| Like most other inland European cities, | | | | execution of eclecticism. The visible |
| Warsaw is built around a large body of water, | | | | stratification of decades in time is embodied |
| straddling the sparkling Vistula River. The | | | | by the rotating fa�ades of building |
| small fishing town was first fortified as a | | | | structures. Art-Deco and elaborate Modernist |
| Masovian stronghold in the early 14th | | | | office buildings of the 1990s independence |
| century. Compared with the histories of its | | | | era rub shoulders with giant stone-slab |
| pre-Roman Polish neighbors, the city of | | | | housing complexes built during the chilling |
| Warsaw is practically a fledgling on the | | | | post-war Communist period, and somewhere |
| grand timeline of human settlement in the | | | | in-between, old Baroque-style manors and |
| region. However, it did not take long for | | | | museums accent the amalgamation. Many tours |
| Warsaw to become the center of the | | | | lead in and out of these fascinating |
| Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth and soon | | | | buildings and locations. |
| thereafter the capital of the (periodically) | | | | |
| independent Poland nation until present. | | | | Take the Memorial Route to the Struggle and |
| | | | Martyrdom of the Jews 1940-43 through the |
| Warsaw is far more inspiring for what has | | | | former Jewish District, which was transformed |
| come and gone in the city limits and in the | | | | into a ghetto and then obliterated in WWII, |
| minds of the people than for the physicality | | | | and pass 16 commemorative granite blocks |
| of the city today. Warsaw has been destroyed | | | | representing significant people, places or |
| and rebuilt more times than fathomable in its | | | | events. Just south of here visit the tallest |
| brief history. No other European city | | | | skyscraper in Poland, the triumphant Palace |
| experienced quite as extensive horrors and | | | | of Culture and Science, a gift from the |
| bombardment during World War II from Nazi | | | | Soviet Union in the 1950s. Although it was |
| (and Russian) forces than Warsaw. Over 80 | | | | destroyed per Hitler�s orders, the |
| percent of the city was completely razed, | | | | restored Royal Palace in Old Town should also |
| including the Old Town and Royal Palace, and | | | | be visited. Much of the grand residence has |
| nearly 800,000 citizens perished. Though many | | | | been returned to its 18th century splendor, |
| important buildings were restored after the | | | | complete with a museum of the salvageable |
| war, the city has lost much of its Baroque | | | | works of art. Much of Warsaw�s grid-like |
| luster and instead has grasped on to the | | | | structure is rife with greenery. Warsaw |
| modern era of post-communist art and | | | | University hosts a magnificent Botanical |
| architecture. The invaluable history is well | | | | Garden and the south of the city is just the |
| documented in the immaculately maintained | | | | beginning of the enchanting Kabacki Forest. |
| museums and exhibits while, outside, the | | | | |
| commitment to present and future life is | | | | Travel to Warsaw to experience all of the |
| clearly a driving force in Warsaw�s | | | | joys of the big city, but with a uniquely |
| working gears. | | | | Polish twist. The city is not only the seat |
| | | | of the National Opera and Philharmonic, but |
| Rebuild, Revive, Reinvent | | | | also jamming with jazz clubs and music bars. |
| | | | Come seek out the nuanced history in Central |
| Travel to Warsaw to marvel at its graceful | | | | Europe�s staggeringly modern metropolis. |