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Krakow: Things To See & Do
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Wawel Royal Castle
The castle visitors see
today on Wawel hill was first built by King Sigismund I the Old in the
early 16th century, and over the centuries, has served as the residence
for three dynasties of Polish royalty. Today, it is home to some of the
most spectacular exhibitions in the country, including the artworks in
the Royal Chambers, the Crown Treasury, the archaeological artifacts of
Wawel hill, and from time to time, temporary exhibitions on the city's
history.
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Skalka Sanctuary
Only a short walk from Wawel
Castle, on a little hillock, is the the site where bishop Stanislav was
martyred in 1079. The current church on the site is a lovely Baroque
edifice built in the 18th century, but apparently visitors can still see
three dark stains on the church wall, said to be the blood of St.
Stanislav. The church has long been a pilgrimage site for the Polish
faithful, especially on 8 May, St. Stanislav's day.
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Wawel Cathedral
Long the coronation site of
Poland's monarchs and one of the country's most prominent and important
church buildings, this Cathedral is home to an astonishing collection of
art, from periods as diverse as Gothic and Modern. It is also the final
resting place of most of the Polish royalty, a few national heroes, two
poets, four saints (including St. Stanislav, Poland's patron saint) and
countless bishops.
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Old Town
What was once the medieval
city of Krakow is today largely preserved as the city's most popular
tourist attraction, and where many of its more historical attractions
are located. The entire Old Town District in on the UNESCO World
Heritage list. Don't forget to walk around the Planty Garden Ring, a
lovely green belt of public parks that was built in the 1820s, largely
to take over the space that was created when the old city walls were
torn down.
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Basilica of the Virgin Mary
If the Wawel Cathedral was
the preferred place for royalty, then the Basilica in Krakow's Grand
Square is the favoured church of the city's burghers, and is decorated
accordingly. The Basilica is noted for its magnificent 15th century
Gothic ornamentations, the most prominent of which is the giant Gothic
altarpiece and its huge crucifix over the nave.
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Medieval Fortifications
Built late in the 13th
century to protect the citizens from marauding bandits and knights, the
city was once surrounded by thick stone walls punctuated by towers and
gates. Though mostly torn down in the 19th century, part of the
fortifications are still standing today, the chief of which is the Brama
Florianska Gate and the awesome Barbican, which today incongrously
serves as a site for summertime concerts.
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