Krakow:
Ask a Pole which city a visitor should choose first, and the answer will no doubt be Krakow. At the pinnacle of Polish culture and heritage, Krakow enchants visitors from the moment they arrive.
Krakow was the Capital of Poland until the end of the 16th century. During its 500-year reign, Krakow accumulated some of the most eclectic, romantic, and strikingly beautiful architecture in Europe. It is still, unquestionably, the Polish capital of culture, as confirmed by its recent designation as a European City of Culture.
Look carefully at those buildings in the square. Thanks to a surprise appearance by the Red Army at the end of World War II, Krakow escaped the Reich's planned destruction. An examination of the doorways and arches will reveal their 800 year-old history.
There always seems to be something else to explore. There are over 40 churches in the city center alone, ancient fortifications, and the Wawel Castle, often described as the personification of Poland.
Krakow possesses a laid-back old-wor
