Kraków is getting ready for World Youth Day with hundreds of thousands of joyful pilgrims arriving in Małopolska in late July, but it’s well worth coming to the royal city earlier. There are plenty of surprises in the programmes of well-established cultural events. The Jewish Culture Festival, the Festival of Polish Music, the 29th Ulica Street Theatre Festival, the Summer Jazz Festival and the fascinating folk extravaganza EtnoKraków / Rozstaje… these and other spectacular events held during the first half of July are the perfect precursor of the celebrations. The extended programme of this year’s Cracovia Sacra Night helps locals and tourists discover the city’s spiritual secrets. Pilgrims flocking to Kraków also take part in the Youth Festival, with religious, artistic and sports events taking over the entire city.
As always Kraków extends a warm welcome to all visitors and hopes they come back again and again. After all, it was the city chosen by Karol Wojtyła as his home, and one to which he returned frequently.
In this issue:
- Make a Commotion! Prayers on the Błonia meadows, confessionals at the Jordan Park, music at the Main Market Square and the Szczepański Square, exhibitions at museums and in urban spaces, dances, performances and spectacles in city squares, roundabouts and green spaces – that's 31st World Youth Day Kraków 2016 in in a nutshell. In late July, hundreds of thousands of young people flock to Kraków to bear witness to their faith and meet Pope Francis.
- Maria Mater Misericordiae. The exhibition, organised by the National Museum in Krakow with the Vatican John Paul II Foundation for Young People, is held as part of of World Youth Day 2016. We will see the artworks were created between 1100 and the 18th century by European masters including Giotto di Bondone, Paolo Veneziano, Donatello, Hans Memling, Andrea Mantegna, Albrecht Dürer and Peter Paul Rubens.
- Altera Roma. This year’s celebration of Kraków’s churches and monasteries brings four days filled with exhibitions and concerts. During the Cracovia Sacra Night we will learn more about Kraków’s religious heritage, discover its contemporary echoes and admire treasures not usually available to the public.
- Global Pulse. Kraków once again becomes the country’s capital of world music. Over a hundred musicians from all corners of the globe flock to the EtnoKraków / Crossroads 2016 Over 20 concerts, dance evenings, unique locations – the musical palette features warm colours from all over the world.
- Jazz Links. It started with a few gigs… and today the Summer Jazz Festival at Piwnica pod Baranami features close to 100 live concerts and accompanying events. And although the concert by the undisputed king of this year’s event, Pat Metheny, is now behind us, the organisers have plenty more tricks up their sleeve for July.
- Listen in Polish! Chopin, Moniuszko, Szymanowski, Penderecki… You think Polish music holds no secrets? The 12th Festival of Polish Music will show you there’s plenty more to discover!
- A Quiet Moment. In today’s time of restlessness and rapid changes, it’s worth stopping to take a good, quiet look around during 26th Jewish Culture Festival.
- Polish Carnival. This summer, Kraków once again becomes a huge outdoor stage, and we’ll hold our breath while we’re watching the spectacular displays, circus acrobatics and juggling displays… Let’s go to the 29th ULICA Festival!
- Film Harvest. Films that are sophisticated and expressive, with an aromatic bouquet, of excellent vintages, lightly chilled in air-conditioned rooms, and all at an attractive price,” promise the organisers of this year’s 10th Summer Cinema Harvest put together once again by Pod Baranami Cinema.
