Avenue of Croatian Stars: 18 stars dedicated to famous Croatians in Little Croatia Park in Krakow

View of the ceremonial unveiling of Croatian stars in the Alley of Croatian Stars in the Little Croatia Park (Mala Hrvatska) in Krakow (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow)

In the area of the Little Croatia Park (Park Mala Hrvatska), there is the only Croatian Avenue Stars in the world, where there are stars with the names of famous Croatians or Poles with Croatia roots.

They have their undeniable contribution to building Polish-Croatian relations, they supported the activities of Poles in their pursuit of independence and had an impact on the development of various areas of social life in Poland, as well as they are very popular among Poles as artists, athletes and politicians.

Every year, on the day of the Croatian Picnic, a ceremonial unveiling of several stars with new names takes place, accompanied by fanfare, in the presence of VIPs and residents of Krakow. An annual custom is the participation of representatives of the founders of these stars, who solemnly unveil them. Eight new stars dedicated to famous Croatians were unveiled this year on May 27th.

Star Marko Marulić – founder mayor of the city of Split.

The mayor of Split, Professor Ivica Puljak, due to his absence due to unforeseen circumstances, was unable to unveil Marulić’s star in person. The star was unveiled by the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Poland, Tomislav Vidosević, and the Mayor of the City of Krakow, Prof. Jacek Majchrowski.

At this point, it should be mentioned that Marulić is called the father of Croatian literature and the city of Krakow is named after the city of literature. Marulić, as an inhabitant of Split, often stayed on the island of Šolta, where he had his own house. Then, fearing pirates, he returned to his old apartment in his hometown of Split. In March 1928, the association “Polish House on the Adriatic” is founded and buys a neglected building from the island’s authorities for its own purpose. As it turned out, it was the villa of the famous Marko Marulić. This villa belonged to the “Polish House on the Adriatic” association in the years 1928-1945. During World War II, it was in this villa that the Croats hid Poles who had to leave the country, pursued by the Germans. In the years 1937-1938, the well-known Polish poet Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński lived in this villa.

From the left: Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Poland, Tomislav Vidosević, and the Mayor of the City of Krakow, Prof. Jacek Majchrowski (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star of Ivo Andrić – founder of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

The star was unveiled by the Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jarosław Górniak accompanied by the director of the Chancellery of the Mayor of Krakow, Beata Sabatowicz.

An important fact in the life of Ivo Andrić is his relationship with Krakow, in particular with the Jagiellonian University. He was a student at this university. In 1964 he received an honorary doctorate from the Jagiellonian University. Ivo Andrić received this title as a Nobel Prize winner for literature. In Krakow there is also Ivo Andricia Street. But a significant fact for these connections are the years 1939-41, when Ivo Andrić, being the ambassador in Berlin, initiated the action for the release of professors of the Jagiellonian University and Krakow universities from the concentration camp.

From the left: Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jarosław Gorniak accompanied by the director of the Chancellery of the Mayor of Krakow, Beata Sabatowicz (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star Josip Juraj Strossmayer – founder Princes Lubomirski Foundation.

The star was unveiled by Honorary Consul Paweł Włodarczyk accompanied by Prince Jan Lubomirski-Lanckoroński.

Strossmayer’s frequent conversations with his great-great-grandfather Jerzy Lubomirski aimed at finding the best way to find their own way to rebuild the statehood of both nations. Jerzy Lubomirski and other Poles believed that cooperation with the Croats would reconstruct the path to the independence of the Croatian and Polish nations.

From the left: Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow Paweł Włodarczyk and Prince Jan Lubomirski-Lanckoroński (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star Nikola Tesla – founder mayor of the city of Karlovac,

Mayor of Split Damir Mandić, due to his absence due to the flooding in Krlovac and the surrounding area, was unable to personally unveil Marulić’s star. On his behalf, the rector of the AGH University of Science and Technology, prof. Jerzy Lis, accompanied by the director of the Department of Tourism of the city of Karlovac, Ivana Brezović, and the Chief Advisor for international cooperation of the city of Karlovac Eva Sobotik-Pavan.

Nikola Tesla, an invincible inventor on a global scale, who, as we all know, was ahead of the entire era of modern technology, met many times with the outstanding Polish pianist, later the Prime Minister of Poland, Ignacy Paderewski, and attended his concerts in the United States. They both talked about the situation in Europe, the situation in their countries, about keeping peace in the hot times before the outbreak of World War I and World War II. Both gentlemen were of the same generation, both died in New York, both represented their eras, one technical, the other musical.

