In the history of poland, wawel hill, that in our Krakow visit located to the south of the medieval city, it has been a center of maximum importance of political and religious power by concentrating in the same area the Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral.
La Krakow Wawel Cathedral It is the spiritual center of Poland, and has been the burial place of almost all kings of Poland and national heroes.
When you go up to the Wawel Hill from the medieval city of Krakow, and you arrive at the large esplanade on the hill, the cathedral building is in the background, on the left, next to the building of the Royal Castle.
Actually, the Wawel Cathedral Its name is Cathedral Basilica of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Wenceslas.
From your first impression you will see that it is a very non-homogeneous building, with a great mix of architectural styles, which is explained by the different events throughout its history.
Although the base of the building that you can now see was built in the 1142th century, in the XNUMXth century the first church in Romanesque style was built, which was consecrated in the year XNUMX.
But after a fire in the year 1305, and due to the desire to have a larger building to house the Krakow Cathedral, in 1320 the construction of a new Gothic-style building began, which was completed in 1364.
During the following centuries, numerous extensions and modifications were made, both externally and internally, incorporating the Renaissance and Baroque styles to the same.
The final result is what we can see now, a building with a huge mix of styles.
TOURS and EXCURSIONS in KRAKOW and SURROUNDINGS
- Private guided tour of Krakow
- Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mines
- Excursion to Zakokane and Tatra Mountains
- Transfers in Krakow
Inside the Krakow Wawel Cathedral you find up to 18 chapels, the most interesting visit of the entire cathedral being the Sigismund Chapel.
Built in the 16th century by an Italian architect, and externally identifiable by a striking golden dome, it is considered the maximum expression of the Renaissance style north of the Alps.
Wawel Cathedral schedule in Krakow
El visiting hours of the Wawel Cathedral It is from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m., except on Sundays, when it is open from 12,30:17 p.m. to XNUMX p.m.
La Admission is free, although if you want to climb the tower where the Sigismund Bell, as well as visiting the Cathedral Museum and Royal Tombs, you must pay 10 zl (2,30 euros).
You can hire the audioguide for 12 zl (2,80 euros).
With it, the duration of the visit to the cathedral and the climb to the tower is 30 minutes, the Royal Tombs, 10 minutes, and the Cathedral Museum, 20 minutes.
Krakow is beautiful 🙂