Day One: Magical KRAKOW in Poland

Today I decide to write about my short trip to Krakow, which was the official capital of Poland until 1596 and has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, economic, cultural and artistic life. The Old Town of this city was declared the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world and cited as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Kraków also located at the southern part of Poland and near the border of the Czech Republic.

I booked the flight ticket when I was in Ho Chi Minh layover, like very last minute trip. Once I get back to Dubai, I straight back to my accomodation get change and pack my luggage and straight head to the airport. I took a flight from Dubai to Krakow with Fly Dubai and the flight time took approximately 6 hours.

After I landed in Krakow, I straight head to the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel to check in and get some rest. The location of the hotel is near the city center so I can walk to the city and take about 15 minutes. But at first, I took about 2 hours nap before explore the city. Then after I awake from my nap, I took quick shower to freshen up myself and ready to explore the city.

I'm so lucky on that day because the weather was so sunny and not too cold since in Poland still winter. Firstly, I walk to the Wawel Royal Castle.

The Wawel Castle is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. The castle residency located in central Kraków and built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great, it consists of a number of structures from different periods situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. The castle itself represents nearly all European architectural styles of medieval, renaissance and baroque periods and being one of the biggest castle in Poland.

The back view of the castle.

This is the main square in the Krakow. This square full with many historical sites, restaurants, bars, and shopping area.

The building right behind me called The Cloth Hall, is the one of the city most recognizables icons in the dates of the Renaissance. It is the central feature of the main market square in the Kraków Old Town, which since 1978 has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The tall building behind me is the Saint Mary’s Basilica, is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square. It was about 80 m tall and particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss. Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Historic Centre of Kraków in 1978. On every hour, a trumpet signal called the Hejnał mariacki is played from the top of the taller of Saint Mary's two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate a famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before a Mongol attack on the city.

This is the Town Hall Tower, one of the main focal points of the Main Market Square in the Old Town district of Kraków. The Tower is the only remaining part of the old Kraków Town Hall demolished in 1820 as part of the city plan to open up the Main Square. Its cellars once housed a city prison with a Medieval torture chamber. In 1967, after a complex conservation which underlined its gothic ancestry, object was given to the Historical Museum in Cracow for management of it.

St. Florian's Gate or better known as Florian Gate in Kraków, is one of the best-known Polish Gothic towers, and a focal point of Kraków's Old Town. It was built about the 14th century as a rectangular Gothic tower of "wild stone", part of the city fortifications against Turkish attack.

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in the Old Town district of Kraków, Poland is a Roman Catholic, Polish Baroque church and was built between 1597 to 1619 by Giovanni Maria Bernardoni who perfected the original design of Józef Britius. It is the biggest of the historic Churches of Kraków in terms of seating capacity. Since 1842 it serves the Catholic All Saints parish.

I really enjoyed my walk and exploring every corner of the city. I really love all the Europe's architecture and history.

As I continue to walk back to the hotel, I saw a huge crowd in front of this dragon statue so I stop by and checkout what is that. So this is Wawel Dragon Statue, is a monument at the foot of the Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland, in front of the Wawel Dragon's den, dedicated to the mythical Wawel Dragon. According to the legend, this is a famous dragon in Polish folklore. His lair was in a cave at the foot of Wawel Hill on the bank of the Vistula River.

The night view and scenery nearby Wisla River.

The night view of the city from the Wisła river.

Tomorrow early in the morning I will be visiting Auschwitz and will write about the camp on in the next post.

Love,

Elene