Wawel Royal Castle - Zamek Krlewski na Wawelu. Built in for Zygmunt I. Historic Centre of Krakw. UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 1978. The Schloss (Zamek Kr6lewski), on the broad Wawel hill at the S.W. end of the old town, was founded in the 14th cent, by Ladislaus Lokietek, and restored by Casimir the Great and Sigismund I. (after 1500), but later conflagrations and other injuries have left only a number of large separate buildings, dating chiefly from the time of Sigismund I and his son Sigismund Augustus, and converted in 1846 into a barrack and 1900. DSC_0397p1
Our motorcoach arrived in Krakow at 6:00 p.m. Upon crossing the Vistula, a dramatic entry was made into Krakow, with Wawel Castle to the left and the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel to the right. The coach headed straight for our hotel, the Holiday Inn Krakw City Centre. (No ordinary Holiday Inn, the building had once been the Pareński Palace, a 19th century mansion.) The hotel was within walking distance of the Old Town (Stare Miasto) and its centerpiece, the Rynek Głwny. The tour group had a date with dinner and an Polish folkloric show.
Passing though the Small Market Square (Mały Rynek) the group entered the Main Market Square (Rynek Głwny). Off to one side was our destination for dinner, Restauracja Tradycyja. Dinner in the restaurants basement included a Polish folkloric show performed by LajkFolk. The ensemble included four musicians and three dancers. They danced the Krakowiak and other folk dances. They certainly appeared to enjoy performing for our group. Of course, I bought one of their CDs.
After dinner, the Market Square was illuminated. It was a magical sight with the Cloth Hall, St. Marys Basilica and the old town hall tower all lit up.
Cloister On The Rock;. Bazylika św. Michała Archanioła i św. Stanisława na Skałce - Basilica of St. Michael Archangel and St. Stanisława and the Pauline Monastery (Skałka). In the Kazimierz district. The Paulists arrived in Krakw in 1472. The Baroque church of St. Michael and St. Stanislaus was built in according to the plans of the architect Antoni Mntzer, changed a few years later by Antonio Solari, who redesigned the facade of the building and interior design. Ulica Skałeczna 15. Historic Centre of Krakw. UNESCO World Heritage site. Inscribed in 1978.DSC_0361p1
