Saints Peter and Paul, Cracow

 

The Jesuits came to Cracow in 1582 and at first used existing Gothic churches.  Finding these inadequate they managed to get The King to support the foundation of a College and Church in 1595. Several Jesuit architects were involved in the initial building leading to demolition and rebuilding. Eventually the Royal architect Giovanni Trevano (from Lombardy} took over and redesigned the facade, and finalised the dimensions of the church and the dome.Consecation occurred in 1608, completionof ther dome in 1609 but the final completion was not until 1619. 

The facade follows the Vignola rather then the della Porta Rome Jesu design with two storeys.The lower is subdivided by shallow pilasters but the pillars framing the door dominate. 

It is a traditional Jesuit church based on the Jesu and S.Andrea della Valle in Rome :  a wide nave, with rows of dark chapels with strong walls and connected only by small openings; then small transepts with dome centrally above and a rounded apse. Lunette windows in the vault above the nave chapels light the nave and large windows in the drum and lantern at the top of the dome flood the crossing with light. The interior gives most prominence to the officiating priest in his robes at the high altar and the walls of the nave and the projecting pillars of the dome can be viewed as theatre wings leading us to the stage with its altar.

The apse and side chapels have the best  stucco work in Cracow . It is by Giovanni  Batttista Falconi who came from Milan was to spend much of his life working here (1619-33) There is a late Baroque high altar (1735)by Kacper Bazanka.

This church encouraged many other Baroque churches to be built in Cracow but some believe none were of comparable richness of design.