While strolling down the King’s Road it is worthwhile to visit this Dominican church. It’s a monumental, gothic, conventual church with the Dominican Order facilities surrounding it. It’s also a place rich in cultural treasures.
The church was built in the early Middle-ages (beginning of the 13th century). Originally it served as the main parish church of Kraków. Unfortunately in 1850 the interior of the temple was consumed by fire – a fate similar to that of the neighboring Franciscan church. That’s why the design and accessories seen today are Neo-Gothic. Unlike the Franciscan basilica the Dominican church is bright but not very colorful, the interior makes an impression of majesty and elegance.
The church is surrounded by a ring of chapels, one of them only accessible by stairs. It’s St. Jacek’s Chapel where the saint himself is laid to rest. His tomb situated in the middle and decorative stuccos around it were made by Baltazar Fontana during the Baroque. St. Jacek Odrowąż was the first Polish Dominican – he died in Kraków in the middle of the 13th century. Other interesting chapels are Our Lady of the Rosary chapel, famous for a miraculous painting of Madonna, and Myszkowscy chapel – a true marvel of the Renaissance art. There’s also one work of Wit Stwosz himself here – on the left side of the presbytery tombstone of Filip Buonaccorsi also known as ‘Kallimach’ can be found. He was a humanist of Italian descent and a tutor of king Kazimierz Jagiellończyk’s sons. This beautiful stele depicts Kallimach in his workshop filled with items from his time.
Another place worth seeing is the cloister. Interesting paintings portraying the history of the Dominican Order can be seen here, along with numerous tombstones and epitaphs, some of which present high artistic value (e.g. the ones that come from Santi Gucci’s workshop).