St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica stands at Plac Mariacki 5 on the eastern edge of Main Market Square in Krakow's Old Town, in Poland's Lesser Poland region. The Gothic brick church is recognisable from its two mismatched towers, the taller of which carries a spire and the shorter a Renaissance cupola. Inside, the vault is painted deep blue and scattered with gold stars, with polychrome decoration covering the walls and chapels. The centrepiece is the main altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) in the late 1400s, the largest Gothic altarpiece in Europe. Its painted wings are opened at set times each day, around 11:50 from Monday to Saturday and around 14:10 on Sundays, revealing gilded carved scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Visitors enter by the side tourist entrance rather than the main doors, and tickets are bought at the ticket point on the Florianska Street side. A separate seasonal ticket covers the tower climb. The church remains a working parish, so silence and modest dress are expected, and sightseeing is limited during services. A visit typically takes thirty to sixty minutes. The best viewing position for the altarpiece is near the front of the nave a few minutes before the opening time, as the crowd builds quickly and gathers behind the rope. The square outside offers the classic photograph of the twin towers, and the hourly trumpet call, the Hejnal, is played from the taller tower. Crowds are heaviest around the altarpiece opening and at midday in summer, while the hours after the altarpiece is shown and the late afternoon are calmer. Hours are shorter on Sundays and holidays, so confirm them on the basilica's official site before visiting.