Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, at Antakalnio g. 1 in the Antakalnis district of Vilnius, Lithuania, is among the finest examples of Lithuanian Baroque architecture and is famous for its interior. Built between 1668 and 1676 on the initiative of Grand Hetman Michal Kazimierz Pac, it replaced an earlier wooden church and was dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul. The exterior is relatively restrained, with a pair of towers and a simple facade, but the interior is covered with more than 2,000 white stucco figures and ornaments created by Italian artists Giovanni Pietro Perti and Giovanni Maria Galli over about a decade. The figures include saints, angels, mythological creatures, exotic animals, historical characters and scenes from everyday life, and visitors often take a long time identifying details. The central nave is flooded with light from the windows, and the white stucco appears to glow in sunlight. A ship-shaped chandelier hangs in the middle, and the grave of the founder lies at the entrance, marked by a simple slab with the Latin inscription 'Here lies a sinner'. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how closely visitors examine the stucco. The best viewing is just inside the entrance and from the central aisle, looking up at the vault. Morning light reaches the stucco best, and photographs are easiest when the church is quiet. The church remains active, so visitors should dress modestly and avoid entering during services. Crowds are lighter than in the Old Town, with the busiest moments around tour group visits at midday. Donations are welcomed, and a small shop sells postcards and books. The nearby Antakalnis cemetery and Vilnia riverside provide pleasant walking.