Description of the attraction
The first princely palace on the Wawel Hill appeared in the X-XI centuries. On the initiative of Casimir the Great, who reigned in 1333-1370, a majestic royal castle in the Gothic style was erected here, from which the Kurya Lapka tower has survived. After a devastating fire in 1499, King Alexander and his brother Sigmund the Old undertook a thorough renovation of the castle in the Renaissance style. This is how a huge palace-fortress in the Italian style appeared, a typical fortified palazzo.
The inner courtyard of the castle is one of the finest examples of the Italian Renaissance style on Polish soil. The courtyard is framed by a triple garland of galleries, rhythmically separated by a light construction of alternating supports, arches and balustrades. Each tier is of different heights, but the proportions are found very well. The slender columns of the first and second tier pass into semicircular arches of soft, flowing outlines in the spirit of the Renaissance. The unexpectedly thin columns of the third floor support a huge canopy. Fragments of the 16th century murals have been preserved on the walls of the galleries. These are portraits of Roman emperors in medallions, floral ornaments and decorative compositions on antique themes. The south side of the courtyard also has an arcade and is decorated with false windows.
Reviews
| All reviews 4 Sergey 2011-01-11 13:13:52
Interesting About Wawel Wawel contains many mysteries. Few, say, draws on the mammoth bones hanging near the entrance to the Cathedral of Saints Stanislav and Wenceslas. Where and why are they here? It is believed that they bring peace and prosperity to the Polish land, but when they collapse, the last judgment will come. About this leg …
