Kraków will host the 2016 World Youth Day. Young people from all over the world will gather here to meet Pope Francis, and to pray and spend time together.
For many centuries Kraków was the capital of Poland where the Polish royal family lived in Wawel Castle. Now Kraków is known as the cultural capital of Poland. It is a city with many museums and art galleries: Wawel Royal Castle, Manggha (Museum of Japanese Art and Technology), the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK) to name but a few. It is also a place where great avant-garde theatre directors, like Tadeusz Kantor and Konrad Swinarski,.lived and created their performances
Nowadays you can see how tradition and modernity interweave in Kraków. It is not only very old and rich in culture, but it is also a knowledge-oriented and business-friendly city with great universities, enterprises and tourists from all over the world.
Kraków is well known for its sightseeing. Due to its not being destroyed during Second World Word, it has many magnificent places to see. The Market Square in the city centre is the biggest medieval market square in the world. Because of its numerous churches, the city was called the second Rome in 16th century. Many of the120 temples which survive are now monuments.
Downtown you will find City Park, a unique green space which is located near the medieval city walls. However for many tourists, the loveliest part of Kraków is Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter, famous for its historic synagogues and unique atmosphere. It is also trendy place to go and has lots of great restaurants and pubs.
Kraków is also known as papal city. Karol Wojtyła lived here, before he was elected as Pope John Paul II. Here you can find the so called ‘papal window’, from which St. John Paul II talked informally to people gathered on the street beside the bishop’s palace during his pilgrimages to his fatherland.
Last but not least, Kraków is a capital of the Divine Mercy devotion . There is a newly built basilica, which was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 2002. In the sanctuary there is a painting of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina, which attracts many pilgrims from all over the world.
These are but a few of the many remarkable places you can find in Kraków. Come to World Youth Day and discover this unique city by yourself. We are waiting for you!