Felicja Curyłowa’s homestead Zalipie
Zalipie 135, 33-210 Zalipie
Tourist region: Tarnów i okolice
Zalipie is said to be the most picturesque and brilliantly painted village in north-eastern Małopolska. For generations, Zalipie women have been painting their houses (and much more) in original floral patterns. It all started when housewives wanted to beautify the walls of their sooty houses in spring (usually before Whitsun). The promoter of this tradition was Felicja Curyło, a folk artist who lived in the early 20th century. In Felicja's lifetime, people often visited her house to admire her painting and after her death, her house became a branch of the Museum of the Tarnów Region.
The village of Zalipie, located in the Dąbrowa Powiśle, near the Vistula River valley and a dozen or so kilometres north-east of Dąbrowa Tarnowska, is famous for its colourful painted houses. It owes its popularity to the painting talents of its female residents. The walls of houses, outbuildings and even wells, dog kennels and fences are decorated with beautiful, colourful, floral ornamentation. Felicja Curyłowa's house has attracted the interest of folk art enthusiasts since its inception and remains exactly as it was during the artist's lifetime. In it, we can admire the traditional folk costumes on display as well as the walls and the fascias adorned with painted flowers and decorations made of coloured tissue paper. The room that stands out the most is the kitchen with its richly painted blue stove.
In the open-air museum, we will also see a second richly-decorated house with full furnishings, once belonging to Stefania Łączyńska. The third dwelling, a cottage, belonged to people who were not nearly as well-off, and the only paintings to be seen are on the outer walls of the house. It is regarded as the home that a poor person might inhabit. The former farm buildings have also been converted for use by the museum. A workshop room and ticket office have been set up in the former cowshed, while old agricultural equipment is on display in the barn.
The remaining painted houses belong to private individuals. Traditional paintings can also be seen on the fire station building, the kindergarten, the primary school and the Church of St Joseph.
It is exceptionally pleasant to ride a bicycle around Zalipie. Cyclists should ride around the whole village, because it has lots and lots of painted houses and buildings!