The Diamond Museum in Antwerp

In Antwerp you can find the largest Diamond Museum in the world. Its diamond district has played a leading role in the diamond trade and industry for more than 500 years. In the museum you'll learn all about the production process of diamonds and you can also see a magnificent collection of diamond jewellery. Address of the museum: Koningin Astridplein 19-23 in Antwerp, close to the Central Station.

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Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels was build between 1905-1970 in Art Deco style. It claims to be the 6th largest church and the largest Art Deco church in the world. The dome of the Basilica is open for visitors, from here you can have a beautiful view on the city.


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The Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula

The Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula is located in Brussels at the Treurenberg hill. The construction of Cathedral started at the beginning of the 13th century on the orders of Henry I, Duke of Brabant. It took almost 300 years to complete this Gothic Cathedral.

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Krakow

Krakow is situated in the south of Poland, on the banks of the Vistula River. It is one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland and is the capital of Malopolska.

The Kanonicza street, close to Wavel.

View on the city from the Zygmunt Bell Tower in Wavel Cathedral.

Building close to the park.

View on the Barbican of Krakow and the street.

From this window over the entrance gate Pope John Paul II talked to the thousands of people waiting to see him and to receive his blessing.

The streets in Krakow.

Statue on the main market square, next to the Belfry.

The Grunwald Monument, close to the Barbican.

House in Konanicza street where Pope John Paul II lived from 1951-1963, now an Archdiocese Museum.

Angels Underneath the Window, a statue representing the 7 sacraments.

View of a bookshop.

Statue of student next to the St. Mary's Basilica.

View location of Krakow, Poland

St. Mary's Basilica

The St. Mary's Basilica is one of the most important churches of Krakow. It was built in 1287-1320 in Gothic style. The Basilica is famous for it's altar piece, the largest wooden Gothic altar in Europe(3rd photo). It represent the Virgin Mary asleep and on the right and left six scenes from the life of Mary. Every hour a trumpet signal is played from the highest of the two towers. This is in remembrance of the guard struck by an arrow when warning the people of Krakow for the approaching enemy. This beautiful Basilica you can find on the main market square at the end of Florianska Street.

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Juliusz Slowacki Theatre

The Juliusz Slowacki Theatre, named after a Polish poet, stands at the Holy Spirit Square in Krakow. It was designed by Jan Zawiejski in Eclectic style and modeled after the Charles Garnier Opera in Paris. The theatre opened in October 1893, it was the first building in Krakow equipped with electric light.
Besides theatrical productions, the Juliusz Slowacki Theatre host also events, concerts and international conferences.

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Krakow's Planty

Planty is a huge park surrounding the old town. It was created in 1882 and replaced the defense walls and the moat. It's a great place to have a walk in the evening and have a look at some of the beautiful buildings around the park.

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Krakow Zoo

The Zoo in Krakow is situated in the Wolski Forest on a Jurassic plateau at 345 metres above sea level. It opened in 1929 and now has nearly 1500 animals, representing about 260 species. You can see here indian elephants, hippopotamuses, white camels, sea lions, wild cats and many more.

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The Czartoryski Museum

This museum in Krakow is one of the oldest in Poland. The exhibits presented come from the private collection of Princess Izabella Czartoryska. The most important piece in the museum is a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci 'The Lady with an Ermine'(last photo). Another important painting is 'The Landscape with Merciful Samaritan' by Rembrandt. The museum has also some trophies of war, military equipment, ancient works of art and an Egypt exhibition with mummies. The building looks a bit old on the outside but it's worth to have a look inside.

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The Collegium Maius

The Collegium Maius is the oldest building of learning in Poland. The university was founded by King Kazimierz The Great in 1364. In the 1490s the Collegium Maius counted among its students Nicolaus Copernicus. The college courtyard is open all day, the Jagiellonian University museum is upstairs and shows historic rooms with original furnishing, old European art and science instruments.

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Churches in Krakow

When you have a walk in Krakow you'll notice that there are a lot of churches. On the next photos you can see a few of them.

The St. Andrew church, built between 1079-1098.

Transfiguration church, built from 1718-1728.

St. Ann's church, built in the 14th century.

Church of St. Martin, built between 1637-1640.

The Dominicans Church, built in the 13th century.

The Franciscan Church, built in the 12th century.

St. Mary's Basilica, built in 1287-1320.

The Church of St. Peter and Paul, built between 1596-1619