After Poland regained its independence in 1918, the city of Warsaw started to grow rapidly and new areas were needed.

Open areas, parks and squares built there are regarded as fine examples of good urbanist architecture.

After the Polish resistance was defeated by Nazi German forces, Żoliborz was spared the fate of the rest of Warsaw and survived the war with less damage than many other areas.

Żoliborz has a lot of beautiful architecture: charming old villas and colonies - properties built in the 1930s by the socialist Warsaw Housing Cooperative (WSM), which used to have common laundries, kindergartens and dining-rooms.

The main site of interest in Żoliborz is St. Stanislaus Kostka Church with the tomb of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, which during the last 30 years has been visited by approximately 20,000,000 people (among them John Paul II).