Page 96 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

94  KR AK OW AREA B Y AREA

1 Church of St Mary

Kościół Mariacki
St Mary’s, or the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, was the
main parish church of Krakow’s burghers. It is a Gothic basilica
composed of nave, aisles and side chapels. There are two towers.
The north tower was extended in the early 15th century and in 1478
topped with a spire by Matthias Heringk. It was the city’s watch-
tower. Inside the church there are many outstanding works of art,
among which the magnificent high altar by Veit Stoss (see pp96–7)
should be mentioned. Other furnishings include the Baroque pulpit,
marble altars decorated with paintings by the Italian artist Giovanni
Battista Pittoni and Renaissance tombs in the chapels.

Bugle-Call Tower
The spire is decorated with turrets and
topped by a gilt crown. The famous
bugle-call (hejnał) is played here at
hourly intervals and broadcast at
noon by the Polish radio.

The Porch (1750–52)
The late-Baroque porch was
designed by Francesco Placidi.
Carved busts of the Apostles and
saints by Karol Hukan were added Main
to the door panels in 1929. entrance

1221–2 Building of the 1477–89 High altar 1585 Choir stalls
Romanesque church completed completed
1392–7 Nave and
aisles built
1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
1355–65 New
End of the 13th century choir built
Construction of the 1478 North tower Detail of the
Gothic church begins receives a spire main door