Gdansk, known by its nearly unpronounceable Polish name Gdańsk, presents itself as a cosmopolitan city inhabited mostly by a young population. The Polish city offers tourists a variety of trendy meeting spots and a wealth of cultural events and inspirations.
The most distinctive area of Gdansk is certainly Główne Miasto, one of the most important historic districts that extends to the characteristic Motlawa canal and the Spichlerze island. Here lie the major tourist attractions of Gdansk, namely Ulica Dluga (Long Street) and Dlugi Targ (Long Market).
Strolling along ul. Dluga, you can admire Gdansk’s most interesting historic buildings, constructed according to true Gothic and Renaissance canons. Continuing towards Dlugi Targ you can visit the Court of Artus (Dwór Artusa), which today houses part of the Local History Museum. The National Museum of Ancient Art (Muzeum Narodowe), which preserves the famous Gdansk Triptych, is located in the southern part of the city.
The Royal Route (Trakt Królewski) is rich in history; it was once the site of the lavish ceremonies performed by Polish kings when entering the city. Not to be missed is the High Gate (Brama Wyżynna), which serves as an entrance to Gdansk and bears the inscription “Justice and mercy are the pillars of all realms.”
Equally interesting are the Green Gate (Zielona Brama) and the Golden Gate (Złota Brama). The latter is a sort of triumphal arch accompanied by the wise saying “Harmony makes small states flourish, discord brings down great ones” and decorated with stone sculptures representing peace, freedom, prosperity, and success. Gdansk offers tourists many other attractions waiting to be discovered.
In 2012, Gdansk hosted some matches of the European Football Championship, including those featuring the Italian national team.
