During June 2011 Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper invited 21 journalism student s from City University London to visit the country’s largest cities to assess whether they are ready to host the upcoming Euro 2012 football tournament. Dubbed Misja 21 (Mission 21), the project also elicited input from local residents, including their votes on the top five likes and dislikes in their own cities. Here’s what Poznanians think are the best and worst parts of their city.

Likes:

1. Citadel, Wzgórze Cytadela (G/H-1)
This large park north of the town’s centre was a fortress in the 19th century and is now home to an array of historical attractions, including the Poznań Army Museum (closed until next year), the Museum of Armaments, and several cemeteries housing the remains of allied airmen shot down over Poland during WWII, several of t hose captured during The Great Escape, Red Army soldiers killed during the 1945 siege, and Poles killed under Fascism and during the Wielkopolska Uprising.

2. KontenerART (currently closed for the season)
We wholeheartedly agree with this choice, which is one of Poznan’s most original spot s. Each year t his seasonal bar/gallery made of stacked shipping container s pops up somewhere in the city and is the best outdoor venue until the weather changes. A welcome and unique summer alternative to pubs and clubs.

3. Sołacz (E-1)
This northwestern portion of Poznan is popular for being one of the greenest parts of the city thanks to Sołacki Park, Park Wodziczki and Sołackich Ponds.

4. Śródka with Jordana bridge (I-3)
The bright red steel Jordan bridge connects Ostrów Tumski to the district of Śródka, which is currently undergoing a serious revitalization.

5. Murals created during Outer Spaces (B -2 ul. Kantaka, A/B-3 ul. Taczaka, D-2 ul. Woźna, ul. Grobla and ul. Garbary)
Last May a mural festival in Poznan called Outer Spaces took over the city resulted in some of the most dynamic and eye-catching outdoor murals in a country already filled with impressive urban art.

Dislikes:

1. Tunnel under the PKS station (F-4)
Tunnels in Polish cities are essential for easily moving pedestrians and seemingly universally hated for their glumness, buskers and generally junky appearance.

2. Poznań main train station (E-4)
There isn’t a train station in Poland that will land in the ‘like’ column, and Poznan’s main station is no exception. The construction in and around Poznań Główny makes it particularly unbearable at the moment.

3. Kaponiera roundabout (E-3)
We’re not even sure how many roads feed into this epic roundabout, a driving nightmare in the heart of the city. Throw in some ever-present construction and the roundabout becomes an even more fearful thing.

4. Wilda (F/G-5)
We’re not sure why Poznanians despise the district of Wilda, which has Wildecki Market at its centre. Possibly it’s the industrial architecture? It seems an essential part of Poznan.

5. Szyc stadium with surrounding area (G-5)
This crumbling, abandoned stadium is now overgrown with foliage and garbage and the home address for the city’s vagrant population.