Kraków is one of the oldest and largest cities of Poland. This historic city is situated on the Vistula River (Wisla) at the foot of Wawel Hill in Little Poland region (Malopolska). Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading scientific, cultural and artistic centres of the country, the former residence of the Polish kings and a national capital, considered by many to remain the spiritual heart of Poland due to its history of more than a thousand years. Kraków is also a major centre of local and international tourism, attracting seven million visitors per year. The old city of Kraków has a rich architecture, mostly Renaissance with some examples of Baroque and Gothic. Kraków's palaces, churches and mansions display a richness of color, architectural details, stained glass, paintings, sculptures, and furnishings. Famous landmarks include the medieval Old Town with its beautiful square, the Main Market Square (200 meters on a side ) with St. Mary's Basilica and the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, the Wawel Castle, the National Art Museum, the Zygmunt Bell at the Wawel Cathedral, the medieval St Florian's Gate with the Barbican along the Royal Coronation Route, the 14th-century buildings of the Jagiellonian University and Kazimierz, the historical centre of Kraków's Jewish religious and social life.
In 1978, UNESCO added Kraków's historic centre, which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle to the list of World Heritage Sites. The Gothic St Mary's Church stands by the market placeKraków hosts many annual artistic events, including some of international significance, such as the festival of Short Feature Films, Biennial of Graphic Arts, and the Jewish Culture Festival. Kraków contains 28 museums and art galleries, such as the National Museum (Kraków) and Czartoryski Museum. Points of interest outside the city include the Wieliczka salt mine, the Tatra Mountains 100 kilometers (62 mi) to the south, the historic city of Czestochowa, the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, and Ojcowski National Park, which includes Pieskowa Skala Castle.
