Get excited for legends from the history of Košice

The city's landmark, which thrones the lens-shaped historic centre. St. Elizabeth Cathedral catches the eyes of tourists and long-time residents alike, especially with its Gothic style and the northern Sigismund Tower. A narrow right-hand staircase takes you to the top of the tower at a height of 59.7 metres, from where you can observe the lively scenery of the centre of Košice and the surrounding hills without disturbance.

However, St. Elizabeth's Cathedral also has a second southern tower, the Matthias Tower. Since it was not completed in the past, in the tangle of its staircases you will come under the unfinished dome, which you can touch with your fingers directly above your head. The south tower on one of the floors also hides a rare scene captured in a painting - the Cult of the Blood of Christ - which depicts a 14th-century miracle. During Mass at the time, a priest accidentally managed to spill consecrated wine on a white cloth (corporal), in which the face of Christ appeared. This miracle, recognised by the Pope, made Košice one of the most important Hungarian cities for medieval pilgrims.

Among other things, you will find a secondary metal altar made from casts of weapons from the First World War or a copy of the image of the Virgin Mary from Pócs, Hungary, whose original once shed tears. On the way to Vienna, the group stopped in Košice and this quick replica was made. And don't forget the popular picaresque - look up in front of the main entrance for the most bizarre gargoyle - the drunken wife of Master Stephen, who thus thanked his consort by immortalizing her eternally on the temple for the difficult moments she had inflicted on him in their marriage.

The first place in the Hungarian pub environment belongs to the Brewery Inn in Levoča House, which you can find next to the State Theatre Košice on Hlavná Street. The first written mention of this restaurant dates back to 1542, which according to archival research makes it the oldest pub in Slovakia - large boards in the entrance hall will draw you into the details of the story of this place. Come here for a tasty lunch or dinner and don't forget to try the home-brewed beer, which is brewed right in the bowels of the establishment. Visitors also have the opportunity to take an exclusive tour offered by the Inn - learn all about the brewing process and maybe even the secret ingredients!

The Brewery Inn has also just recently, in 2018, found a silver treasure trove of coins from the 15th to 17th centuries along with bone dice. Just imagine the wild gambling games of the Middle Ages that must have taken place in these spaces!

Combine this visit with a tour of another find - the Košice Gold Treasure in the Eastern Slovak Museum, just a ten-minute walk away at the end of Hlavná Street towards Marathon Peace Square. It is a treasure that was unexpectedly found during excavation work in 1935 in a house at 68 Hlavna Street. Thanks to this discovery, today you can admire a collection of 2,920 coins, three gold medals, a Renaissance chain and learn more about the whole story in the huge vault.

Fancy a weekend Italian atmosphere? Visit the market on Dominican Square, where you'll get to know an authentic and gracious Košice. Local vendors selling homemade pasta, apricot jams, foraged mushrooms, fresh flowers, vegetables and fruit will brighten your day and lighten your mood. You will also find them here on other days, ideally in the morning. Have a freshly ground coffee at San Domenico and watch the hustle and bustle of the Košice mornings.

Combine your morning excursion with a tour of the oldest church and building in the city - the Dominican Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its monastery dates back to the 13th century, when the Dominican friars came to the city and began its construction. Here you will find magnificent ceiling frescoes, an organ and the highest church tower in the city at 68 metres high. Tourists will also be impressed by the corridors in the underground crypts, which form the original level of the city of Košice.

Hrnčiarska Street is the place where every tourist goes to take the perfect photo of Košice, which they are proud of on their social networks. Its stone cobblestones, combined with red geraniums and the tower of the Calvinist church on one side, create the illusion that the beach is just a stone's throw away. Come here for a tasty breakfast or late brunch at Breakfast Fairy and discuss where to go next to explore the city.

Craft Alley is also home to artisans who live and create here at the same time. One of them is Igor Macák, who has been working here with his family for over 20 years - together they operate as Macák Pottery. Here you can buy handmade and lovingly crafted ceramic items such as cups, plates, vases and statuettes, or you can make your own ceramic memento of Košice. The pottery offers ceramic courses, which will help you penetrate the clay in depth.

If you are interested in the work of the Macák Pottery, do not hesitate to buy a brand new souvenir with the famous Košice symbol of the crow, also available at the Visit Košice Infopoint at Hlavná 59.

In Košice, you will find tailor-made excursion itineraries for any day or type of personality. Check with Visit Košice Infopointe for tips, tours and tourist ideas, where they will be happy to advise you.