Rynek Główny (Main Square)

Market Place is the heart of Cracow, the place fully of monuments, secular and sacral arts, work of architecture, making today function of present center. The symbols of Market Place are not only Mariacki Church, Sukiennice, The Town Hall or the monument of Mickiewicz, but also florists and doves in the Market Place. There are many beautiful and interesting objects in the Place. The fascinating is everything: architecture, history, but especially atmosphere. Market Place these are not only monuments, but also suitable place for family walks, excursions or meetings with friends in comfortable pubs. The most known restaurants in the Market Place are Wierzynek, Hawelka-Tetmajerowska, Wentzl, Grey Restaurant and Vis a Vis Café – the favorite place of Piotr Skrzynecki, who was the founder of “Under Aries” Basement. There are many exclusive and famous shops and galleries, located in tenement houses, surrounding Market Place. Amateurs of entertainment will find something for them too, cafes are usually full of citizens and tourists and evenings the Market Place and neighbourhood are changing into the center of night life in modern clubs, pubs and discotheques. All tourists interested of intimate atmosphere we encourage to visit alley of Saint Thomas or courtyards and pubs, located in Bracka and Poselska Streets, where away from buzz of voices you can imagine and admire beautiful alleys. Market Place in Cracow is a place of events like: Juvenalia, Lajkonik, Cepelia trades, expositions of Christmas cribs. This is a place of concerts, gatherings and art shows. The Market Place in Cracow is famous from its every year New Year’s Eve open party.

The Theatre was built in a place of destroyed Church of Saint Ghost. It was built in 1893 year and it was the first building with electric lights. The project was pattern on the most beautiful theatres in Europe and today this building is one of the most valuable monuments of theatre architecture. The Theatre is decorated inside by frescos of Viennese artist Anton Tuch and Henryk Siemiradzki famous curtain. Near the scene located is dressing-room of great artist Julius Solski. On the front elevation it is written “Cracow for national art”. Since 1976 year a completion of theatre’s big scene is Scene Miniature, located in the Saint Ghost Place. Since 2000 year during summer open is “Scene near the Pump” also, located in a theatre’s garden. You can go to the Theatre, going Florianska street from Market Place in the direction of railway station.

The oldest building of Cracow Academy, built in XIV-th century by The King Casimir The Great, at the moment is location of Jagiellonian University’s Museum. This stone building is in gothic style with beutiful and original courtyard and well. In Collegium Maius are located famous museum collections, connected with university history, i. a. astronomical instruments, including these from Mikolaj Kopernik, Jagiellonian Globe, which is one of the oldest globes, paintings of Matejko and Malczewski. On the first floor of Collegium Maius are located many of representation halls. The Collegium is located in Jagiellonian Street. You can go there, going from Market Place, via Saint Ann street.