Wola

Wola is a district in western Warsaw, Poland. An industrial area with traditions reaching back to the early 19th century, it underwent a transformation into a major financial district, featuring various landmarks and some of the tallest office buildings in the city.

History
First mentioned in the 14th century, it became the site of the elections, from 1573 to 1764, of Polish kings by the szlachta (nobility) of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Wola district later became famous for the Polish Army's defence of Warsaw in 1794 during the Kościuszko Uprising and in 1831 during the November Uprising, when Józef Sowiński and Józef Bem defended the city against Tsarist forces.

Until being incorporated into Warsaw in 1916, Wola was the village of Wielka Wola.

During the Warsaw Uprising (August–October 1944), fierce battles raged in Wola. Around 8 August, Wola was the scene of the largest single massacre by German forces in Poland, of 40,000 to 50,000 civilians. The area was held by Polish fighters belonging to the Armia Krajowa.

Wola is currently divided into the neighbourhoods of Czyste, Koło, Mirów, Młynów, Nowolipki, Odolany, Powązki and Ulrychów, which in many cases correspond to old villages or settlements.

Architecture
Numerous office and residential high-rises of up to 53 stories have been built in Wola since the 1990s. Most of them are concentrated along the Towarowa and Prosta streets; these include Varso Tower (310 m), Warsaw Spire (220 m), Warsaw Unit (202 m), Skyliner (195 m), Warsaw Trade Tower (187 m), The Warsaw Hub (130 m x2), Łucka City (120 m), Ilmet (103 m) and Warta Tower (82 m).

Many other buildings rising over 100 m are currently undergoing construction in Wola, such as the office skyscrapers The Bridge (174 m) and Skyliner II (130 m), the Towarowa 22 complex ((150 m, (120 m and (110 m), and the residential Towarowa Towers (105 m x2).

Landmarks
In the district there are several museums, the most notable being the Warsaw Uprising Museum at Towarowa Street. Wola features a public green space at Plac Europejski, where is also located a sign with the words Kocham Warszawę ("I love Warsaw"). In the district is also the Electio Viritim Monument, the art installation Keret House, and the Warsaw Insurgents and Powązki cemeteries.