The Sukiennice, also known as the Cloth Exchange, is an outstanding Renaissance building located in the center of Krakow, and is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. Located on Market Square in Krakow's Old Town, this structure forms the heart of the city and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. Designed on a north-south axis, it features symmetrical facades in relation to the axes of the entrances, fusing architectural elements from different periods and representing a unique synthesis of local architecture.

In the past, the Sukiennice was an important center of international trade in the Polish capital, where travelers and merchants congregated to trade and barter. During its heyday in the 15th century, this place was key to importing exotic goods from the East, such as spices, silk, leather and wax, while Krakow exported textile materials, lead and salt from the Wieliczka mines.

Throughout its history, the city of Krakow experienced ups and downs, from splendor to decline, especially marked by wars and the partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century. However, in 1870, during the political revival of Galicia and Lodomeria, an architectural restoration was proposed for the Sukiennice, marking the beginning of an urban revitalization. This process was one of the greatest achievements of that period, contributing to the revival of the city and its premises.

Over the centuries, the Sukiennice has witnessed numerous outstanding events and hosted distinguished guests, from monarchs to dignitaries. Today, it remains a vibrant center of commerce, although the products on sale differ considerably from those of previous centuries, focusing mainly on souvenirs for tourists.

The Sukiennice building has undergone several stages of construction and renovation over the years, from its establishment in the 13th century to the work done in the 19th century by Tomasz Pryliński, who added neo-Gothic elements to beautify the building.

Inside, the ground floor houses galleries of neo-Gothic arcades, wooden stalls and craft stores, while the upper floor houses a section of the National Museum of Krakow and the Gallery of 20th-century Polish art, where concerts are also organized. In addition, the subway floor houses the Museum under the Krakow Rynek, opened in 2010, offering access from the Sukiennice and forming part of the Museum of the History of the City of Krakow.