Krakow Churches
The churches of Krakow are really some of the most beautiful that I’ve ever seen, and many visitors consider them to be the highlight of their trip. These churches, including the Mariacki and Wawel cathedrals, are interesting not only for their architectural and historical value, but also because they still function primarily as places of worship.
As the country integrates more and more with western Europe, it is true that people are becoming more secularized, or are exploring religions other than Roman Catholicism. Nevertheless, it is still not unusual at all to see churches so crowded on Sundays that congregations spill out onto the church grounds. To accommodate the overflow, most have public address systems set up so that those outside can still hear, and participate in, “msza,” or mass. Despite what some Poles say, the Church is still very strong in this country.
Fortunately, touring the churches in Krakow is very easy, due in large part to their proximity to each other. Visiting ALL of the churches in town (not to mention the seminaries and convents), however, would not be possible even if you were able to devote an entire week to it. Bearing in mind the limited amount of time that we will have in Krakow, here are a few on my must-see list, all of which are within, or very close to, the Old Town:
The Mariacki interior
The statues in front of Ss. Peter and Paul Church
St. Stanislaus' coffin in the Wawel Cathedral
The interior of Corpus Christi
St. Anne’s Church interior
St. Francis Church, featuring stained glass and other works by the famous artist Stanislaw Wyspianski
Part of the interior in Trinity (Dominican) Church
Bob, if the rumor is true that holy water burns your skin, you may want to have a beer on the square when we do the church tours.
Tags:
Topic: Krakow Churches
No comments found.