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Live Virtual Tour: Best of Kraków, Poland with Malgorzata Fus
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Kraków is the breathtakingly beautiful capital of Poland, with origins dating back to at least the 10th century. During our live virtual walking tour of the city, we will contextualize the legendary historical moments and traditions which are the center of Polish culture. With so many unique landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage List sites to marvel at, it's no surprise that in 2019 Kraków was visited by over 13 million people from all over the world – making it the most popular tourist destination in all of Eastern Europe that year. Our camera-led virtual tour will provide 360º views of the can't-miss churches, market squares, and more in the cultural heart of Poland.
During our live virtual walking tour, we will begin from the enormous Main Market Square - the largest surviving medieval square in Europe – and its impressive historical buildings which surround the perimeter. Among them the city’s main church - St. Mary’s Basilica, a beautiful Gothic building dating back to the 13th century. From there, we will walk through the Renaissance Cloth Hall - a major mercantile building that was once one of the continent's chief trade centers. Together we will also climb the Wawel Hill, where the Polish monarchs were crowned and buried.
For centuries the city has been a seat of Polish rulers and a political center of what once was the biggest empire in Europe – the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was also a busy commercial hub, the multicultural center of commerce where one could meet traders and pilgrims from all around the world. But history has not always treated Kraków gently – the city has witnessed wars, pillages, plagues, and natural disasters. It was occupied by Swedes, Austrians, Nazis to name only a few. Miraculously Kraków came out from these disasters almost unscathed and it is still here to be admired.
Led by an expert on Polish and Polish-Jewish history and a local Kraków guide, Małgorzata Fus, this Conversation will introduce you to the beautiful city of Kraków and its most iconic landmarks. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the history, culture, and traditions of Kraków and Poland.
Małgorzata Fus has a degree in Jewish Studies from Jagiellonian University, where she specialized in Jewish culture and Yiddish theater. Following her studies, she joined the Galicia Jewish Museum in Kraków as a member of the education department. There she was responsible for creating exhibits, designing educational programs, and guiding visitors. Building on her passion for educating about Polish Jewish history, she later became an official tour guide. She now runs her own tour company which cooperates with a number of Jewish institutions (Jewish Community Centre in Kraków, Forum for Dialogue, and the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews). She also coordinates commemoration projects, among them the Jewish orphanage in Kraków's former ghetto.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
This was a very engaging tour. Not only seeing the city, but also hearing about the culture and particularly the mythology around some of the buildings and areas. It is a beautiful city and our guide made it that much more interesting.
The walking tour of Krakow with Malgorzata was wonderful. She is a very knowledgeable tour guide who led us through the old city. She has a great enthusiasm for her city and for telling stories.
I felt like I was walking with Malgorzata through the streets of Krakow, as she pointed out important places and buildings, along with explanations of why they were important then and now. She also told us some legends and stories connected to places we saw. It was clear she has deep knowledge of the area. I found her to be a charming tour host. I highly recommend this program.
Ms Fus provided an excellent tour of the beautiful old city of Krakow. She provided important background history, legends and showed us some really important sites relating to the development of Krakow as a prosperous city. I really enjoyed her presentation and seeing the beautiful architecture of Krakow.