Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have been making their way to Kraków this week. The World Youth Day opening ceremony is taking place on Tuesday afternoon so those who have been arriving early have been exploring the Old Town of Krakow, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre boasting hundreds of historical buildings from medieval churches to Art Nouveau edifices, as well as the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial - both within an hour of the city.
Rio saw an unprecedented number of pilgrims descend on Copacabana Beach, but WYD 2016 is offering pilgrims an altogether different experience to enliven the young faithful. The Campus Misericordiae, or ‘Field of Mercy’, is just outside the centre of the city and will host the main events during the week. The Festival also has a programme of more than 200 different events from art expositions to sporting competitions.