From the left: rector of the AGH University of Science and Technology, prof. Jerzy Lis and director of the Department of Tourism of the city of Karlovac, Ivana Brezović, and the Chief Advisor for international cooperation of the city of Karlovac Eva Sobotik-Pavan (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star Juraj Krizanić – founder of the Krakow Philharmonic.

The star was unveiled by the Director of the Krakow Philharmonic, Beata Płoska, and the Commander of the Military Orchestra in Krakow, Kapellmeister Major Dariusz Bylina from the Krakow Academy of Music.

Krizanić left behind a considerable number of works, among which an important place is occupied by writings in the field of music theory, which are still used today. On the 250th anniversary of his death, the Association of Young Slavs in Poland embedded a commemorative plaque in the wall of the Warsaw Capuchin Church of the Transfiguration at Miodowa Street.

From the left: Director of the Krakow Philharmonic Beata Płoska and Commander of the Military Band, Bandmaster Major Dariusz Bylina (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star of Rudjer Josip Bośković – founder of AGH University of Science and Technology.

The star was unveiled by the rector of the University of Science and Technology, prof. Jerzy Lis accompanied by the director of the Municipal Greenery Board, Mr. Jarosław Tabor.

Rudjer Josip Bośković laid the foundations for Einstein’s theories, corrected Newton, and also taught the world how to calculate planetary orbits based on just 3 observations of their positions. An outstanding mathematician, physicist and astronomer who was respected and esteemed everywhere, Catholic, Jesuit. Rudjer Josip Bošković, was friends with Stanisław Potocki’s family. Many times he stayed in Warsaw, Krakow and Lviv. He was recognized by Poles as an outstanding scientist, he is perceived as the Croatian Nicolaus Copernicus in his time.

From the left: rector of the AGH University of Science and Technology and director of the Municipal Greenery Board in Krakow Jarosław Tabor (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star Ivan Meštrović – founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.

The star was unveiled by the Vice-Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts, Agata Kwiatkowska-Lubańska, accompanied by the Director of the Krakow Philharmonic, Beata Płoska.

The work of the outstanding Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović was devoted mainly to monumental and monumental sculpture. In August 1939, Mestrović won a competition for the design of a monument to commemorate Józef Piłsudski, the father of Polish independence and the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, in Warsaw. An equestrian statue of the marshal with a triumphal arch was to be erected on Na Rozdrożu Square in Warsaw. However, the works were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.

From left Vice-Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts, Vice-Rector Professor Agata Kwiatkowska-Lubanska and Director of the Krakow Philharmonic Beata Ploska (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

Star Mirosław Ferić – founder of the Polish Aviation Museum, The star was unveiled by the 81-year-old son of Philip Ferić-Methuen, who lives in England, the Croatian ambassador Tomislav Vidosević, Colonel Piotr Katański from the 8th Transport Aviation Base in Krakow and the director of the Polish Aviation Museum Tomasz Kosecki Mirosław Ferić, whose father was a Croat and his mother was Polish, is a Polish hero, a lieutenant pilot, he flew in World War II in the famous 303 Squadron in England, which contributed to the victory over German aviation in the famous air battles over England. Ferić kept the famous diaries, which became the basis for Arkadiusz Fiedlar to write a book about 303 Squadron and the film “Squadron – True Story” directed by Croatian Denis Delić.

From left: Ambassador Tomislav Vidošević, director of the Polish Aviation Museum, 81-year-old Philip Ferić Montaune, son of the heroic aviator Mirosław Ferić. On his jacket he shows all the highest national designations achieved by his son and Colonel of the 8th Transport Aviation Base Piotr Katański (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow) 

All children in Poland who go to the 7th grade of primary school learn about Miroslaw Ferić. During the unveiling of Mirosław Ferić’s star, Polish pilots paid tribute to the pilot of the 303 Squadron of Polish-Croatian blood by flying over the area of the Little Croatia Park (Park Mala Hrvatska), arousing great interest among the numerous inhabitants of Krakow.

General view of the Avenue of Croatian Stars in the Little Croatia Park in the ancient capital of the Croats in Krakow (Photo: Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Krakow)