The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Kraków, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, known to locals as the Church on the Rock or Skałka, stands on Skałeczna Street in the Kazimierz district of Kraków. It is tied to the death of St. Stanisław, the bishop of Kraków who became a patron saint of Poland, and it has long been one of the city's most important Catholic shrines.

The story behind it

According to tradition, Bishop Stanisław quarrelled with King Bolesław II the Bold in the 11th century and was put to death on the rock where the church now stands. Local legend adds that his body was cut into pieces and thrown into a pond nearby. It says the remains were protected and miraculously rejoined, and that the water of the spring and pond gained a reputation for healing, especially for eye and skin complaints.

A church has stood on this spot for centuries, and the Pauline Fathers have looked after it since the 15th century. The building you see today is mostly Baroque, from the 18th century. Beneath it lies the Crypt of the Meritorious, where several notable Poles are buried, among them the painter and playwright Stanisław Wyspiański and the Nobel-winning poet Czesław Miłosz.

What to look for

• The pale Baroque facade and twin towers, which rise above the street and give the church its rock-top look.
• The pond and spring beside the church, where the legend of the bishop's remains is still told.
• The statue of St. Stanisław in the grounds, a reminder of why this site is a place of pilgrimage.
• The names on the tombs in the crypt, a quiet roll call of Polish writers, artists and scholars, if the crypt is open to visitors.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the church and its grounds, longer if you want to see the crypt.
• It is a working place of worship, so dress modestly and keep your voice low. Check current opening hours and whether the crypt is open before you go.
• Morning is usually calmer, and the light on the facade is good earlier in the day.
• You are in the heart of Kazimierz, so the old Jewish quarter's synagogues, cafes and courtyards are within a short walk.

See it on a quest

Jewish District Krakow: Magic of Past & Present is a self-guided walk through Kazimierz that passes this church. You reach it on foot as one stop of a longer route through the district, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in what is in front of you. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.