Wolnica Square in Kraków, plac na Kazimierzu, w Krakowie, w województwie małopolskim
Wolnica Square is a large paved square in the Kazimierz district of Krakow, lined with merchant houses and cafes on its edges. At its center stands a fountain with a sculpture of three musicians, while the former Kazimierz town hall, now a museum of folk art, occupies one side.
The square took shape after Kazimierz was founded in the 14th century as a separate town with its own market and administration. After centuries of damage from wars and fires, Kazimierz was eventually absorbed into Krakow, and the old town hall on the square survived as one of the few original structures.
The name Wolnica comes from a Latin root meaning free trade, which gives the square its identity as a former open market. Today people meet around the central fountain, and the cafes along the edges fill with both locals and visitors throughout the day.
The square sits in the heart of Kazimierz and is easy to reach on foot from the Krakow Old Town. From here, the streets of the neighborhood branch out in several directions, making it a good starting point for exploring the area.
Although the square has served as a market since the Middle Ages, the fountain sculpture of the three musicians was added only in 1970, long after Kazimierz had lost its status as an independent town. The figures represent folk musicians, which connects unexpectedly to the folk art collection housed in the old town hall building right beside it.
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