It's 204,000 square meters of national pride. The new Polish national stadium shines in Poland's colors. It has a capacity of 58,000, cost 350 million euros ($430 million) and is to be Warsaw's new landmark. But one thing is unclear: what will the stadium be used for after the European Championships?
Warsaw's booming economy leads Central Europe for foreign investment. Many new developments are appearing across the city of 1.7 million people. For tourists, its main magnet remains the Old Town.
The stadium is as gold as amber - or "Baltic gold," as one of northern Poland's biggest products is also known. Around 42,000 fans can fit into this soccer temple, which will host a clash of the titans for its opening game - defending champions Spain against former world champions Italy.
The Gdansk port is not only famous for its medieval crane gate, but also for being the birthplace of the Solidarity trade union movement. It's also worth taking a stroll through the narrow alleyways of the historical Old Town.
The Municipal Stadium in Poznan opened in 1980, but was completely renovated in 2010 and can now host 43,000 fans. Favorites Italy will play two games here.
Poznan has big ambitions. The city of 550,000 inhabitants in western Poland is currently bidding to be European Capital of Culture 2016. A successful Euro 2012 would certainly be good for its chances.
Wroclaw's new stadium wouldn't look out of place in a science fiction movie, and offers space for 43,000 spectators. It will presumably become a Czech zone for Euro 2012 - the team from Poland's neighbors will be playing all of their group games here.
With around 135,000 students and 13 colleges, Wroclaw is Poland's academic capital. It follows that the city's population, spread over 12 islands, is very young.
Following construction delays and missing access roads, the Lviv Arena was only finished at the last minute. Germany plays two group games in this 35,000-seater.
Lviv could become the binding element of Euro 2012, since the Ukrainian city has Polish, Ukrainian and Austrian history. Its center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Little happens in Ukraine without the help of an oligarch. After mining billionaire Rinat Akhmetov bought football club Shakhtar Donetsk, he proceeded to build it a 50,000-seat stadium. The club Metalist Kharkiv also has an oligarch to thank for its Euro 2012 stadium - construction tycoon Oleksandr Yaroslavsky.
The 1.1 million people of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, are mainly dependent on the steel and coal industries. Like any industrial city worth its salt, Donetsk also has a great football team - Shakhtar Donetsk.
As the home of Metalist Kharkiv, the arena in north eastern Ukraine is far from unknown among the cognoscenti of European soccer. The 39,000-seater was built in 1926 and given an overhaul in 2009.
Kharkiv, which still shows many traces of the Soviet Union, was long famous for machine building and agriculture. But today the city is aiming to become an academic capital, and boasts some 100,000 students.
The tournament finale takes place at the renovated Olympic stadium in Kyiv. The 70,000-seater arena raises a big question - how could its renovation cost all of 585 million euros ($723 million)? By comparison, Munich's Allianz Arena cost 340 million euros to build from scratch.
Kyiv is a city of contrasts - rich and poor, modernity and history mix freely on its streets. Saint Sophia Cathedral, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is part of the Ukrainian capital's rich history.
Where will the Euro 2012 take place? Check out the soccer championship's venues here.
Where will the Euro 2012 take place? Check out the soccer championship's venues here.
