin Mary's or a visit of the world's oldest shopping mall - the Cloth Hall, which has been in business for 700 years are definitely highlights of Poland.