Warsaw (; Polish : Warszawa [varˈʂava] ( listen); see also other names) 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 1.765 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 3.101 million residents, which makes Warsaw the 8th most-populous capital city in the European Union. The city limits cover 516.9 square kilometres (199.6 sq mi), while the metropolitan area covers 6,100.43 square kilometres (2,355.39 sq mi). Warsaw is an alpha global city, a major international tourist destination and a significant cultural, political and economic hub. With a nominal GDP of $230 billion (PPP), it is the wealthiest capital city in Central and Eastern Europe alongside Berlin. Moreover, its historical Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once described as Paris of the East, Warsaw was believed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world until World War II. The German invasion in 1939, the massacre of the Jewish population and deportations to concentration camps led to the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto in 1943 and to the major and devastating Warsaw Uprising between August and October 1944. Warsaw gained the new title of Phoenix City because of its extensive history and complete reconstruction after the severe damage it suffered in World War II, which left over 85% of its buildings in ruins. On 9 November 1939, the city was awarded Poland 's highest military decoration for heroism, the Virtuti Militari, following the Siege of Warsaw.
Warsaw is one of Europe ’s most dynamic metropolitan cities.
