Koice

Koice, also spelled Košice in Slovak, is the second-largest city in Slovakia, located in the eastern part of the country and serving as the administrative center of the Košice Region. It lies on the Hornád River and has a population of about 240,000 people. The city is a major economic and cultural hub and an important transport node with Košice International Airport.

The city’s medieval core developed around a network of trade routes and was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. It features a number of historic monuments, including the Gothic St. Elisabeth Cathedral (Dóm svätej Alžbety) and the pedestrianized main street, Hlavná ulica, which connects to landmarks such as Mikluš Prison.

In 2013 Košice was designated European Capital of Culture, an event that highlighted its cultural institutions and festivals. The city is home to several higher education institutions, including Pavol Jozef Šafárik University and the Technical University of Košice, and the East Slovak Museum, which preserves regional history and science exhibits.

Economically, Košice serves as a regional services and manufacturing center, with growing sectors in information technology, logistics, and research. The city also acts as a transportation hub linking eastern Slovakia with Hungary, Ukraine, and beyond, reflecting its role as a long-standing crossroads of trade and culture.