Poland became independent in 1918 by the end of the World War I and the city was declared the capital of Poland. Before World War II there were 1.3 million inhabitants in Warsaw and 30% were Jewish. The most dramatic period in the city´s history was outbreak of World War II in 1939. Almost 85% of the city was destroyed during that period. Many of the historic buildings and churches were restored. The historic Old Town was inscribed onto UNESCO´s World Heritage List in 1980. The capital represents gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical style. Warsaw is filled with parks and royal gardens (there are 76 parks and the most famous is Łazienki).

Polish cuisine shares similarities with other Slavic countries, it has also been influenced by Jewish and Hungarian cuisine. Once you´ll get to Poland you have to try traditional dishes as bigos (it´s a traditional meat and cabbage stew), pierogi (dumplings stuffed with potatoe filling, sauerkraut, ground meat, cheese or fruit) or sernik which is one of the most popular desert in Poland and it´s similar to cheesecake.

Must-see places:

• Palace of Culture and Science – the tallest building in Warsaw which was conceived as a „gift from the Soviet people to the Polish nation.“ Currently you´ll find there headquertares of many companies and public institutions, such as theatres, libraries, sports clubs, universities, etc. 
• Royal Castle – it was official residence of the Polish monarchs and it serves as the entrance to the Old Town. In 1980, the Royal Castle, together with the Old Town was added on UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Wilanów Palace – is one of the most important Poland´s monument, completed in 1696. It has survived both World Wars. The Palace currently hosts cultural events and concerts.
• Łazienki Palace – also called the Palace on the Water. Together, with the Łazienki Park is one of the most favourite touristic destination. 
• Warsaw Uprising Museum – a museum dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. There are many exhibitions over several floors, containing photographs, video, artifacts and other testimonies of how life was during the German occupation of Warsaw.
• Museum of the History of Polish Jews – is also known as Polin, which in Hebrew means either „Poland“ and „rest here.“ The museum offers exhibition about the vibrant Jewish community in Poland. The building was structured in glass, copper and was designed by Finnish architects.
• Presidential Palace – was established in the 17th century, it has been rebuilt many times over the years.
• Copernicus Science Centre – is a science museum, which contains over 450 interactive exhibits. It´s one of the most advanced museum of its type in Europe

 Maybe you didn´t know...

• the name „Poland“ originates from the name of the tribe „Polanie“ which means „people living in open fields“ 
• Pope John Paul II (1978–2005, born as Karol Józef Wojtyła in Poland) was the first Slavik and after 455 years the first  non-Italian pope. He was the 2nd longest serving pope in modern history after Pope Pius IX.
• The Warsaw´s metro was opened in 1995
• Warsaw lies about 260 km from Baltic Sea and about 300 km from the Carpathian Mountains
• the Warsaw´s symbol is a mermaid and it has been use since at least the mid-14th century

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