Old town Market Square in Krakow

Welcome, fellow traveler, to the magnificent heart of Poland’s historic capital. I am delighted to be your guide today as we stand upon the ancient cobblestones of the Rynek Gloovny, or the Main Market Square of Krakow. …

We now step into the spectacular center piece of the main market square, the illustrious Cloth Hall, known locally as the Sukiennice. This monumental structure is a breathtaking example of Renaissance style architecture,…

Ascending to the upper floor of the Cloth Hall, we leave the noisy, bustling marketplace behind and enter a realm of quiet, profound cultural reflection. We have arrived at the Sukiennice Museum, a vital branch of the National…

We now transition from the lofty heights of nineteenth century high art to the gritty, fascinating realities of urban archaeology. We are standing near the eastern side of the Cloth Hall, just across from Saint Mary's Basilica,…

Welcome to the deep subterranean core of the Rynek Underground. You are now standing several meters below the feet of the oblivious tourists strolling across the square above. …

Emerging from the dark depths of the underground, our eyes are immediately drawn upward to the most magnificent, awe inspiring structure on the square. Standing proud on the eastern edge of the plaza is Saint Mary's Basilica, or…

We now step through the designated tourist entrance on the side of Saint Mary's Basilica. It is highly important to use this specific side door, rather than the main front entrance, to ensure we respectfully avoid disturbing the…

Having explored the pinnacle of religious authority on the square, we now direct our attention to the ultimate symbol of historical civic power. Standing somewhat solitary and highly conspicuous on the western side of the plaza…

We now move slightly to the northwestern edge of the square to examine an entirely different facet of Krakow's historical society. Here, sitting prominently on the corner, we find the stunning Krzysztofory Palace. …

As our comprehensive scholarly tour of the grand Rynek Gloovny draws to a close, we find ourselves walking toward the northeastern corner of the square, where the famous Florianska Street begins. This bustling, shop lined avenue…