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Krakow, the former capital of Poland, and a European centre of culture, art and science, is a city which offers a wide range of tourist attractions. Krakows Old Town, with its unique architecture, was labeled World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978. The heart of the city is located in the Main Square.

The biggest market square of medieval Europe, with its remarkable 16th-century Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) is example of Gothic-Renaissance architectural style.

Our visit to Old Town will include a walk across the Main Square, the Church of the Virgin Mary (Kosciol Mariacki), which boasts one of the greatest Gothic altars in Europe, carved by the great Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz).

Afterwards, we will continue along the Royal Way from the Barbican (city gates) and the St. Florian`s Gate to the Wawel Hill. The Wawel Hill, called the "Polish Acropolis" by Poles, is the site of the Royal Wawel Castle, which was a royal residence since the 12th century. The arcade courtyard represents the architecture of the so called "golden age of Polish culture". Krakow is the city of one of the oldest European universities, the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364.

Among the most prominent students of this university were Nicolaus Copernicus, whose heliocentric theory of the universe revolutionized our vision of the world, and Karol Wojtyla, later elected to become Pope John Paul II. The oldest preserved building of the university is Collegium Maius, dating back to the 15th century. Now welcoming visitors as a university museum, it offers numerous Copernicus memorabilia, old Arabian astronomical instruments and a famous globe with the map of America from the beginning of the 16th century.

Our visit will include entrances to the Church of the Virgin Mary and Collegium Maius.

Time: 2 hours.

Transfers included - from the conference venue to the Old Town and after city sightseeing to the hotels.