In the Lesser Polish Voivodeship of Poland and cradled by the Vistula River is the second largest city in Poland, Kraków^[1]Pronounced Krakoff.. A vibrant, clean and beautiful city, it currently hides its success as a tourist attraction very well.

University Route – Park – Kraków, Poland

Frederic Chopin Piano Monument – Kraków, Poland

Kraków

One of the oldest towns in Poland, Kraków’s founding goes way back to the eight century. The town was walled during the middle-ages, however most of the wall has not survived modern times.

Gate Entrance – Barbican Museum – Kraków, Poland

There are only a small sections of it still left by the Florian Gate and other less noticeable fragments here and there, as well as monuments to the old towers that once blessed the eastern path of the park that circles the city.

Florian’s Gate – Florianska Street – Kraków, Poland

Most of the old town’s streets accommodate the throngs of tourists that visit each day. In particular, they hide walking the park that circles the city like a lazy dragon.

Arsenal Museum – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Carriage Rides – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Saint Mary’s Basilica in distance – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Getting There

Our visit here was inspired by previous visits I had had traveling for business in the past. Luckily, our airport in Turin had a direct flight with RyanAir to Kraków. There are train connections to the city, but surely most people drive from the surrounding area and even rent a car at the airport to get here.

Hotels

Hotel Polski Pod Bialym Orlem

The hotel we stayed at was the Polski pod Bialym Orlem on Pijarska street, which was right next to the Florian Gate. A very nice five-star hotel that had excellent service and was very comfortable.

Street View – Hotel Polski pod Bialym Orlem – Kraków, Poland

Inside – Hotel Polski pod Bialym Orlem – Kraków, Poland

Our Suite – Hotel Polski pod Bialym Orlem – Kraków, Poland

Rynek Główny

Rynek Główny is the main square of the city. Here you will find the Town Hall Tower, Cloth Hall and a few monuments. The square is active with many restaurants and cafes encircling it attending patrons. It rivals that Vittorio Veneto Piazza in Turin, which ostensibly is one of the largest, if not the largest in Europe.

Town Hall Tower and Market Hall – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Well – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

City Donation Box – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Eos Bendato Sculpture – Gothic Town Hall Tower – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

City Coat of Arms – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Market Hall – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Market Hall and Church of St. Wojciech – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Saint Mary’s Basilica – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Adam Mickiewicz Monument – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Plac Szczepański

One of the three large main plazas in the city, the Plac Szczepański is close to Saint Anne’s and the Art Palace. It is also the location of many restaurants and small shops that dot its boundary.

Place Szczepański Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Art Palace – Place Szczepański Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Bronze Plaza Depiction – Place Szczepański Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Old Stary Theater – Place Szczepański Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Map – Place Szczepański Plaza – Kraków, Poland

Churches And Cathedrals

Kraków if anything, is a city of churches, cathedrals and basilicas. Any one of the catholic faith would be drawn to this city as a moth to a flame. Each one is a beautiful symbol of a proud faith, which by the attendance we witnessed is still enjoyed and celebrated in this city. The faithful come during all times during the day, just to sit, pray and be at peace in their choosen abode of peace. Along with Charlotte, North Carolina, it is known as one of the cities of churches.

Church Of The Transfiguration

On Pijarska Street, not far from our hotel is the Church of the Transfiguration. Perched a bit high overlooking Świętego Jana Street, the church has an amazing vault or ceiling.

Nave – Church of the Transfiguration – Kraków, Poland

Altar – Church of the Transfiguration – Kraków, Poland

Pulpit – Church of the Transfiguration – Kraków, Poland

Basilica Saint Francis Of Assisi

Typical of Saint Francis of Assisi this unassuming basilica was a pleasure to visit. Dark and unoffending, the ebony side chapel of the Madonna with Child is a real marvel.

Madonna with Child – Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi – Kraków, Poland

Altar – Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi – Kraków, Poland

The nave, with a golden altar beckons you forward, beseeching the faithful inside. The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is a thirteenth century church that was one of the first brick and sandstone churches in Poland.

Entrance – Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi – Kraków, Poland

Garden – Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi – Kraków, Poland

Nave – Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi – Kraków, Poland

Church Of Saint Anne

Located close to the Art Palace and the Plac Szczepański the Church of Saint Anne is elegant in its own way. Built in the baroque style, the floor itself is impressive in its own right.

Nave – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

Aisle – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

The nave, altar, aisles and other aspects of the church speak for themselves. A beautiful church and typical of Catholic Churches found in Poland.

Side Chapel Ceiling – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

Side Chapel – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

Side Altar – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

Altar – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

Organ and Nave Ceiling – Church of Saint Anne – Kraków, Poland

Church Of Saints John The Baptist And John The Evangelist

A small church next to a small Italian restaurant that we ate at, the Church Of Saints John The Baptist And John The Evangelist has a red exterior, small in stature and somewhat a simple baroque interior, but well worth a visit.

Altar and Inside – Church of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist – Kraków, Poland

Holy Trinity Church

If you are looking for something small with more spartan lines, then the Holy Trinity Church should be a destination. It singular feature of adornment is in its wooden side chapels, which the photographs below show in better detail.

Nave – Holy Trinity Church – Kraków, Poland

Organ – Holy Trinity Church – Kraków, Poland

Side Chapels – Holy Trinity Church – Kraków, Poland

Pulpit – Holy Trinity Church – Kraków, Poland

Saint Aldabert’s Church

Also known as Church Of Saint Wojciech, Saint Aldabert’s Church is a small chapel that sits on top of an older church.

Church of St. Wojciech – Rynek Główny Main Plaza – Kraków, Poland

The archealogical remains of the older church may be visited for a small fee. Frankly there is not much to see, but it was interesting nonetheless, even though it was quite short.

Tickets For Two – Saint Aldaberts Church – Kraków, Poland

Entrance – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Old Wooden Door with Iron Doorknob – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Old Romanesque Wall – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Exhibits – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Old Keys and other artifacts – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Old Crucifixes – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Crucifixes and Gold Pendants – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Remains Found – Saint Aldabert’s Church – Kraków, Poland

Restaurants

In this part we visited two restaurants of note. The Morski Oko and the Jama Michalika, one noted for its food, the other for its artwork.

Morskie Oko Restaurant

The Morskie Oko restaurant is actually one that we visited more than once, more on that later. In this edition we had reservations for lunch, since it can get quite busy.

Downstairs – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Inside Downstairs – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Group Seating – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Patti waiting for lunch – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Inside – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Wines – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Erick – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Our seating was downstairs, where we could enjoy the restaurant’s medieval quality. The food was very good, but in true Polish fashion, very filling. The gołąbki w sosie pomidorowym, or cabbage rolls in tomato sauce, were actually very good, light but at the same time very filling.

Gulash Soup – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Sauerkraut Soup – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Potato Pancakes with Cream and Mushroom Sauce – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Gołąbki w sosie pomidorowym, or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls in Sauce – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Vodka Flight and Espresso – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Jama Michalika Restaurant

The Jama Michalika restaurant, though the food was not as good as the Morskie Oko, it is adorned with artwork. Pedestrians actually visit the inside of the restaurant just to look at the works.

Sign – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Inside – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Artwork – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

We did not have reservations for this restaurant, but rather visited them since they had perogie on the menu. They were actually quite good, but also quite filling.

Gulash – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Beetroot Soup and Potato Croquet – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Perogies – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

Ice Cream Sundae – Jama Michalika Restaurant – Pijarska Street – Kraków, Poland

References[+]

References
↑1	Pronounced Krakoff.

Kraków, Poland – Part One