Corpus Christi Basilica

Corpus Christi Basilica
Bazylika Bożego Ciała (in Polish)
Basic information
Location Kraków, Poland
Affiliation Roman Catholic
District Kazimierz
Architectural description
Architectural style Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque
Completed mid-15th century
Materials Brick, Stone

The Corpus Christi Basilica (Polish: Bazylika Bożego Ciała), located in the Kazimierz district of Kraków, Poland is a Gothic church founded by King Casimir III the Great in 1335.

History

The basilica was erected in stages beginning in 1340 until about the mid-15th century. It was intended as a monastery church, which explains the large plot of land on which it stands, and the presence of a monastic cemetery next to it. In 1404 King Władysław II Jagiełło gave it to the Canons Regular of the Lateran, a congregation which he had brought in from Kłodzko.[1]

Interior

The interior of the church is a mixture of Polish Gothic and impressive Polish Baroque architecture with structural features such as a large gilded Baroque high altar, a boat-shaped pulpit (1750), and the organ. The church was robbed clean and the interior utterly devastated by soldiers of the 1655 Swedish invasion (the Deluge),[2] which explains the prevalence of Baroque in its current decoration. The church is said to contain one of the most beautiful Baroque choir stalls in Central Europe.[3] Bartolommeo Berrecci, the Renaissance artist who designed Sigismund's Chapel at Wawel, is buried there.

Interior of the basilica

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kraków Travel: Kościół Bożego Ciała Archived 2011-11-13 at the Wayback Machine. with map, and photographs. Krakowskie Biuro Festiwalowe. Retrieved October 26, 2011. (in Polish)
  2. ↑ The Basilica of Corpus Christi (Kosciol Bozego Ciala) with photographs, including opening hours, at virtualtourist.com
  3. ↑ Corpus Christi Church (Kościół Bożego Ciała) including location map by Inyourpocket.com

Coordinates: 50°02′58″N 19°56′40″E / 50.04944°N 19.94444°E / 50.04944; 19.94444 (Corpus Christi)

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.