Churches of Kraków

The metropolitan city of Kraków, former capital of Poland, is known as the city of churches. The abundance of landmark, historic Roman Catholic churches along with the plenitude of monasteries and convents earned the city a countrywide reputation as the "Northern Rome" in the past. The churches of Kraków comprise over 120 Roman Catholic places of worship, of which over 60 were built in the 20th century. They remain the centers of religious life for the local population and are attended regularly, while some are often crowded on Sundays.

The number of churches in Kraków still increases. Understandably, the out–of–town visitors mostly explore the renowned historic edifices; these are only a fraction of the vast array. Many of the old churches are prizeworthy as architectural monuments of Poland's history and culture. They often house religious icons and artifacts revered for their artistic and spiritual value.

Among the many historic churches in Kraków, the most famous include the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (Kościół św. Piotra i Pawła) on Grodzka Street, the neighbouring St. Andrew's Church (Kościół św. Andrzeja), The Pauline Church at Skałka (Kościół Paulinow na Skałce), St. Catherine's Church (Kościół św. Katarzyny), the Dominican Church and Monastery (Zespoły klasztorne Dominikanów) and the nearby Monastery-Church of the Franciscan Order (Franciszkani).

Most Roman Catholic churches of special significance for the Poles are located in the Kraków Old Town (Stare Miasto) especially along the Royal coronation route traversed by early Polish monarchs. The Wawel Cathedral on the Wawel Hill dating back to the 14th century includes a Sigismund Chapel – a masterpiece of Polish Renaissance architecture – as well as the Zygmunt bell of 1520, one of the most magnificent bells ever made. The St. Mary's Basilica built in the 14th century at the Main Square is famous for its largest Gothic altarpiece in the world. Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi built in 1237–69 is located on Franciszkanska 2 street opposite the Archbishop Palace. It features stain-glass windows by the Young Poland's nominal artist Stanisław Wyspiański. Church of St. Wojciech at the Main Square (Old Town), with a Baroque dome, is one of the oldest stone churches in Poland, with an almost one-thousand-year-old history. Along the Royal Road, there's also the Romanesque St. Andrew's Church at Grodzka street, built in the 11th century, featuring the 17th-century Baroque interior. Right next to it, there's the striking Baroque Church of St. St. Peter and Paul with oversized stone statues of 12 Apostles in the front – the most revered Baroque church of the 17th century behind Rome’s del Gesu. St. Florian's Church on Warszawska street is where the Royal Road begins. It is a Collegiate church and a mausoleum for the relics of St. Florian, the Patron saint of Poland.

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Wikipedia