"Krakow" Krakow by Ramonq

Krakow is famous for its largest medieval square in Europe, whose history dates back to the 13th century. It sure is a magical sight. The square is the central rendezvous point for its inhabitants and it is the focus of the city's main activities. Christmas pageants, New Years eve celebrations, festivals, religious parades, and even rock concerts are held in the square. A large renaissance indoor market called the Sukiennice Cloth Hall is located in the middle of the square, where during its halcyon days, exotic spices and silk imported from Asia and textiles, and precious salt from the Wieliczka Salt Mine, were bought and sold here. Dominating the square are two imposing structures that were both built in the 13th century, the asymmetrical spires of St Mary's Basilica and the remains of the Town Hall tower which reminded me of St Marks square in Venice. You can go up the towers to see a good view of this impressive square and watch the flock of pigeons harassing the pedestrians below. You can easily spend an entire day here soaking up the atmosphere and watching the world go by as you sit in one of many finer restaurants and watering holes strategically located around the square.

Wawel Castle

You might think that the square is where Krakow started, but walk down Kanonicza Street, the oldest street in Krakow and you will see a massive castle looming above the hill called Wawel. This is Poland's holiest-of-the-holy sacred ground, so holy that the Polish people wished that the late Pope John Paul II be buried here where he celebrated his first mass. The history of Wawel Hill is the history of Krakow, which is the history of Poland. Within the walls of Wawel is a hallowed complex made of the cathedral and the castle. Here, the remains of just about all the Polish kings and queens since the 13th century, holy saints such as St Stanislaw, and a few revered Polish statesmen are interred below the cathedral. One would think that this is Poland's equivalent of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. What started as a 7th century settlement of Polish-speaking tribe on a hill overlooking the Vistula River has evolved into a sumptuous royal coronation and burial ground and even a presidential residence. The Polish nation, one of the most important nations in Europe, germinated from here and it has a long history of trials and conquests. Krakow was once the capital of Poland, but was moved to Warsaw in the 16th century. Because of the spiritual significance of Wawel to the Polish people, the site retained its formal role in the coronation and burial of royals. If you want to learn about the history of Poland, this is definitely the place to start.

Plac Jana Matejki

A fortified medieval wall once surrounded the old town, and this has since been torn down and replaced by greenery. The Barbican is one of the few remaining reminders of the wall. Outside the confines of the old city lies the Krakow of the Renaissance, Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution period with many apartments and public infrastructures having different architectural styles. An interesting suburb of Krakow is the Kazimierz, which has the largest Jewish settlement in town. It's a quaint and cozy corner of Krakow that belie the traumatic events of the Second World War when thousands of Jews in the area were sent to Auschwitz to be gassed. Auschwitz is a town just outside Krakow which was turned into the largest Nazi concentration camp where millions of people were murdered by the Nazis.

It is a miracle that Krakow did not suffer the same fate as Warsaw, which was completely destroyed by the Nazis after the uprising. Apparently, the Nazis had a sinister plan to destroy Krakow too, but the Allied Russians were able to repel them just in time. I have come to really think that Krakow is truly a blessed city.

• Pros:well preserved city