The church facade features copies of the twelve apostle statues, which replaced the original 18th-century stone originals due to acid rain erosion.
Piotr Skarga, court preacher to Sigismund III, is interred in the crypt and is a significant figure in Polish religious history.
The church hosted the first Foucault pendulum experiment in Poland in 1949, which is still operated periodically.
The architectural style served as the structural blueprint for many subsequent baroque churches throughout the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
King Sigismund III Vasa provided the funding to support the Jesuit mission in Kraków through this construction.
Saints Peter and Paul Church is the first baroque building in Kraków, commissioned by King Sigismund III Vasa for the Jesuit order. Its design was modeled after the Church of the Gesu in Rome, featuring a prominent facade adorned with statues of the twelve apostles. The interior follows a single-nave plan with side chapels and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The crypt beneath the church contains the sarcophagus of Piotr Skarga, a notable 16th-century preacher. The building is constructed primarily of limestone and remains a primary example of Counter-Reformation architecture in Poland. It currently functions as a parish church under the care of the Jesuit Order. The structure dominates the streetscape of Grodzka, one of the city's oldest thoroughfares. Visitors can view the Foucault pendulum demonstration inside the nave on specific weekday evenings.
Directly in front of the main entrance looking up to frame the statues of the apostles against the facade.
Look for the schedule for the Foucault pendulum demonstration if you wish to see the physics experiment in action.
Walk around to the side of the church to view the smaller courtyard area which offers a quieter perspective than the busy main entrance.
Visit during a musical performance, as the acoustics of the barrel-vaulted nave are particularly suited for baroque choral music.
Do not mistake the church for the neighboring Church of St. Andrew; while they are close, the facade of Saints Peter and Paul is distinctively baroque with apostles.
Closed to visitors during active mass or confession services; musical concerts occasionally restrict general tourist access.
Shoulders and knees should be covered; maintain silence and refrain from taking photos during active religious services.
