Floriańska Street

You’re walking along Floriańska Street, one of the most iconic streets in Kraków. It’s part of the Royal Route that connects Wawel Castle to St. Florian’s Gate. The street has been known as Floriańska for over 700 years, named after the nearby church. It was one of the city’s first streets to be paved, and today, it’s lined with remarkable period buildings. Make sure to look up and admire the façades! At the start of the street, you’ll see a striking bas-relief on the corner, depicting two Africans in traditional clothing. This marks the location of a 16th-century pharmacy known as “the Ethiopian pharmacy.” Speaking of pharmacies—at number 25, you’ll find the largest pharmacy museum in Poland, offering an insight into how pharmacies looked in the 16th and 17th centuries. At number 41, you’ll see the former home of renowned Polish painter Jan Matejko, which has been turned into a museum. It’s an unusual mix, showcasing the artist’s paintings alongside torture instruments once used by the city’s executioners, recovered from Kraków’s cellars. At number 45 is Jama Michalika, the legendary café and meeting place of the Young Poland movement. It later became the city’s first artistic and literary cabaret. This is a street full of history and life, right in the heart of Kraków!