Archaeological Museum in Kraków

The Archaeological Museum in Krakow, the oldest institution of its kind in Poland, was established in 1850. It is currently housed in a historic building on Senacka Street, which originally featured wooden-earth fortifications and the city's defensive wall. Fragments of these fortifications and relics of ancient architecture have been preserved in the museum's cellars. The building's history reflects numerous transformations: from serving judicial and penitentiary functions to its cultural role after 1956. The museum boasts a rich collection of over 773,000 artifacts, including ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and Peruvian vessels from Władysław Kluger's collection. Exhibitions are held in various formats—from permanent and seasonal displays to temporary showcases. The museum also organizes unique events, such as presentations of Polish Egyptologists' achievements and the "Artifact of the Month" series dedicated to exceptional discoveries. A notable highlight is the exhibition "Pompeii. Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius," which received the title of "Most Important Exhibition of 2019." Beyond displaying treasures of the past, the museum engages in scientific and educational activities, including publishing series and journals. In anticipation of its upcoming 175th anniversary, plans are underway to modernize the exhibition space, including the adaptation of the attic and the creation of a new conference hall, underscoring the institution's continuous development in the realms of architecture and culture.