St Adalbert's Church

If you stand at the foot of this diminutive church, you'll soon notice that something's a trifle odd. Indeed, one side of the building seems to be a good couple of metres below ground level. This is because Saint Adalbert's is one of Cracow's oldest churches, and although the layout of the city has remained largely unchanged for 750 years, the street level has risen a good deal. It is said that Saint Adalbert himself said Mass here before mounting his quest to christianize the pagan tribes on the Baltic (AD 997). His mission failed, and it would be a lie to say that he returned in one piece. The lovely medieval church was given a baroque facade (c.1611-1618), and the entire building has recently been renovated.