Who desires to know the spirit of Poland, let him seek it in Krakow- wrote Wilhelm Feldman. And indeed, because of its historical architecture, Krakow is considered to be the most European of all Polish cities, not only drawing on the influence of the old continent, but also taking a hand in the creation of its culture. Krakow's value and merits have been recognised by, among others, UNESCO - in the year 2000 Poland's largest historical architectural ensemble, consisting of over six thousand priceless architectural objects, was given the honour of being named European City of Culture.

Krakow, pulsating with cultural and scientific life in their various forms, with the exceptional collections of its museums, galleries and churches was known for centuries as the Athens of the north, or the second Rome. The city's status is further enhanced by its wonderful buildings, among them The Royal Castle and Cathedral at Wawel, St Mary's Basilica, the Jagiellonian University's Collegium Maius, the church of SS Peter and Paul, and many others testifying to the greatness of a city included on the UNESCO world heritage list.