Warsaw: SiltaNews – News Desk
Kraków’s Old Town has been named the most beautiful in Europe by bespoke travel portal Tourlane. Leading a 25-strong ranking that highlights historic districts where medieval streetscapes meet modern city life, the portal which says it “specializes in personalized, tailor-made travel experiences” praised Kraków as a “treasure trove, packing an impressive number of sites into a surprisingly compact area.”
The ranking, entitled “Europe’s Most Enchanting Old Towns” went on to say: “Few places combine so many sights in such a small space as Kraków. “Therefore, the Old Town is ideally suited to exploring on foot. From the Main Market Square with its traditional Cloth Hall, it’s just a few steps to St. Mary’s Basilica.
“The path up to Wawel Castle leads through alleys lined with cafés. “Along the way, small squares, gates, and courtyards open up, giving the impression of getting to know the city better with every step.” The historic 7th century city in southern Poland came ahead of Italy’s Naples (2nd place), Germany’s Regensburg (3rd place) and Latvia’s 4th place Riga.
Other historic centers in the top 10 included San Marino, Avignon (France), Vilnius (Lithuania), Warsaw (Poland), Salzburg (Austria) and Graz (Austria). Tourlane said its editors assessed 65 European cities before selecting the final 25. The evaluation drew on travel-expert experience and considered cultural and historical significance, UNESCO recognition, the age and integrity of the old town, and social-media popularity.