What was declared the first UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Kraków is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century.

In 1978, Karol Wojtyła, archbishop of Kraków, was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul II—the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Also that same year its Old Town with Wawel Royal Castle was declared the first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in the world.

The main square (Polish: 'Rynek Główny') of the Old Town of Kraków, Lesser Poland, is the principal urban space located at the center of the city. It dates back to the 13th century, and at 3.79 ha (9.4 acres) is the largest medieval town square in Europe.

The UNESCO is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture. It was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.

Its constitution establishes the agency's goals, governing structure, and operating framework. UNESCO's founding mission, which was shaped by the Second World War, is to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights by facilitating collaboration and dialogue among nations.