Hotel Pollera in Krakow

Located at Szpitalna Street 30 in Kraków, Hotel Pollera boasts a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, when three townhouses stood on the site of its current building. The Bełchacki Townhouse, the oldest of them, was destroyed in the 17th century and replaced with a small square. The Pułczyński and Campioni townhouses, also dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, fell into ruin in the early 19th century. In 1822, these buildings were renovated and merged by B. Gostkowski to create the "Pod Złotą Kotwicą" Inn. In 1834, the hotel became the property of Kasper Poller, and its expansion in 1844 resulted in a new, two-story neorenaissance building. The hotel's architecture is characterized by rich decoration, including rustication, cornices, pediments, and dormer windows. The interiors have retained their century-old decor, including a staircase with Art Nouveau stained-glass windows designed by Stanisław Wyspiański. Hotel Pollera has hosted many famous figures, including Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński, Helena Modrzejewska, Henryk Sienkiewicz, and Józef Piłsudski. After World War II, the hotel was nationalized and returned to its former owner, Zbigniew Chojnacki, in 1990. Hotel Pollera is not only an important architectural monument but also a significant cultural landmark of Kraków, bearing witness to the city's history throughout the centuries.