PORTA POSNANIA: THE GETAWAY TO CATHEDRAL ISLAND AND THE HISTORY OF POZNAN

16 Apr PORTA POSNANIA: THE GETAWAY TO CATHEDRAL ISLAND AND THE HISTORY OF POZNAN

One of the most intriguing buildings in Poznan is Porta Posnania: a futuristic cube located in the suburb of Stare Miasto, the old town, which connect the Old town to Cathedral Island and Nowe Miasto, the New Town, with a very singular and modern glass bridge.

Before visiting Poznan I read about Porta Posnania, and the idea I got of it was that of a museum intended to tell the history of Poznan.

Porta Posnania tells indeed the history of Poznan, but the fact that no archeological findings are displayed in Porta Posnania makes it impossible to be classified as a museum.

A museum that’s not a museum.

What is it then?

Porta Posnania is a concept. A metaphor. It’s where everything begins, it’s the bridge connecting the old to the new, the past to the future.

Porta Posnania is a modern and interactive introduction to the city of Poznan, that brings you throughout thousands of years of its history, from the establishment of Ostrow Tumski, also known as Cathedral Island, where Poland as a State was born, and the construction of the first and oldest cathedral in Poland, the medieval times, the great wars to the more peaceful nowadays.

The building itself suggests this metaphor: from the outside it’s a modern and sterile concrete cube, in the inside it’s a maze of windows, glimpses on the Cathedral, lights and history.

When you are done with the visit, you are by all means ready to cross the threshold that brings you to Cathedral Island, and to the city of Poznan. And the term threshold refers to a very important one: after the glass bridge, you will have to cross the old city Gate, part of the prussian fortification from the old times.

The old Gate site is completely renewed, but the Gate and the bricks are the original ones!

into Poznan’s history by all meanings 

Porta Posnania is absolutely interesting on the cultural and historical points of view,

but its architecture and the beauty of its glimpses on Cathedral Island

make of it an unmissable spot!

inside Porta Posnania: where history meets the future

crossed the glass bridge this is what awaits you:

the old fortress and the old city Gate.

Are you ready to cross it?

inside St Peter e St Paul Cathedral, Poland first and most ancient,

where Poland as a State was born

After having crossed Porta Posnania’s glass bridge, and have explored Cathedral Island in every part, you are ready to cross yet another bridge: the one on the Warta river, leading you finally to the New Town, and lovely Poznan!

Read more about Poznan here: beautiful Poznan.