Poland, Krakow

Kraków is one of the oldest and largest cities of Poland, with a 2004 population of 780,000 (1.4 million, counting adjacent communities). This historic city is situated on the Vistula River (Wisła) at the foot of Wawel Hill in Little Poland region (Małopolska). It is the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (Województwo małopolskie) since 1999; previously, it was the capital of Kraków Voivodeship from the 14th century.

History

The earliest known settlement on the present site of Kraków was established on Wawel Hill, and dates back to the 4th century. Legend attributes the town's establishment to the mythical ruler Krak, who built it above a cave occupied by a ravenous dragon.
Kraków's population has quadrupled since the end of the war. Offshoring of IT work from other nations in recent years has become important to the economy of Kraków and Poland in general. The city is the key center for this kind of business activity. There are about 20 large multinational companies in Kraków, including centers serving IBM, General Electric, and Motorola, along with British and German based firms.

Main sights

The old city of Kraków (Stare Miasto) has a rich architecture, mostly Renaissance with some examples of Baroque and Gothic. Kraków's palaces, churches and mansions display a richness of color, architectural details, stained glass, paintings, sculptures, and furnishings.

Culture

Kraków is considered by many to be Poland’s capital of culture. The city boasts one of the best museums in the country and a number of famous theaters. It has counted among its residents two Nobel Prize winners in literature: (Wisława Szymborska and Czesław Miłosz). It is also home to one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished universities. Kraków was named a European City of Culture in 2000.