Two Polish towns cited amongst world's most beautiful

Italian authors Gianni Biondillo and Paolo Paci single out the south-eastern settlements of Sandomierz and Kazimierz Dolny (pictured) as amongst their personal favourites.

The Most Beautiful Corners of the World (Najpiekniejsze zakatki swiata), as the book is entitled, celebrates eighty small towns where the spirits of the old world endure.

As the authors highlight, in 1900, only 14 percent of the world's population lived in cities. Today, some 51 percent do so, and in twenty years time, the number is expected to cross the 60 percent mark.

Besides the pair of Polish towns, the Italian authors chose such treasures as their native San Gimignano, in Tuscany, as well as France's Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Holland's Enkhuizen, Germany's Fritzlar, Ballycastle in Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic's Kutna Hora.

The authors note that tourism is helping these towns to flourish, as has indeed been the case with Sandomierz and Kazimierz Dolny.

The striking hilltop settlement of Sandomierz was first mentioned in Polish chronicles during the early 12th century. Rebuilt in the 14th century after it was burnt down by invaders, the new lay-out has survived almost unchanged until today.

Kazimierz Dolny, located on the River Vistula, was a key player in the grain trade that made Poland so wealthy during the 16th century. The richly ornamented merchants houses continue to charm visitors until today.

The Polish version of the album has been published by the Arkady imprint. (nh)