The Centre of Warsaw
The Centre of Warsaw is the area known as the Old City (Stare Miasto), known for centuries as Starówka. The name “old” is a slight misnomer because the whole area was destroyed during Germany’s retaliation against the city following the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against Nazi occupation.
So, what you see in the Centre of Warsaw today is a fairly faithful reproduction of what the neighbourhood was like until the Second World War broke out. It was a huge project that began in the middle of the 20th century on the orders of the Soviet authorities, with collaboration from most of the population.
The rebuilding work used materials rescued from the rubble, while the reconstruction was based on paintings by Italian artist Bernardo Belloto, who had produced detailed works on Warsaw’s urban plan in the 18th century. The challenging rebuilding project was recognised by UNESCO, which included the Historic Centre of Warsaw in its list of World Heritage Sites in 1980.
Today, the Centre of Warsaw has around permanent 135,000 inhabitants but the transient population is slightly higher. This is unsurprising, considering the huge amount of accommodation options in this part of the city.
Among the recommended sights in the Centre of Warsaw, the Royal Castle definitely holds the number one spot. Built by Sigismund III Vasa in the 16th century, when he moved his court to the area, it contains important works by artists such as Rembrandt and Bellotto, who was nicknamed Canaletto the Younger.
In fact, the Constitution was enacted in the Royal Castle on 3 May 1791; it was the first modern national constitution in Europe and the second in the world, after the constitution of the United States.
The Market Square is a favourite meeting place in Warsaw and it’s also one of the oldest places in the Polish capital, dating from the 13th-14th centuries. You’ll spot a monument to the Mermaid of Warsaw in the centre of the square; the mermaid is a guardian and symbol of the city and even appears on its coat of arms.
Visitors should also stop off at the City Museum, which fills eleven historic houses in the Centre of Warsaw and contains over 7,000 artworks and everyday objects. These items reveal different ways of life in the city over the years, and how it grew over seven centuries.
St John’s Archcathedral is also in the Centre of Warsaw; it originally dated from the 14th century but was fully rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century. In fact, Warsaw has two cathedrals, and the second is equally as important: the Cathedral of St Michael the Arcangel and St Florian the Martyr in Praga neighbourhood.
Leaving aside its monuments, the Centre of Warsaw is a wonderful place to take a stroll and wander aimlessly among the cobbled streets that are set out in their medieval layout. Take your time to stop at shops selling typical produce and souvenirs, enjoy the regional and national food, and relax with a cold beer at a bar.