Murals

 

referred to as the 'works' of vandals, damaging the appeance of buildings, murals are today frequently made to order, as part of festivals and the initiative of various groups of artists, particiating in creating the street art and becomin a part of the Warsaw landscape. They are courful, interesting and often provocative. Their subjects are varied - from historical ones, commemorating events like the Warsaw Uprising or renowned Warsaw citizen, to those dedicated to general public, being a voice of support for crucial ideas. The murals thar are in our opinion most worth recommending are those designed on the occasion of te 2010 year of Chopin and the 2011 Year od Maria Skłodowska-Curie, serving as tribute to these most exceptional Warsaw residents: a music composer and a double Noble laureate respectively. For the longest grafiti, go to the Warsa w Horse Race Track(at ulia Pulawska 266) to see a wall surroundingbthe facily.

Mural Chopin, 

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Warsaw's Murals

Monument to Janusz Korczak

Monument to Janusz Korczak.
A doctor, author and teacher, who taught how love, understand and to respect children. A guardian jewish and polish orphans. He was killed with the children under his care in the german extermination camp at Treblinka.
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Legend about the Golden Duck

Once upon a time, Lutek the shoemaker heard the story of the Golden Duck hiding in the cellars of Ostrogski Castle. The brave boy managed to find the duck, who gave him one hundred ducats and , promised to make him rich under one condition: he had to spend everything in one day and not share it with anybody. Unable to keep his promise, however, the shoemaker helped a tramp and the Golden Duck, who turned to be a princess, took all his riches away. Thus, Lutek  understood that money held no value when it could not be shared. Nobody has again seen the Golden Duck, the  fountain in front of Ostrogski Palace being the only reminder of its existence.

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Królikarnia

Królikarnia is one of the most beautiful classical palace and garden, founded in the 18th century.
At present it houses the Xawery Dunikowski Sculpture Museum.

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Warsaw's Meridian

A curiosity is to be found at Teatralny Square: here is a symbol of the meridian of 21°00'in a Eastern longitude running through Warsaw. Whis designated line connects the clock tower on Jabłonowski Palace to the huge pilar standing in the parking lot in front of the National Opera. Altough it is surrounded by an intricate metal fence, you need to truly keep an eye out for it, as it is often obscured by parked cars. 
Since Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is fixed relative to the zero meridian passing through Greenwich, local time is then determined in each country's capital. The time deifference, for example, between Warsaw and Paris is therefore one hour and fourteen minutes.
Teatralny Square takes its name from the monumental Grand Theatre (Teatr Wielki), which houses both the National Opera and the National Theatre.
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The Presidential Palace

Bult in the 17th c., it was uesd for various public purposes. In 1989 it hosted the Round Table talks that started the  systematic transition in Poland. Since 1994 the Palace has been the headquarters of the President of the  Republic of Poland, its residents being successively: Lech Wałęsa, Aleksander Kwaśniewskie, Lech Kaczyński, and at present - Bronisław Komorowski.
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The Thirtieth Floor

XXX Palace of Culture and Science Viewing terrace 'The Thirtieth Floor' is on the 30th floor, at a height of 114m, which is reached by modern elevator. From here, you can admire a truly panoramic view of Warsaw, even at night.
Details: www.pkin.pl
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Belfry at St. Ann's Church

To get to the lookout terrace, you have to climb up 150 stone steps. But when you eventually reach your destination, you eill enjoy a spectacular view of the Old Town. Details: www.taraswidokowy.pl
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Warsaw Photoplasticon

Built  at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a Fotoplastikon was a popular device that allowed viewers to watch changing three-dimensional images. The Warsaw Fotoplastikon is unique becuase  it is one of the very few in the world adn is located in thr oryginal hitosrical building.
It boasts a collection of more than 5,000 old photos from various corners of the globe, induding a number of photos from the pre-war Warsaw, which actually ceased to exist in 1944.
Warsaw residents consider the Fotoplastikon to be a very magical place. Durimg the Nazi occupation of World War II, it served an additional role as a clandestine meeting and contact point. After the war, when over 80% of the capital lay in smoldring riuns, it fueled hopes for the city's reconstrictions, by highligting and showing colour photographs of pre-war Warsaw.
During the 1950s and '60s, sweethearts often went here on dates, and the room resounded with Polish jazz, which was banned at the time.
Today, when visitors enjoy original black-adn-white slides of pre-war Warsaw, they do so whilst listening to contemporary show-tunes, played on a phonograph.
In 2008, the Fotoplastikon was placced under the auspices of the Warsaw Rising Museum.

