St. Mary's Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka)

St. Mary's Basilica, entered from ul. Podkramarska in Gdansk's Main Town, is one of the largest brick churches in the world and the principal church of the city in Poland's Pomeranian region. Its vast Gothic body dominates the surrounding streets, and the plain, massive exterior of red brick gives little hint of the scale of the interior. Inside, the wide hall-type nave and high vaults create a sense of space that can hold a very large congregation, and the whitewashed walls contrast with the dark furnishings, chapels, tombs and altars accumulated over several centuries. Visitors typically spend time walking the aisles, looking at the large altarpiece and the astronomical clock, and reading the memorials that record the history of the city. The main draw for many is the tower, reached by a climb of roughly 400 steps. The staircase is narrow and there are few places to pass, so the ascent is best taken without hurry. At the top, the viewing gallery gives a panorama across the red roofs of the Main Town, the Motlawa river and the harbour district, and it is the best vantage point in the city for photographs of the rooftops and the Town Hall spire. The tower closes in storms and high winds, so the ascent is not always available. A visit to the church alone takes about 45 minutes, and with the tower climb about 1.5 hours. Services take place regularly, and during them sightseeing may be restricted, so visitors should dress modestly and keep quiet. Crowds are heaviest around midday in summer, when tour groups arrive from nearby Dluga Street; weekday mornings are calmer. The basilica is a short walk from the Main Town Hall, Mariacka Street and the Motlawa waterfront. Ticket prices and opening hours for the church and tower vary by season, so they should be confirmed on bazylikamariacka.gdansk.pl or by telephone on +48 58 301 39 82.