Commonly referred to as Skałka, this gorgeous riverside sanctuary is one of the most important religious sites in Kraków, with a fair share of history. In 1079, King Bolesław the Bold accused the bishop of Kraków, Stanisław Szczepański, of treason. According to legend, the bishop was beheaded with the sword seen next to the altar and then his body was chopped into pieces on a tree stump. After the murder, the royal family fell under a curse. To appease the spirit of the wronged bishop, the family built the Pauline Church and made regular pilgrimages there to atone for the murder. Szczepański was canonised in 1253. The Skałka crypt is packed tight with important Poles including composer Karol Szymanowski, writer Czesław Miłosz and painters Stanisław Wyspiański and Jacek Malczewski.
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