Kościół pw. Przemienienia Pańskiego (ul. Pijarska)
Churches of Kraków
Church (Roman Catholic), Stare Miasto district. Architect: Kacper Bażanka. A listed monument (heritage register). Run by: Zakon Kleryków Regularnych Ubogich Matki Bożej Szkół Pobożnych (Pijarzy).
History
The Piarists came to Poland from Moravia in 1642, and some of them received a foundation from Stanisław Lubomirski, the voivode of Kraków. Their conventual church on Pijarska Street, together with the adjoining monastery, is today one of the historic church complexes of the Old Town.
The late Baroque, or more precisely Rococo, Church of the Transfiguration was designed by Kacper Bażanka and built in 1718-1728. The façade, the work of Franciszek Placidi, was added in 1759-1761. The church is rectangular in plan, with a single nave and side chapels opening onto it, and its layout echoes churches of the Il Gesù type. A prominent cornice running around the interior links the nave with the chancel.
The interior is decorated with illusionistic paintings in the tradition of Andrea del Pozzo. They were made in 1733 by two artists from Moravia, Franciszek Eckstein and Józef Piltz. Under Eckstein's direction the uniform furnishings were also created, including the illusionistic high altar and the frescoes on the nave vault depicting the apotheosis of St Peter's keys. Right behind the church stands the Carpenters' Tower, one of the three fully preserved towers of Kraków's city walls.
Did you know?
The heart of Father Stanisław Konarski is set into the wall to the right of the altar, and his bust stands in front of the church entrance.