It used to be the scourge of the city, but now the district is emerging as a quirky option for a day out from the Old Town.
Nowa Huta was founded in 1948 as an ideal Communist town. It was built as a workers bastion to dilute bourgeouis Cracow, but in the end, it was the workers themselves who helped to overthrow Comunism. From the sky, the town looks rather like a galactic space station.
This week it's emerged that one of Nowa Huta's best loved buildings is up for grabs. The former Kino Swit, a snappy and rather suave number that's currently somewhat over-laden with banners and advertisements is a much-loved landmark in the area.
However, one interested party could bag the treasure right from the off. The Historical Museum of Cracow, which opened a new branch in Nowa Huta last year, has long had its eyes on the former cinema. However, as bad luck would have it, the building was not on the market when they needed it. Nevertheless, so keen is the Museum on relocating that they are already in negotiations to buy the building for an estimated 3 million zloty.
It would be good to see something decent set up shop in the building, and in this respect the museum could be far and away the best bet. Boutique hotels have not come to Nowa Huta as of yet, but in five years? Stranger things have happened...
|