Cracow is a magical city where almost everywhere history alternates with modernity, and the figures from legends accompany everyday life. Not without reason Krakow is the city in Poland which is the most readily visited by tourists from abroad. They appreciate unusual atmosphere of this place and numerous tourist attractions, monuments and stylish apartments to let in the city centre. Sightseeing of Krakow and getting to know its history can be started even on the arrival. While booking a hotel or a place to stay it is worth to find something with a soul - a historic boarding house or hotel, and maybe an apartment where some famous person used to stay.

The oldest hotel in Krakow is Pod Roza Hotel. This extraordinary place started offering its apartments to tourists as early as in 17^th century. Its guests were - among others - Russian tsar Alexander I, Grand Duke Constantine, famous French writer Honore de Balzac, cardinal Angelo Sodano, Lech Walesa and Roman Polanski. Historical prestige of this place and the position of its owners is proved by the fact that in 1580 Arian Jerzy Szoman and Piotr Skarga had their debate there.

When encouraged by historical atmosphere of this place we decide to leave our apartment, it is recommended to visit Wawel, the Basilica of St Mary and Sukiennice. They constitute flagship points on the map of each tourist and cannot be omitted.

Walking on the atmospheric streets of the Old Town or Kazimierz, an unusual Jewish district, we get to know Krakow from a totally different perspective - it is full of life, cosy cafes and galleries. We are able to try all flavours of the world in numerous little restaurants and pubs. Each place in Krakow is magical and special. Krakow itself is a monument where the most beautiful traditions of previous centuries are still alive and cultivated. Not without reason this is a favourite city of painters, poets, writers, musicians and actors.

The most important attractions:

The Royal Castle on Wawel Hill
Because of numerous fires and attacks of hostile military units the castle was in the past frequently renovated and extended in different architectural styles. At present the main exposition of the castle interior includes a few chambers on the ground floor and stately rooms on the first floor. Additionally, tourists can visit private royal apartments, the royal treasures and the armoury, the "Lost Wawel" exhibition, which actually constitutes an archeological-architectural vestige, legendary famous dragon's lair, the route called "Royal Garden", as well as numerous seasonal exhibitions.

Mariacka Tower

It is also called Guard, Waking, Alarm or Bugle Call Tower. This is the only place of this type in the world where for over 600 years a trumpeter every hour has been playing bugle call into four directions of the world. In order to see the extraordinary view from the top of the tower you have to go up as many as 239 steps.

Streets of the Old Town
In 14^th century Krakow already had 42 named and documented streets. The oldest ones are Grodzka, Florianska, Bracka and Slawkowska. Till the beginning of 19^th century the streets were named by the citizens of Krakow, who spontaneously invented their proposals, bearing in mind topography and tradition. Nowadays Krakow has considerably more streets than in 14^th century, and each of them is equally beautiful and worth seeing because of their unique characteristics.

Churches
If you are interested in sacred monuments, Krakow will not disappoint you. Basilica of the Holy Trinity and Dominican Monastery, Church of St. Florian, Church of St. Mark, Church of the Virgin Mary's Annunciation, which is also called Mariacki - this is only a small group representing these monuments. They are worth devoting some time to as each of them is unique and each of them hides some interesting story and unusual pieces of art: paintings, sculptures and stained glass.

Fortifications
The majority of medieval fortifications was destroyed at the beginning of 19^th century, when the senate took a decision to introduce an idea of an open city. Mighty fortifications were replaced by a park called Planty. There used to be eight gates and only one survived - Florianska Gate. Out of 39 towers we can admire only 3 and there are only small remnants of the thick walls. There is also no sign of a moat, 8 metres deep and 20 metres wide. Only Barbican fully survived this demolition.

Kazimierz
From 14^th to 19^th century Kazimierz was an independent city divided from Krakow by Vistula. For many centuries it was the most outstanding example of coexistence and interpenetration of Jewish and Christian cultures. Nowadays Kazimierz district is one of the biggest monuments of Krakow and a cultural centre, full of interesting galleries, cafes and arcades. Each year it hosts the Jewish Art Festival, which attracts crowds of tourists.