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Plac Św. Ducha 1, Stare Miasto, Kraków
The Neo-Baroque theatre building stands on Plac Świętego Ducha, at the edge of Kraków's Old Town. It was erected between 1890 and 1893 on the grounds of a former monastery and hospital complex of the Order of the Holy Spirit. Its richly decorated façade with a loggia and allegorical sculptures echoes the great European opera houses of the era and still defines the character of the whole square.
The heart of the interior is the curtain painted by Henryk Siemiradzki, still lowered in front of the audience today. The gilded auditorium, the ceiling painting and the grand foyer with its staircases also draw attention. The building was the first in Kraków to be fitted with electric lighting. Apart from performances, the interiors are sometimes open for guided tours.
Modern Polish directing, stage design and acting took shape here; Stanisław Wyspiański and Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz were both connected with the theatre. The venue operates all year round, and the square in front of it is freely accessible and effectively lit after dark. The very centre lies within a restricted traffic zone, so a larger vehicle has to be left outside the Planty ring.
