Page 202 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

200  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Shopping in Krakow Crafts and
Contemporary Art
If you are a Western visitor you can expect to find everything The stands in the Cloth
in Krakow that you can buy at home. It is no longer necessary Hall also sell silver jewellery,
to bring items for everyday use. On the other hand you amber objets d’art, leather
should not expect luxury Western merchandise, such as items and fabrics for the
home. Shopping in this
perfumes, alcohol, designer clothes and shoes, and other Renaissance hall has the
branded items, to be cheaper in Poland. You may, however, added bonus of sustaining
find bargains in shops and galleries selling handicrafts, silver a trading tradition that goes
jewellery, contemporary paintings and prints, as well as back to the 16th century. The
Calik gallery is famous for alik gallery is famous for alik
leather goods, bric-à-brac and coffee-table books. C C
Christmas decorations and
attracts customers from all
over the world.
Book and Record Shops that exporting pre-1945 Krakow is a great place
There are many excellent antiques from Poland is illegal to pick up some Polish
bookshops in Krakow. Massolit without special permission, contemporary art, and
Books sells second-hand and which is very difficult to obtain demand for such works is
new books in English. It also (see p212). As far as valuable ever growing. The Starmach
has a café that serves teas and works of art are concerned, as Gallery, Zderzak, Space
superb cakes. It’s common to well as objects that form part of Gallery, Galeria Mariana
find people pouring over books the cultural heritage, such as Gołogórskiego and many
in here for hours on end. This is paintings, furniture, jewellery, others all display (and sell)
typical of Krakow, a university old prints, rare books and maps, works by contemporary artists.
city, where the way of life is still this law is rigorously observed, The city wall by St Florian’s
heavily influenced by professors but less so in the case of objects Gate serves as an open-air
and students. Massolit also of lesser value and bric-à-brac, gallery, with paintings by local
hosts literary readings, art which are plentiful in Krakow. artists of sunsets and sunrises,
exhibitions and musical events. Antique dealers are mainly galloping horses, large-scale
Empik, one of Poland’s located in the area around the nudes and many more
leading book retailers, has Planty. Occasional antique displayed for visitors to admire
nine branches in Krakow, with markets take place in Market – and purchase. Fans of satirical
the two biggest in the Galeria Square and there is one every drawings by Andrzej Mleczko
Krakowska and Kazimierz malls. Saturday in plac Nowy. Every will find a visit to his gallery
The American Bookstore, Sunday, sellers of collectors’ in St John’s Street (Św. Jana)
specializes in English-language items and second-hand books very rewarding. The small
books. Cute, characterful book- put up their stalls by the Hala LueLue gallery is a great
shops with a well-chosen Targowa in Grzegórzecka Street. place to buy beautiful vintage
selection of English language photographs, paintings and
titles and beautifully illustrated postcards. It also offers a
children’s books include Bona, Folk Art selection of graphic designs
Kawiarnia Literacka, De The annual folk Art Fair in by contemporary artists.
Revolutionibus and Lokator. Market Square takes place Galeria Plakatu houses a
All of these shops also serve in September. Dozens of stalls large collection of fascinating
coffee and cakes, making are set up, selling sculpture, posters advertising Polish
them excellent places for a earthenware, woven rugs theatre, film and music acts.
leisurely browse. and wood carvings made in
The prestigious Znak various parts of Poland.
bookshop in Kościuszki Street The stalls in the Cloth Hall Children
has a large selection of foreign offer a large selection of crafts Krakow’s shopping centres
titles. The Księgarnia Muzyczna and are a must for the tourist. have a few places selling books,
Kurant in Market Square You will find here colourful, games and toys for children.
specializes in music books, embroidered traditional In Galeria Krakowska, near the
scores and recordings. costumes of the Krakow and railway station, Smyk is a great Smyk is a great Smyk
Podhale regions, as well as all-rounder with a big selection
walking sticks from the high- of items to educate and
Antiques lands, crafted with an axe-like entertain children of all ages.
Krakow is possibly the best handle; ornate chess sets and Dragonus, a small stall found
place in Poland for antiques jewellery boxes, devotional by the escalators, stocks a huge
because the city was saved from statues and Jewish objects all range of boardgames. In the
destruction during World War II carved in wood; paper cutouts, city centre, the unique Bajo
and Krakovians did not have to painted Easter eggs, traditional celebrates traditional toys –
migrate. Foreigners are advised dolls and much more. everything is made of wood.