Between 1975 and 1979, the house was connected with the neighbouring buildings nos 16 and 17.

History

The house was built in the first half of the 15th century. At the end of the 15th century, the second floor was added. The south (side) annexe was built at the beginning of the 16th century. In the first half of the same century, the third floor was added and later, at the end of the century, an attic. The original name, Kruglowski House (Na Kruglu), comes from the surname of the owners, the Krigel family, who occupied the building until the second half of the 16th century. According to tradition, it was a guest house for legations arriving in Kraków. In the 17th century, the house belonged to the Pinocci family trading in expensive fabric (velvet, brocade, and gilded silk). Hieronim Pinocci published the Merkuriusz Polski magazine. During his and his successors’ times (first half of the 17th century and the 18th century), the building was upgraded and re-decorated. At the beginning of the 18th century, the house was purchased by the Derjakubowicz family and later by Francisco Gianotti (in 1768). In 1813 the upper floors were destroyed by fire, but the entire house was restored. In 1831 Tomasz Jarzyński became the owner. After major alteration, the building was given a completely new look and the first neo-Gothic facade in Kraków (a design by Francisco Maria Lanci). In the 1830s, following the trend of installing balconies with iron railings on the façades of more luxurious townhouses, the Pinocińska house also received balconies around 1840. The restored building was purchased by Count Bronisław Działyński in 1846. At that time, it was the only four-storey townhouse in the market square. Shots fired from its window marked the beginning of the so-called Kraków Revolution. As an act of retaliation, the Austrian authorities seized the house and turned into the military headquarters of the troops occupying the city. After the 1850 fire of Kraków, the house was renovated and partially altered. A new room layout was introduced according to the design by Ignacy Herzog. After 1865 Dawid Rapaport set up a city casino here owing to the efforts of the Rev. Stanisław Jabłonowski. The conversion of deep cellars was carried out in 1942. The building (together with the annexes) underwent a major renovation between 1971 and 1982. Between 1975 and 1979, the house was connected with the neighbouring buildings nos 16 and 17. Currently, it is still part of the Wierzynek Restaurant complex (guests can dine in one of the six rooms: Wierzynkowska, Kolumnowa, Tatrzańska, Zegowa, Portretowa, Rycerska).

Description

A three-storey, five-axis house with a high attic, strangely incompatible with the neo-Baroque façade. A Baroque portal over the entrance. The 16th-century Renaissance coffered ceilings survived the fire in 1850. Some of the ceiling beams with polychrome, as well as the remains of Gothic and Renaissance stonework, have survived the renovation and conversion into a restaurant establishment. Unfortunately, many historical details were permanently removed.

The site is partly available: freely from the outside but inside only during the working hours of the stores and institutions.

Author of the note Roman Marcinek, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Kraków 20/04/2016

Bibliography

• Dyba O., Kraków. Zabytki architektury i budownictwa, Warszawa 2007
• Encyklopedia Krakowa, Warszawa – Kraków 2000.
• Fabiański M., Purchla J., Historia architektury Krakowa w zarysie, Kraków 2001
• Komorowski W., Sudacka A., Rynek Główny w Krakowie, Ossolineum 2008
• Komorowski W., Pałace miejskie Krakowa 1. połowy XIX w., “Teki Krakowskie”, vol. XIII
• Rożek M., Przewodnik po zabytkach i kulturze Krakowa, Kraków 1993
• Marcinek R., Kraków, Kraków 2001