The first Prince's Palace on Wawel hill has appeared in X-XI centuries. On the initiative of Kazimierz the Great, who reigned in 1333-1370, here was erected the majestic Royal castle in the Gothic style, which preserved the tower of Kurya Foot. After a devastating fire in 1499 king Alexander and his brother Sigmund Old undertook a thorough restructuring of the castle in the Renaissance style. So there was a huge Palace-fortress in the Italian style, a typical fortified Palazzo.

The courtyard of the castle - one of the best examples of the style of the Italian Renaissance on Polish soil. The patio is framed with a triple garland galleries, rhythmically divided lightweight design alternating pillars, arches and balustrades. Each tier is a different height, but the proportions found to be very successful. The slender columns of the first and second tier pass into a semi-circular arches with a soft, flowing outlines in the spirit of the Renaissance. Suddenly slim columns of the second floor support the huge canopy. On the walls of galleries fragments of paintings of the XVI century. These are portraits of Roman emperors in medallions and floral designs and decorative compositions on classical themes. South side of the yard also has an arcade and decorated with false Windows.