St. Mary's Basilica, Gothic Catholic basilica at Market Square in Krakow, Poland.
St. Mary's Basilica is a Gothic church at Market Square in Krakow, Poland, with red brick walls and two towers of different heights reaching 81 meters and 69 meters. The interior reveals a three-nave vaulted space with slender columns and stained glass windows that filter light in shades of blue, red and gold.
Construction began in 1223 over the remains of an earlier Romanesque church and was rebuilt after Tatar raids during the reign of Casimir III in the fourteenth century. The two towers received their different heights during separate construction phases and designs by different architects in the fifteenth century.
A trumpeter plays an interrupted melody every hour from the highest tower, continuing a medieval tradition linked to a Mongol invasion. The melody ends abruptly, recalling the watchman who was struck by an arrow during the attack.
Entry for prayer remains free, while tourist visits cost 15 zloty, with different opening hours on weekdays and Sundays. Visitors should wear modest clothing during tourist exploration and keep a respectful distance during religious services.
The Veit Stoss altarpiece, measuring 13 meters (43 feet) high and 11 meters (36 feet) wide, displays wooden carvings of biblical scenes with over 200 movable figures. The work opens daily at noon to reveal its painted inner panels, which are reserved for special occasions.
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