Krakow - The Magical City
As the old capital of Poland, Krakow has a special place in the national consciousness. For the casual tourist this may not be vitally important or discernable, but this special role as the "spiritual" capital of Poland imbues Krakow with an added ambiance. The city is a vibrant university town that boasts the largest Medieval market square in Europe, plus exquisitely preserved Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural monuments of the highest order. If you get bored of traditional sightseeing, the glorious architecture creates a great backdrop for just sipping a coffee or glass of beer in the outdoor cafes that line practically every street from April-Oct. And at night there are hundreds of bars to suit all tastes, many of them housed in atmospheric cellars. Browse, read and check things out!
Kościół Św. Piotra i Pawła
landmarks
churches
Contact details
Stare Miasto ul. Grodzka 54
+48124226573
www.apostolowie.pl
Description
The Church of St. Peter and Paul
This was the first Baroque church built in Krakow. Its construction lasted more than thirty years and was started in the 1590s. The statues of the 12 apostles were added at the beginning of the 18th cen. and today are actually replicas because the originals were badly damaged by pollution and acid rain during the communist era. This was the church of the Jesuit order, and the building to the left of the church that is now part of the Jagiellonian University was originally a Jesuit academy. The Jesuits at first hoped to build their church on the Main Square of Krakow, near ul Wilśna, but instead were given land on ul. Grodzka. The interior is more severe than might be expected after the grand facade, but this was a very early Baroque church. The interior has some impressive stucco work by the Italian artist Giovanni Falconi, include the scenes of the martyrdom of saints Peter and Paul in the apse. During the 19th cen. the Austrians considered closing the Wawel Cathedral and removing all of the royal tombs to this church as a way of suppressing Polish patriotic sentiments associated with the cathedral.
Dennis McEvoy
