St. Peter and Paul’s Church Kraków

In a city so riddled with churches as Kraków, any tour of the old town can often be an overwhelming series of medieval Christian buildings that seem to meld into each other. Not so with Grodzka 54, where the fancy baroque structure of St. Peter and Paul’s Church sits back from the street, behind a terrific set of railings and late baroque statue pieces that ooze a mystery and arcane charm like no other frontispiece in the city.

Church of St Peter & Paul, Kraków

While not as old as its near neighbours, like the medieval Basilica of St. Mary in the Old Town Square, and the Wawel Cathedral on the castle hill to the south, the Church of St. Peter and Paul, still commands a rich historical place in the story of Kraków. In the late 16th Century a lot of European money was being directed at church building in the continent’s major cities as a way of fighting the influence of the reformation there. Kraków was no different, and one of the products of Catholic patronage from this period is this, the magnificent, early baroque Church of St. Peter and Paul, in the southern part of the Old Town.

From outside, the visitor is immediately drawn to the striking metalwork and sculpted statues of the twelve apostles, but these are actually 18th century additions by the Polish artist Kacper Bażanka – who designed the plinths and railings – and the German Dawid Heel – who completed the marble figures in 1722.

The frontispiece of the building itself is actually quite unique in Kraków, and is a prime example of increasing Italian architectural influence across the continent. The influx of the baroque style to Kraków can be seen as a precursor to the Renaissance art that was to flood the city’s major sites throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and the Church of Peter and Paul is the earliest example of this. Most notable perhaps, is the absence of a tower on the frontal façade, a stark change from the gothic architecture that makes up Kraków’s other famous churches. What’s more, the church on Grodzka is finished with Italian marble, and not the red-brick materials that were favoured by Polish medieval architects before.

Inside, the Italian artistic theme largely dominates, with stucco decorations made by Giovanni Battista Falconi, depicting scenes in the lives of the church’s eponymous apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul. There’s also a magnificent baroque altar piece and, one of the church’s main attractions for fans of Polish history, the crypt of Father Piotr Skarga; who was a monumental figure in Polish academic and religious history, and priest to the King Sigismund III.

Today, owing to its fantastic acoustics, the church is used as a concert hall for classical and baroque ensembles, while visitors can enter during the day to see the interior and subterranean crypts. This fine example of baroque Polish Church architecture, amidst a sea of the gothic and medieval, is a great way to add a different flavour to any sightseeing journey through Kraków’s old town.

Where Is This Place Located?

Find this location on the Visit Kraków Google map:

• Open the Visit Kraków map
• Click on a marker and it will give you the name of the landmark, with a brief description and links for more information and directions. You can pan, scroll, and zoom around the map, or use the + or – buttons in the bottom left of the map to zoom in and out
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side, sorted by category. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Each category is on a different layer, which can be switched on and off. So you can just see the Hotel or Restaurant pins, for example
• If you are using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location

Map pins are color coded:

• YELLOW: Kraków Sightseeing
• GREEN: Kraków Transportation
• DARK RED: Restaurants in Kraków
• ORANGE: Michelin Restaurants in Kraków
• LIGHT RED: Kraków Bars / Clubs / Music Venues
• BLUE: Kraków Hotels
• PURPLE: Shopping In Kraków

For more suggestions, see our Kraków Sightseeing page, and check out our Two-Day Kraków, Three-Day Kraków and our Four-Day Kraków Itinerary pages, along with recommendations for Things To Do In Kraków. Consider investing in a KrakowCard to give you cheap access to lots of Kraków attractions.