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Krakow's Cloth Hall, the Renaissance monument of commerce
The world's
arguably oldest shopping mall has
been in business in the middle of Krakow's
central Grand Square (Rynek Glowny) for 700 years.
Circa 1300 a roof was put over two rows of stalls
to form the first Sukiennice building –
Cloth Hall – where the textile
trade used to go on. It was extended into an
imposing Gothic structure 108 meter long and
eight meter wide in the second half of the 14th
century.
Refurbishment
of Krakow's Cloth Hall
After the 1555 fire the Cloth Hall was
rebuilt as a splendid Renaissance edifice with an
ornate roof adorned with grotesque masks by Santi Gucci. Also
the picturesque stairs and galleries on both ends of the
building date from the 16th century.
During
the 1875-1879 refurbishment the outside arcades
and central transepts were added.
Shopping
center and art gallery
Nowadays stalls
on the ground floor and shops in the arcades
mostly sell assorted souvenirs.
Upstairs,
since the 1880s the Krakow National Museum has exhibited its
unparalleled collection of the 19-century Polish
art, including Jan Matejko's famous movie-like
giant paintings.
One of two Cloth Hall's spacious
cafes, the Noworolski’s on the east side, has
been opened since 1910 when it got its present
elegant Art Nouveau decor.
Krakow's
month-long Christmas
market takes place in the front of the Cloth Hall every
December.
Krakow's other
landmarks of the Old Town central historical district
Wawel Royal Castle
Home to Poland's three dynasties, its fine halls and
chambers feature old art, ancient furniture and stunning
curios.
Wawel Cathedral
Poland's national shrine is a mausoleum of the Polish
royalty filled with superb church art and marvels such as the
Zygmunt giant bell of 1520.
Basilica of the
Virgin Mary's
The huge Gothic church of the 13th century can boast
excellent church art including Veit Stoss' famous altarpiece, the world's greatest
Gothic sculpture.
Town Hall Tower
Great Barbican
The 15th-century masterpiece of medieval
fortification.
Collegium Maius
Copernicus studied in the Krakow university's splendid
Grand College of the 15th century .
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