A few years ago, in a poll conducted among Varsowians, it was found to be the capital city's magical place.
Warsaw Photoplasticon - Official side
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University Library

University Library (in Warsaw called BUW) - an interesting example of contemporary architecture in Warsaw. The basement is home to the 'Hulakula' Family Entertainment Center (offering blillards, bowling adn climbing wall facilities), while the roof of the building features one of Europes's most beatiful and largest roof gardens. From up there visitors can anjoy a spectacular view of the Vistula river and the National Stadium and through spacially constructed windows they can have a look at the library interior. In Wednesdays in Hulakula are latino fiestas, you can dance salsa, bachata, merengue:) Po polsku In Spanish

Warsaw's mermaid

The Mermaid has featured in Warsaw’s coat of arms for many centuries. Between 1811 – 1915, when Poland was partitioned, Warsaw’s emblem was officially banned. Yet the Varsovians increasingly started to place mermaid images in various parts of the city. As a result, Warsaw now boasts a great number of these images displayed in gates, balconies, stained glass windows, on facades, street lamps, neon signs, signboards, and institutional logos. The Warsaw Mermaid also features in many statues, sculptures and reliefs. The Varsowians are emotionally attached to them, which and literature these half-female, half-fish creature are depicted as mermaids while the symbol of Warsaw in Polish is referred to be means of the diminutive syrenka (little mermaid).
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The coat of arms of Warsaw

Warsaw’s first coat of arms, which dates back to the early 15th century, depicted a half-human, half-bird creature carrying a sword and a shields. Its body was covered with scales. Over the years, it was gradually turning into a female, though it still looked like a winged monster with finned legs. It was only in the 18th century that it was replaced by a shapely half-woman half-fish. The current coat of arms was officially approved in 1938. How the image of the Warsaw mermaid evolved over the centuries is shown in the door of St. John’s cathedral in the Old Town.
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CONCERTS IN ŁAZIENKI PARK

The concerts take place at the Chopin Monument from mid-May to late September, every Sunday at noon and 4 pm. This is one of the most famous and popular summer musical events in the city – it never fails to attract hundreds listeners.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY

Young Fryderyk sang in the parish church choir. In 1825, a concert took place here to celebrate Tsar Alexander I’s arrival to Warsaw; during the performance, the 15-year-old Chopin improvised on the choraleon (an instrument designed by Karl Brunner). The classicist church is reminiscent of the shape of the Roman Pantheon, and the highest turret was once of Warsaw’s most beautiful viewing points. It was destroyed during World War II, but it has been faithfully restored. The interior has not lost its excellent acoustics, so like in the days of Chopin, concerts are still organised here.
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The Church of the Holy Cross

Chopin’s burial in his native land was not possible therefore his beloved sister Ludwika – according to Chopin’s expressed desire to have his heart laid to rest in a free Poland – brought his heart to Warsaw. Today, the urn rests in the Basilica of the Holy Cross, in the pilar on the far left side of the nave. The inscription on it read: “Where your treasure is found, there is also your heart. To Fryderyk The Compatriots”.  The Baroque church its faced, there stands an impressive figure of Christ carrying the cross up the stairs to the temple.

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Tomb Of the Unknown Soldier

A small colonnade, the remains of the Saski Palace, stands on Piłsudskiego Square in Warsaw. A vigil light is kept burning in front of it and military honour guards stand close at all times. It is symbolic tomb to commemorate nameless soldiers who fell fighting for their country.
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Kanonia

Kanonia is a small, triangle square right behind the cathedral whose name comes from the old tenement houses, which in the 17th c. were inhabited by canons (priests).
There used to be a parish cemetery here, the remains of which is a baroque 18th c. statue of the Mother of God. In the centre of the square there is a large gunmetal bell from the 17th c., which has never hung in a church. It is said thet going around it there times brings luck.

Kanonia is also the place to see tle oldest in Warsaw plaque with the name of a street and the narrowest house in the Polish capital - it is only one window wide if you look at it from the square, but it is much wider if you look at it from the Vistula River.

This was a clever idea of the house owner, who in this way avoided paying a high land tax, as the land tax depended on the width of the facade.
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The Stone Steps

The Stone Steps are very picturesque 15th c. steps. Napoleon Bonaparte walked them during one on his stays in Warsaw.
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My Alma Mater

I studied very far for my home, in Cieszyn. Why?

Synagogue (the Nozyk Spouse)

The only pre-war synagogue in Warsaw still in use. Built in the years 1898-1902 on the initiative of Zelman and Ryfka Nozyk. During the war the Gernmans turned it into a stable. Despite it being severely damaged, it recovered its importance soon after the war. Today, it is not only a place of religious practice but also an important Jewish cultural centre. The synagogue may be visited every day (expect Saturday): Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m - 20 p.m. Admisson fee required.
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