St. Peter and St. Paul鈥檚 Church, Krakow

Adjacent to the modest Saint Andrew's Church stands the Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Church in Krakow, a striking contrast to its neighboring structure. Distinguished by its impeccable facade and renowned collection of life-sized sculptures depicting the 12 disciples, the church's sculptures are prominently displayed along its fence.

This architectural gem was commissioned by King Sigismund III Vasa to house the Jesuit Order, whose presence in Poland aimed to counter the influence of the Reformation and its ideologies. Spanning the 16th and 17th centuries, the church's construction was guided by an ambitious vision. As a result, it became Poland's inaugural example of Baroque architecture. Notably, historical speculation suggests that the lavish expenditure on the ornate facade led to the utilization of plain brick for the entire building's structure. The endeavor was spearheaded by Italian architect Giovanni de Rossi, later continued by J贸zef Britius, with the lion's share of credit for the church's completion attributed to Giovanni Maria Bernardoni.

Evident influences from Rome's Church of Ges霉 are observable in the church's architectural style. While the interior may not match the exterior's grandeur, it nevertheless bears its own remarkable qualities. Noteworthy among its features is Poland's lengthiest Foucault pendulum, designed to visually demonstrate the Earth's rotation. This intriguing device is exhibited every Thursday, adding to the church's array of attractions.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Krakow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: St. Peter and St. Paul鈥檚 Church
Sight Location: Krakow, Poland (See walking tours in Krakow)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Krakow, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Creating your own self-guided walk in Krakow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

A unique entry on the list of the World Heritage Sights, Krakow is a recognized center of the academic, artistic and cultural life of Poland. Established in the 7th century as a tiny hamlet at the top of the Wawel Hill, overlooking the Vistula River, it is one of the country's oldest cities. Over the course of the next fifteen centuries it has evolved into the nation's second-largest... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Krakow, the center of religious life in Poland, was once considered 鈥渢he Northern Rome鈥� for its multitude of churches. Alongside the new temples continuing to appear in the city today, these remarkable sanctuaries, holding deep historical and cultural significance, still remain the most attractive and interesting to look at.

By far the most iconic of these is the Basilica of Saint Mary. A... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

Historical House Museums Tour

Well-preserved historical buildings can often tell the stories of their city more vividly than any history book. Krakow, the old capital and cultural center of Poland, for many years, has been the home of many important Poles. Today, their former residences have been converted into house museums where visitors can learn about their inhabitants and see what life was like in the past.

One such... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Jewish Heritage Tour in Krakow

The Jewish community has been an integral part of Krakow since the late 13th century. On the eve of World War II, there were 60,000 Jews living in the city, mostly in the historic Kazimierz neighborhood, which accounted for a quarter of the local population. The old town square in Kazimierz was the center of Jewish life.

During the war, the Nazis separated ethnic Jews from the rest of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

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