Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland with a population of 1 716 855 (2010) spread over an area of 516.9 square km. Warsaw is the 9th largest city in the European Union by population. It is located on the Vistula River roughly 260 kilometers (162 mi) from the Baltic Sea and 300 kilometers (186 mi) from the Carpathian Mountains.

The first fortified settlements on the site of today's Warsaw were Bródno (9th/10th century) and Jazdów (12th/13th century). Warsaw is known as the "phoenix city", as it recovered from extensive damage during World War II when it was razed to the ground by bombing raids and planned destruction. Warsaw has given its name to the Warsaw Confederation, Warsaw Pact, the Duchy of Warsaw, Warsaw Convention, Treaty of Warsaw and the Warsaw Uprising.