Щепанська площа Shchepan Square

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St. Stephen's Square appeared on the map of Krakow in the early 19th century, when the medieval Church of St. Stephen, which gave the square its name, the Church of Saints Maciej and Mateusz, was dismantled, and the cemetery next to the church was liquidated. Initially, the square was named the National Guard in honor of the first inspection of the battalion created in Krakow by the National Guard. On August 3.1811, this battalion, fully armed and in uniform, was lined up on this square. A memorial plaque of black marble was erected on the Sholyaisky building in honor of this event.

But this name did not take root among the inhabitants of Krakow and the square remained Szczepanska. In the XIX century there was one of the largest bazaars in the city, in the second half of the XX century (until 2007) - parking, in 2010 the modernization of the square was completed, broken flower beds, installed benches and a fountain, which caused much criticism.
First of all, the Palace of Arts attracts attention on the square. Built in 1898-1901 in the Art Nouveau style by architect Fratiš ek Monč ynski and modeled on the famous Secession exhibition pavilion in Vienna. Prominent Krakow masters took part in the decoration of the palace. An impressive frieze depicting the fluidity of the artist's life was designed by Jacek Malczewski. Anthony Madeisky, Konstantin Laszko and Theodor Rieger performed busts of prominent Polish artists.

The facade of the palace is decorated with a columned portico, topped with a figure of Apollo in a sunny halo. On the side of Shchepanska Square there is a bust of Jan Matejka by Antoni Madejski; on the part of Plants - a bust of Stanislaw Wyspianski by Anna Reinoch. The walls are decorated with pilasters and an entrance portico with two columns. The house is an art gallery.
At the initiative of the Society of Friends of Arts and representatives of the Rotary Club, presentations of Polish contemporary art and exhibitions of foreign artists are held here. In addition, the palace holds auctions of works of art.

The side facade of the Old Theater, the oldest of Poland's existing theaters, overlooks the square.

Another outstanding building is the building of the Agricultural Society. It was built in 1908-1909 according to the project of architects Slawomir Odrzywolski and Wł adysł aw Kachmarski. The building consists of a main four-storey building with an attic and two lower wings. The ground floor with commercial and office space is distinguished by majestic shutters. The facade is divided by stone pilasters and statues of three male and four female figures, which are personifications of agricultural works, installed at the height of the windows on the second floor. Author - sculptor Jan Szczepkowski.