Things to do in East Slovakia
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Šariš museum
There are two branches of the Šariš museum on the square. At the Icon Exposition you can see more than 160 dazzling icons from the 16th to 19th centuries.Originally, the stylised portraits of Christ Pantocrator, the Mother of God and a whole flock of saints decorated Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches east of here. The other branch, the 1509 town hall , centre square, houses the Historical Exposition (Historická expozícia). The building is a unique piece of early Renaissance architecture: note the bay staircase, the carved stone portals and the wooden inlay ceiling in the Meeting Room. The rooms contain local paintings, coins and weaponry.
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Šariš museum Icon Exposition
There are two branches of the Šariš museum on the square. At the Icon Exposition you can see more than 160 dazzling icons from the 16th to 19th centuries.Originally, the stylised portraits of Christ Pantocrator, the Mother of God and a whole flock of saints decorated Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches east of here. The other branch, the 1509 town hall , centre square, houses the Historical Exposition (Historická expozícia). The building is a unique piece of early Renaissance architecture: note the bay staircase, the carved stone portals and the wooden inlay ceiling in the Meeting Room. The rooms contain local paintings, coins and weaponry.
reviewed
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Cathedral of St Elizabeth
The dark and brooding Cathedral of St Elizabeth wins the prize for sight most likely to grace your Košice postcard home. Europe's easternmost Gothic cathedral (first built in about 1380 but remodelled many times) dominates the square. Frescoes decorate the interior, as do the stone sculptures by Master Štefan, a local 15th-century sculptor. Ferenc Rákóczi II is buried in the crypt on the left side of the nave. For grand views of the town climb the cathedral's ornate tower.
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Executioner's bastion
The 15th-century Executioner's bastion is part of Košice's ancient fort-ifications and includes Ferenc Rákóczi House (adult/student 40/20Sk; h09:00-17:00 Tue-Sat, 09:00-13:00 Sun) containing some of the Hungarian heroes personal effects. Buy tickets here for Mikluš prison , a connected pair of 16th-century houses that once served as a prison and torture chamber.
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Town Hall
The 1509 town hall houses the Historical Exposition (Historická expozícia). The building is a unique piece of early Renaissance architecture: note the bay staircase, the carved stone portals and the wooden inlay ceiling in the Meeting Room. The rooms contain local paintings, coins and weaponry.
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Basilica of St Egídius
A fine example of late Gothic architecture inside and out, the 15th-century Basilica of St Egídius is packed with no less than 11 winged Gothic altarpieces built from 1460 to 1510. West of the square the 18th-century Jewish suburb has a synagogue in need of restoration and a small Jewish cemetery.
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East Slovak Museum
Find hidden treasure at the East Slovak Museum. Workers found the secret stash of 2920 gold coins, dating from the 15th to 18th centuries, while renovating a house on Hlavná in 1935. (Anyone have a shovel?) In the museum yard there's a relocated 1741 wooden church that's rarely open.
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Medieval Košice archaeological excavations
Medieval Košice archaeological excavations. Go underground to explore the buried remains of the ancient archaeology of medieval Košice - defence chambers, fortifications, waterways and the cathedral foundations - in the mazelike passages unearthed during roadwork in 1996.
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Ferenc Rákóczi House
Ferenc Rákóczi House contains some of the Hungarian heroes personal effects. The museum complex was built in and around the 15th-century Executioner's bastion (Katova bašta), part of Košice's ancient fortifications. Buy tickets here for Mikluš prison.
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Hrnčiarska
Wander onto Hrnčiarska for some truly unique shopping. Along this traditional craftsman alley there's a potter's shop, an ironworks master, a semiprecious gem specialist, a baker and an herbalist store. The leather-maker is just around the corner at Kováčska 19.
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Keltské Krčma
Vaulted ceilings, ancient-looking masks and wood booths do create a Celtic sort of vibe that is conducive to leisurely eating or drinking. The eclectic menu includes Slovak pork in an apricot sauce, English roast beef and Mexican enchiladas.
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Steel Aréna
Steel Aréna is home to the town's revered ice hockey team HC Košice. Steel Aréna co-hosted the 2011 hockey world cup with Bratislava. Buy tickets at the Municipal Information Centre Košice or online at www.ticketportal.sk.
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East Slovak Art Gallery
A mix of traditional and out-there art characterises the East Slovak Art Gallery inside Shire hall (Župný dom; 1779), where the 1945 Košice Government Program was proclaimed.
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Piano Café
A dance music DJ spins most nights here, but keep an ear out because occasionally there is live jazz. There's also a enclosed courtyard where a pianist plays while diners chow down on pizza.
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Lahôdky
The ground-floor cafeteria at the Dargov Department Store serves hot dishes - sausages, stuffed cabbage rolls - as well as sandwiches and salads. There's a supermarket too.
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Mikluš prison
Mikluš prison is a connected pair of 16th-century houses that once served as a prison and torture chamber. Buy tickets from Ferenc Rákóczi House.
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Slovak Technical Museum
Historically Košice was known for its tinker tradesmen, and the Slovak Technical Museum shows examples of old machines and wrought-iron ornamental work.
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Plzeňská Pub
Plzeňská Pub has Czech beer on tap and roast pork and dumplings in the kitchen. Imbibe to your heart's content out back in the beer garden.
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Plague Column
Young and old gather on the benches facing the musical fountain, near the ornate, c 1900 State Theatre. To the north there is a large plague column.
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Bamba Lina
The young and the hip fill the modern, loftlike dining room at all hours. They have a pretty good selection of veggie pizzas, including broccoli.
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Wax Museum
Entry to the cheesy Wax Museum gets you inside Urban Tower (built in the 14th century, rebuilt in the 20th), on the other side of the church.
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Romathan
Though staged rarely, a performance by Romathan, the country's only Roma theatre group, is a mix of song, dance and exuberance worth seeing.
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Jewish suburb
West of the main square the 18th-century Jewish suburb has a synagogue in need of restoration and a small Jewish cemetery.
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Zoo Košice
Located in the small village of Kavečany, 9km north. To get there, take bus 29 from near the East Slovak Museum to the final stop.
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Góvinda
Enjoy divine vegetarian Indian food at a small eatery run by Hare Krishnas. At midday there's usually a symbol-tapping chant parade.
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