Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital and largest city

of Poland. The metropolis stands on the
Vistula River in east-central Poland and its
population is officially estimated at 1.78
million residents within a greater
metropolitan area of 3.1 million residents,
which makes Warsaw the 8th most-populous
capital city in the European Union. The city
limits cover 517.24 square kilometres while the metropolitan area covers 6,100.43
square kilometres Warsaw is an alpha global city, a major international tourist
destination, and a significant cultural, political and economic hub. Its historical old
town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once described as the "Paris of the

North", Warsaw was believed to be one of the
most beautiful cities in the world until World
War II. Bombed at the start of the German
invasion in 1939, the city withstood a siege
for which it was later awarded Poland's
highest military decoration for heroism, the
Virtuti Militari. Deportations of the Jewish
population to concentration camps led to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943 and the
destruction of the Ghetto after a month of combat. A general Warsaw Uprising between
August and October 1944 led to even greater devastation and systematic razing by the
Germans in advance of the Vistula–Oder Offensive. Warsaw gained the new title of
Phoenix City because of its extensive history and complete reconstruction after World
War II, which had left over 85% of its buildings in ruins.

Warsaw is one of Europe's most dynamic

metropolitan cities. In 2012 the Economist
Intelligence Unit ranked Warsaw as the 32nd
most liveable city in the world. In 2017 the city
came 4th in the "Business-friendly" category and
8th in "Human capital and life style". It was also
ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Central
and Eastern Europe.