The Polish town of Krakow is a vantage point to the past and future
The Polish town of Krakow is a vantage point to the past and future
"In every other city in the world you’re running; in Krakow you walk." Magdalena Drazba, my host in Krakow, knows this first hand. She gave up a high-flying corporate job three years ago to settle here, take it easy and start a homestay. Honestly, though, I didn’t even walk. Most of the time, all I did was sit. In Poland’s second-largest city, the best way to see the people is to find one of its many town squares, pick a spot, and gawk.
The Rynek Glowny is Krakow’s (and Europe’s) biggest, and for many the most beautiful town square. At exactly 200m x 200m, it dates back to the 13th century and is laid out in the centre of the city.
The Cloth Hall is bang in the middle, the 13th century St Mary’s Basilica (a huge brick church with gothic spires) takes up the north corner, the tower of a former town hall is diagonally opposite and Renaissance and art nouveau buildings line the square.
