Feb 01 2009
Krakow, Poland: Old Town and Jewish Quarter
Two popular neighborhoods in Krakow, Poland are the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter.
Old Town
The heart of the Old Town is the Main Market Square, one of Europe’s largest medieval squares (second only to Venice’s St. Mark’s Square). Within the square are numerous cafes, vendors, and street performers. The ground floor of the Sukiennice provides a souvenir market, while the first floor is a Gallery of Polish 19-th century Painting and Sculpture. A small Romanesque church (St. Aldabert’s), a monument to Adam Mickiewicz (a Polish romantic poet), and the imposing St. Mary’s Church are also in the square.
Outside the main square are numerous side streets with Bohemian cafes (most famous of which is Jama Michalikowa), Jan Matejko’s House (the home of a historical painter), and Florian’s Gate (the only remaining gateway from the Old Town’s medieval walls).
Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz
This neighborhood, which used to be its own separate walled town, was built in the 14th century by King Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir the Great). It became a part of Krakow in the 18th century and in 1941, many Jews were confined there by the Nazis before being sent to the death camps.
Now, the quarter offers a Jewish Museum, several synagogues built in the 15th and 16th centuries and two major cemeteries. Although seemingly rundown in some areas, restoration is continuing and many visitors come to trace their Jewish heritage or visit the sites of Schindler’s List.
A popular Jewish Cultural Festival is held there every year in late June or July.
Related Posts
Photo by Jennifer L. Price, www.jenniferlprice.com
