Kraków : Poland
Cracow or Krakow (Polish: Krakw, pronounced: [‘krakuf], in full Royal Capital City of Krakw; Polish: Krlewskie Sto?eczne Miasto Krakw, see also Cities alternative names; in Hungarian Krakk) is one of the oldest and largest cities of Poland, with a population of 760,000 (as of 2004) – agglomeration 1.2 million. This historic city is situated on the Vistula (Wis?a) River at the foot of Wawel Hill in the southerly region of Little Poland (Ma?opolska). It is the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodship (wojewdztwo ma?opolskie) (since 1999); previously it was the capital of Krakw Voivodship (since the 14th century).
Krakw has traditionally been one of the leading scientific, cultural and artistic centres of the country. It was once the national capital and is considered by many to still be the heart of Poland, due to its history of more than a thousand years. Krakw is also a major centre of local and international tourism, with more than two million visitors annually.
Modern landmarks
The old city of Krakw has a rich architecture, mostly Renaissance with some examples of Baroque and Gothic. Krakw’s palaces, churches and mansions display a richness of color, architectural details, stained glass, paintings, sculptures, and furnishings.
