Cracow - one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland, situated on the Vistula river in the Lesser Poland region.
The city is dates back to the 7th century. Cracow was the capital of Poland from 11th century to 16th century.
Cracow is now the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
Cracow is one of the leading centres of Polish scientific, cultural and artistic life.
As the former national capital with a history encompassing more than a thousand years,
the city remains the spiritual heart of Poland. It is a major attraction for local and international tourists.
Famous landmarks include the Main Market Square with St. Mary's Basilica and the Sukiennice Cloth Hall,
the Wawel Castle, the National Art Museum, the Zygmunt Bell at the Wawel Cathedral,
and the medieval St Florian's Gate with the Barbican along the Royal Coronation Route.
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 Wieliczka Salt Mine, located in the town of Wieliczka, is within Poland's Cracow metropolitan area.
It had been until 2007 in continuous operation, producing table salt, since the 13th century.
It was one of the world's oldest operating salt mines.
The mine reaches down to a depth of 327 meters and is over 300 km long.
The Wieliczka salt mine features a 3.5-km. tour for visitors
(less than 1% of the length of the mine's passages) that includes statues of historic and mythic figures.
The older works were sculpted by miners out of rock salt; more recent figures have been fashioned
by contemporary artists. Even the crystals of the chandeliers are made from rock salt that
has been dissolved and reconstituted to achieve a clear, glass-like appearance. The rock salt is naturally grey,
in various shades like granite, so that the carvings resemble carved unpolished granite rather than having the white
or crystalline appearance that many visitors expect.