KRAKOW - ST.MARY'S BASILICA - KOŚCIÓŁ MARIACKI

The most famous and most visited monument of Krakow/Cracow.Located in North - East corner of Krakow's medieval square, is a symbol of city's history, and one of the most precious monuments in old town centre. 

The church has been built in 13-th century in gothic era after the first  romanesque church had been destroyed by Turkish invaders.The three naves have been rised , the main, middle one which was the tallest and  one smaller nave to each side of it, with half circular chapels, main oltar at the end, and two different height towers to the front of the building.

We can see lots of little long windows with pointed/lancet arches, so popular  in central europe at those times.

The main body of the building has been  made of red, local manufactured brick, with many stone surrounds, stone or brick window heads and sills, the two towers have been covered with the spires, each in different style. 

The taller tower has been designed on a square plan, then, in  the end it turns into octagonal, on the other side, shorter tower is square in plan , with the size  getting gradually smaller aproaching the top.
After few centuries the octagonal in plan lobby has been added in a baroque style with neo- gothic stone pinacles.

To the side of basilica you can see the massive, vertical windows with stone surrounds and  subdivided to few stone moulions ended with  another internal lancet arches ,oculuses and cusps, and all windows have been decorated with the stained glass.

At the external side of the brick walls we can see the brick buttress piers between the windows, with set offs, without flying butress in this case but with pinacles with crockets and finials.

If you want to find out more about gothic architecture commonelements, please see a fantastic blog:
http://gothiceraarchitecture.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-techniques-lasting-looks.html