tgnych

Could someone knowledgeable of this city comment on the following itinerary proposed to me by a private guide?
Any suggestion for improvement?

1) The Krakow Ghetto - the Pharmacy Museum;
2) The Kazimierz Jewish District:
Remu Orthodox Synagogue;
Temple Rerformed Jews' Synagogue;
3) The Czartoryski Museum;
4) The National Gallery;
5) The Wawel Cathedral,
6) The Wawel Royal Chambers, Renaissance and Baroque Section;
7) The Kosciuszko Mound (from where you can see the city prospective);

Many thks,

rex

topping...

zwho

Hi, It sounds fine to me. I'm not familiar with the mound but Krakow is like a little jewel box so I'm sure its impressive. I would also go to the salt mines and leave time to go to the Rynek Glowny, or town sq. as its also known.

Caroline1

Hi,
First, you might want to post this directly under "Poland" forum.

This itinerary is OK. Still, I think it’s very incomplete and skips on some of the major highlights of Krakow.
First, here’s a link to a simplified yet useful map of Krakow’s Old Town:
http://krakow.zaprasza.net/mapy/
Just point to a street name etc. in the legend with your cursor and the street will become highlighted on the map.

Here’s the itinerary that what I would suggest:
1. Start your sightseeing walk on Pl. Matejki (close to the main train station).
- there you will see the Monument to the Battle of Grunwald. The battle took place in 1410. It is considered the biggest battle of Medieval times and one of the biggest battles of all time. Polish and allied forces defeated the Teutonic knights at Grunwald.
- * Barbican – one of the remaining fortifications that used to surround the entire Krakow Old Town. It is the most valuable building of its kind in Europe (btw. the walls are over 3 meters thick).
2. * Proceed through the beautiful Florian Gate and enter Krakow Old Town (local artists always display their paintings on the walls right next to the Florian Gate.
3. Stop by Szpitalna Street to take a look at Slowacki Theatre
4. Go back to Pijarska Street and proceed to Sw. Jana Street to go to the Czartoryski Museum
5. * From Sw. Jana cross over to Florianska Street and proceed to Old Town Market Square (the biggest old town square in Europe)
Highlights of Old Town Square:
- * St. Mary’s Church (make sure you go inside to see the biggest triptych altar in the world (it’s amazing). Also pay attention to the burger’s call from the Church’s tower (every hour on the hour). Ps. You have to enter St. Mary’s Church through a tourist door on the side of the Church (separate entrance for tourists helps control the flow of traffic and doesn’t disturb the worshippers).
- * Sukiennice (the big building in the middle of the Square). It used to be a cloth hall (trading place; some consider it to be the oldest “mall” in the world); inside you will find plenty of handmade souvenirs to bring back home
- Town Hall Tower (that’s all that’s left of the Town Hall). You can go up the tower for a good view of the city
- Sw. Wojciech Church (an older church on that same site existed in X century; it’s probably the smallest Church in Krakow)
- Mickiewicz Monument (Adam Mickiewicz was the most famous Polish poet)
- Wierzynek Restaurant – the oldest restaurant in Krakow (established in 1364; it was then that the Polish king through a feast for European royalty; the feast lasted 12 days). Take a look inside to see the beautiful interiors (famous people such as Spielberg dined there).
- Empik bookstore – it’s right next to St. Mary’s Church. I’m just mentioning the place because it’s a good place to get some albums etc. on Krakow and Poland if you are interested.
6. * Collegium Maius at the Jagielonian University (second oldest university in Central Europe) (Mikolaj Kopernik – Nicolas Copernicus was a student here; you will also see the oldest globe in the world to show the “New World.”)
7. St. Peter and Paul Church on Grodzka Street
8. *Franciskan Church (enter the Plac Wszystkich Swietych, another market square, through Grodzka St. At the first bigger crossroads you will see the church on your right (in a short distance). There you can admire spectacular and very unusual-looking for Catholic churches stained-glass windows and polychromes designed by a great artist, Stanislaw Wyspianski).
9. * Go back to the beautiful Kanoniczna Street and walk up to the *Wawel Castle
- * Wawel Cathedral (make sure you see the inside and go underground to see the tombs of kings, queens and other famous people)
- * Wawel Castle (I especially enjoyed the splendid courtyard, Royal Chambers, treasury and armory exhibits).
- Walk down the steps to the legendary Smok Wawelski Cave
10. After a tour of the Wawel Castle it’s now only a straight shot to the * Kazimierz district to admire the monuments of the Jewish culture.
- Remuh Orthodox Synagogue and Cemetery
- * Temple Reformed Synagogue

There are so many other places in both the Old Town and Krakow in general that are worth visiting. For example I would definitely recommend that you don’t miss the Wieliczka Salt Mines (just like Krakow itself the Wieliczka Salt Mines were entered on UNESCO’s first list of World Heritage in 1978).
Some other things to explore in Krakow:
Kosciuszko Mound (Krakow has many mounds but this one is the most famous)
Tracing the Mloda Polska art movement (for example art by artists such as Wyspianski and Mehoffer). For example Jama Michalika Café is a great place where you can easily access Mloda Polska art (Jama Michalika is at ulica Florianska 45). Don’t miss the beautiful interiors.
Beautiful houses on Retoryka Street designed by Teodor Talowski (House under a Spider or House under a Singing Frog etc.)
Museum of Pharmacy (very unique, extremely intriguing)
Teatr Stary (Old Theatre)
Planty (green ring – a park that replaced the defensive wall/tower/moat system that used surround the Old Town)
Willa Decjusz
Krakow Fortifications etc…………..

Enjoy your trip to Krakow!


Ps. Another good map for Poland is:
http://www.map24.pl

Caroline1

Never mind...
It's not showing up under Poland

Caroline1

I placed stars * next to spots that I think are priority.

tgnych

topping