{"id":10506,"date":"2017-12-24T09:04:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-24T07:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=10506"},"modified":"2021-02-11T19:02:15","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T17:02:15","slug":"st-marys-basilica-krakow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/poland\/krakow\/st-marys-basilica-krakow\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Mary\u2019s Basilica Krakow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is that thing about visiting churches. We saw many over the years and if you\u2019re not an expert in the history of art one could say many churches look similar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

But the St. Mary\u2019s Basilica in Krakow fascinated us. After quite a while, this church was something special we hadn\u2019t seen before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St. Mary\u2019s Basilica is one of Krakow\u2019s landmarks. It can be found in the Old Town on the edge of the main market square.
Particularly noteworthy are the two towers. The Northern tower is 81 meters high and has a pointed roof and a clock. The Southern tower is only 69 meters high and home of the medieval glockenspiel. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

As about so many other things in Krakow, there is a legend about this church, too. It is about the two brothers who are said to have built the towers. Each one of them wanted to build a tower that was higher than the other one. The older brother had finished his tower, but the younger brother still in the process of constructing his. Out of the fear that the younger brother would use this situation to make his tower higher than the other one, the older brother stabbed his younger sibling. The knife can be seen in the Cloth Hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 54 meters high in the Northern tower there is the Camber of the Tower\u2019s Watchmen. Since the 14th century, it had been the Watchmen\u2019s task to ring the bell at every hour and to blast the Krakow trumpet signal out in all four cardinal directions. Even today, a trumpeter gives the signal from the tower. However, he stops abruptly in the middle of the signal. The reason for this can also be found in a legend. It says that in 1241 a trumpeter was killed by an arrow as he sounded the signal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tower is open to the public. Every hour a fixed number of visitors is allowed to visit the tower. When we came to see the tower, the time slots were pretty much fully booked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Krakow is especially proud of the high altar by Veit Sto\u00df. It can be admired in the St. Mary\u2019s Basilica Krakow. We decided to venture inside the church to get a look at the altar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nave of the St. Mary\u2019s Basilica Krakow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whoever wants to come to the church to pray can obviously do that free of charge. There is a special entrance reserved for those who come to worship, but from there you don\u2019t get a good look at the altar. Those who come to see this piece of artwork are better off buying a ticket at an office near the side entrance. Please note that an additional permit is needed for taking pictures inside the church. Security staff in the church has an eye on everyone with a camera and who gets caught without a license is charged for the picture then and there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n