Kosciol Mariacki (St. Mary's Church)

By nightfall, the church of St. Mary’s is lit up, and it dominates the Cracow sky-line. Its steeple, much like a crown of black icicles, thrusts up to the stars. On foggier nights, all that one can see is this cupola, hovering like an apparition in the darkness. From here, on the hour, every hour, (come rain or snow), a bugle call rings out across the city.

The Mariacki church is the largest in Cracow, and, after Wawel, the most important place of worship in the city. Built of red brick and with two towers of unequal height and form, it is not conventionally attractive. However, like many places here, it may well grow on you.