Faith Standing Tall Through the Rise and Fall of Nations - St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica is one of the most important churches in Kraków, second only to the Wawel Cathedral within the royal castle. Built on the foundations of a late 13th-century Romanesque church, it was completed around 1320 as a Gothic cathedral. Over the years, both the interior and exterior have undergone numerous renovations and modifications to become the structure we see today, including its most iconic feature: the unequal twin towers. 📜Legend of the Towers: The north tower stands at 82 meters, significantly taller than the 69-meter south tower. The purpose was to allow the north tower, serving as the city's watchtower, to observe enemy attacks without obstruction. However, there is an interesting legend associated with this. It is said that during the construction of the twin towers, the best craftsmen brothers in Poland were hired, with the younger brother responsible for the north tower and the elder for the south tower. Initially, their progress was similar, but as time passed, the younger brother noticed that the south tower was higher and would be completed faster. Driven by jealousy, he killed his brother with a knife and hastily topped the south tower with a dome, making the north tower ultimately taller. Although the younger brother won in appearance, he was overwhelmed by guilt and confessed his crime on the north tower before jumping to his death. 📜Legend of the Bugle Call: As the highest point in the city, the north tower's bugle call was used daily to signal the opening and closing of the city gates and to alert of enemy invasions. Today, even without such needs, a bugler still plays the bugle at every hour. Interestingly, the bugle call abruptly stops, said to commemorate the bugler who was shot in the throat by a Tatar arrow during an invasion, causing the call to suddenly cease. St. Mary's Basilica is a must-visit in Kraków, with its towering spires and resonant bugle calls drawing attention within the ancient city. The crown atop the north tower symbolizes the Polish royal capital, evoking a sense of sorrow for the nation's tumultuous history. Poland has been partitioned multiple times, experiencing three periods of dissolution and three periods of revival. Many cultural artifacts bearing the collective memory of the nation have been lost, and even the national treasure, St. Mary's Altar, was only recovered after World War II, adding to the sense of melancholy. Among the many churches I have visited, St. Mary's Basilica stands out as particularly impressive. Although not as grand as some of the world's renowned cathedrals, its unique and splendid interior is breathtaking. The dazzling starry ceiling highlights the suspended figure of Jesus in the center of the church, a design I have never seen before. Additionally, the medieval stained glass windows of the main altar, the world's largest Gothic altarpiece, and the unique wall colors create an unforgettable scene. 🚗 Transportation: St. Mary's Basilica is located in the heart of Kraków's Old Town. The Old Town is primarily pedestrianized, and it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from Kraków's main train station to the basilica.