Co kryje diamentowa stolica Belgii? 💎 Antwerpia - atrakcje miasta Rubensa

On our last day in Belgium, we decided to head to Antwerp, taking a direct train from Brussels. The journey cost us €15 (per person, one way) and took about an hour. Antwerp is the second-largest city in Belgium and has a lot to offer tourists. After getting off the train, it's worth stopping for a moment and looking around the main station building – we guarantee you'll be enchanted. Due to its impressive architecture and ornate decorations, it's called the Railway Cathedral. It's one of the most beautiful train stations in the world! When talking about Antwerp, it's impossible not to mention the importance of diamonds to its history. The city is called the world's diamond capital, as approximately 80% of the global diamond trade passes through it. The diamond district is located right next to the station and is home to numerous jewelry shops. Unfortunately, this place was a huge disappointment. The shops looked like market stalls. As the diamond trade flourished, more and more Jews began to settle in the city, constituting the majority of jewelry store owners. Currently, around 20,000 live here. It's one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. Antwerp boasts numerous synagogues, Jewish schools, and kosher shops. After a short stroll through the diamond district, we continued our exploration of the city. The next stop on our list was the Church of St. Charles Borromeo. Inside, you can admire the works of Rubens, Antwerp's most famous painter. His paintings can be found throughout the city. His house and studios, which serve as a museum, are also open to the public. After visiting the church, we headed towards the city's focal point, the Grote Markt (Market Square), where the Town Hall (Stadhuis) stands, a distinctive feature of which are the flags of the countries that sail into the port of Antwerp. The Town Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but unfortunately, it didn't impress us. In front of the town hall stands the Brabo Fountain (Brabofontein), which depicts the legendary city hero associated with the legend of the origin of Antwerp's name. The most beautiful feature of the market square is the historic guild houses with their richly decorated facades. We move a little further – to the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal), the largest Gothic church in Belgium. The cathedral stands 123 meters high and can accommodate 25,000 people. Inside, you can admire numerous works of art, including paintings by Peter Paul Rubens. In the square in front of the cathedral stands the sculpture Nello and Patrasche, depicting two characters from the fairy tale "The Hound of Flanders." This fairy tale tells the story of a poor boy, Nello, and his dog, Patrasche, popular primarily in Japan. A little further on, we discover a hidden alley – Vlaeykensgang – one of the less popular but most charming places in Antwerp. The street is now home to pubs and art studios, and was once home to the city's poorest residents. One of Antwerp's greatest attractions is the Saint Anne Tunnel (Sint-Annatunnel), which connects the two sides of the Scheldt River. Built between 1931 and 1933, the tunnel is 572 meters long. Accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, the tunnel is accessible via the original wooden escalators from the 1930s. The other side of the river is decidedly less interesting, but it's worth a visit just for the beautiful panoramic view of the city. On the way back, it's worth catching a ferry – they are free and run every few minutes. After disembarking, we headed towards Saint Paul's Church (Sint-Pauluskerk). The church was built in the 16th century. However, it's not the church itself that's the biggest attraction, but its garden, the Calvarietuin. The so-called Angels' Path runs through the center of the garden, surrounded by 63 sculptures depicting figures connected with the life of Christ. We planned to end our walk at the port. Along the way, we saw the "The Whisperer" installation and climbed to the observation deck on the roof of the MAS Museum. The museum is housed in a modern building, and its exhibitions are dedicated to the history and culture of Antwerp. From the roof, you can admire breathtaking views of the port and the entire city (free of charge!). After leaving the roof, we headed towards the Port House (Havenhuis), the headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority. The structure combines a historic fire station with a futuristic glass and steel structure. The building is meant to symbolize the port's dynamism and innovation. Antwerp is certainly very interesting and has a lot to offer, but it didn't steal our hearts. Of the four Belgian cities we visited on this trip, it unfortunately ranked last. Visit our Facebook page:   / marzymisie1   And our Instagrams: Magda:   / magdadudekk   Cuba:   / rybcunouno