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Great
Altar
Krakow is blessed with masterpieces of
the greatest sculptor of the Gothic art, Veit
Stoss (or Wit Stwosz, circa 1440-1533). He lived
and worked here for 19 years, and he sacrificed
twelve of them (1477-1489) to carve in wood his
best work: 3-story-high altarpiece in the basilica of the Virgin Mary's at Krakow’s
central Grand Square. The 42-foot-high and
36-foot-wide Veit Stoss' magnum opus is the
largest Gothic sculpture in the world. It
consists of 200 fine limewood sculptures treated
with color and gold foil. The central part, with
huge lifelike statues of the saints, depicts
dramatically the Virgin Mary's Quietus among the
Apostles. Looking upwards one sees the Ascension
of Our Lady and Lord. And at the top there is the
Madonna’s Heavenly Coronation by the Trinity.
The wings are covered with relief scenes from the
life of the Holy Family. At the base of the
altarpiece one finds the family tree of the
Virgin Mary's.
Tip:
visit the basilica on a workday just
before noon to see the opening of the Great
Altar.
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Basilica
of the Virgin Mary's
The immense Gothic church, Krakow's
principal temple since the 13th century, shelters
many world-class works of art.
The Crown
Royal giant headdress tops the city of
Krakow since 1666
Signal Trump
Hourly musical show in the sky dates
from the Middle Ages
Krakow churches
Krakow numerous churches are
architectural gems, art hoards, and spiritual
hubs
Other
Krakow Curios:
Prettiest
Leonardo da Vinci
Window
of awe
Subterranean
wonder world
Renaissance
pearl
Giant
bell
Miraculous
images
8-foot
golden crown
Signal
trump
Nativity
beauties
Krakow
mummies
Ice-age
rhino
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