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Kanonicza street
in Krakow with the Wawel Royal Castle in the background.
In the foreground - two adjacent houses where John Paul II
lived 1951-1963.
Krakow's
Arguably Most Scenic Street - Ulica Kanonicza
The
picturesque Kanonicza Street ends just at the
foot of the hilltop Wawel Royal Castle and used to
constitute the last and most glorious part of the
Royal Road, Krakow’s ceremonial route leading
from the main city gate to the central square to the Royal
Castle.
History
of Kanonicza Street.
Until the
14th century the street was
lined with mansions of noblemen. Then, palatial
residences of Krakow canons and prelates took
their place. Several buildings still belong to
the Church.
Strolling
up the Kanonicza Street.
Kanonicza Street mostly preserved
its exquisite Renaissance air and shape, which
appeal so strongly to Krakow visitors. Lined with
stately, usually Renaissance houses, it is
arguably one of Europe’s finest streets.
Halfway a charming plaza unveils the white facade
of the imposing Baroque Jesuit church of St. Peter and St. Paul’s of 1619 next to the
grand Romanesque church of St.
Andrew’s of circa 1090 at the parallel
Grodzka street.
Where
John Paul II once lived as a priest and bishop
From 1951 to 1963 Father Karol
Wojtyla, future Pope John Paul II, dwelled at 19 and
21 Kanonicza Street, where his former rooms have
been turned into a papal department of Krakow's Archdiocese Museum, otherwise
exhibiting mostly church art.
Wawel Royal Castle
Home to three dynasties of Poland's
monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite
chambers are filled with priceless art, best
period furniture and rare ancient objects. The
collection of the 16th-century monumental Flemish
tapestries is
matchless.
Wawel Cathedral
Poland's impressive national shrine
shelters plenty of superb church art. Its giant bell of 1520
ranks with the world's largest. Most Polish kings
and their family members are buried in the
cathedral, its chapels and crypts.
Grand Square
Krakow’s central Grand Square (Rynek
Glowny), the largest plaza of medieval Europe and
one of the world’s finest with its spectacular
landmarks, has remained the hub of the city since
the 13th century.
Basilica of the
Virgin Mary's
The immense Gothic church, Krakow's
principal temple since the 13th century, shelters
the world's greatest
Gothic sculpture among its many excellent
works of art
Cloth Hall
The world's oldest shopping mall has
been in business for 700 years. The present
Renaissance edifice dates from 1555.
Town Hall Tower
Krakow's leaning tower was built by the
end of the 13th century.
City Walls
700-year-old main city gate with
adjoining mighty walls and towers.
Great Barbican
Awesome 500-year-old unmatched
masterpiece of medieval military engineering
Planty Garden Ring
Park of 30 varied gardens among old
trees round Krakow's Old Town historical district
Collegium Maius
15th-century impressive Grand College of
the Krakow university where Copernicus once
studied.
Krakow mummies
Picturesque 17th-century church and
monastery shelter numerous naturally mummified
bodies in their crypts.
Old
Synagogue of Kazimierz
The grandest of Krakow's seven historic synagogues.
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