About This Location
Mały Rynek - the Little Market Square - sits just behind the Main Market Square, but it has its own long story. Since the Middle Ages it worked as an “overflow” market, and it became the place for goods that were less welcome on the grand Rynek Główny - especially meat and fish. It was closely linked with Kraków’s butchers’ guild, which had real power in the old city economy. This square also changed with the times. From the 1500s, sellers of antiques and second-hand goods appeared here, and the place even picked up the Latin nickname Forum Antiquum - the Old Market. Trade slowly faded in the modern era, and by the early 20th century a tram line was running right across the square, a reminder that the Old Town was adapting to new technology. On the edge of the square is Wikarówka, the historic house connected with St. Mary’s Basilica clergy. It is easy to miss because it looks like part of the surrounding townhouses, but it marks the boundary between Plac Mariacki and Mały Rynek. The building went through major rebuilds over the centuries, and one detail worth spotting is the overhanging bay window supported on brackets, with the Belina coat of arms - a small sign of how old the fabric of this place really is.