BERRECCI, Bartolomeo

The current Gothic Wawel Cathedral (Basilica of Sts Stanislaus and Wenceslaus) is the third edifice on this site: the first was constructed and destroyed in the 11th century; the second one, constructed in the 12th century, was destroyed by a fire in 1305. The construction of the current one began in the 14th century on the orders of bishop Nanker. The Cathedral comprises a nave with aisles, transepts with aisles, a choir with double aisles, and an apse with ambulatory and radiating chapels.

The Wawel Cathedral has been the main burial site for Polish monarchs since the 14th century. As such, it has been significantly extended and altered over time as individual rulers have added multiple burial chapels.

The mortuary chapel (1517-33) for King Sigismund I was attached to the Wawel Cathedral after the design of Berrecci. It represents one of the richest examples of the Italian Renaissance style in central Europe. Square in plan, each wall is divided by elaborately carved pilasters into a wide central bay for the tombs or altar, flanked by narrower bays with statue niches. Above, a coffered, semicircular dome rests on a drum with great circular windows.

View the section and ground plan of the Sigismund Chapel.

From the 16th century the Gothic chapels of the cathedral were gradually replaced with new structures, one of them is the Sigismund Chapel. The cathedral remained the site of royal coronations and burials after the court moved to Warsaw, but the interior changed dramatically as extensive work was undertaken in the Baroque style. One of the most significant projects was the Vasa Chapel, founded in 1598 by Sigismund III in place of a Gothic structure just west of the Sigismund Chapel and built mainly in 1664-67. Externally it is a copy of the Sigismund Chapel.

The photo shows the Wawel Cathedral on Wawel Hill: the Sigismund Chapel with a gold dome is at right, the Vasa Dynasty chapel at left.

Of the nineteen chapels surrounding the cathedral, the most famous is the Sigismund Chapel under its golden dome. It is the most exquisite work of the Renaissance in Poland (completed in 1533). Known as “the pearl of the renaissance north of the Alps”, it was built by Italian builders and architects directed by Bartolomeo Berrecci. It is distinguished by the lavishly ornamented interior following perfect symmetry. The tombstones are of the last kings from the Jagiellonian dynasty: Sigismund (Zygmunt) I the Old (founder of the chapel, d. 1548, a product of Berrecci’s studio, above) and his son Sigismund II Augustus (Zygmunt II August, d. 1572, designed by Santi Gucci, below). Its neighbour is the Vasa Chapel, imitating its architectural shape, yet with baroque decor.

The current Gothic Wawel Cathedral (Basilica of Sts Stanislaus and Wenceslaus) is the third edifice on this site: the first was constructed and destroyed in the 11th century; the second one, constructed in the 12th century, was destroyed by a fire in 1305. The construction of the current one began in the 14th century on the orders of bishop Nanker. The Cathedral comprises a nave with aisles, transepts with aisles, a choir with double aisles, and an apse with ambulatory and radiating chapels.

The Wawel Cathedral has been the main burial site for Polish monarchs since the 14th century. As such, it has been significantly extended and altered over time as individual rulers have added multiple burial chapels.

The mortuary chapel (1517-33) for King Sigismund I was attached to the Wawel Cathedral after the design of Berrecci. It represents one of the richest examples of the Italian Renaissance style in central Europe. Square in plan, each wall is divided by elaborately carved pilasters into a wide central bay for the tombs or altar, flanked by narrower bays with statue niches. Above, a coffered, semicircular dome rests on a drum with great circular windows.

View the section and ground plan of the Sigismund Chapel.

The mortuary chapel (1517-33) for King Sigismund I was attached to the Wawel Cathedral after the design of Berrecci. It represents one of the richest examples of the Italian Renaissance style in central Europe. Square in plan, each wall is divided by elaborately carved pilasters into a wide central bay for the tombs or altar, flanked by narrower bays with statue niches. Above, a coffered, semicircular dome rests on a drum with great circular windows.

The photo shows the interior of the dome of the Sigismund Chapel.

The Renaissance architectural style appears in Poland under the late Jagiellon dynasty, and especially in the reign of Sigismund I (1506-1548), whose wife came from the Sforza family of Lombardy. The rebuilding of his Wawel Castle (1507-36) in Krak�w was begun by the Italian Francesco della Lore and continued by Bartolommeo Berecci of Florence. It presents a blend of local Gothic and 15th-century Italian architecture. The great courtyard has three stories of loggias; the two lower ones, with semicircular arches on squat Ionic columns, suggest the new style, but the much taller upper story, with the steep roof supported by excessively slender posts, betrays a medieval wooden tradition.

The photo shows the courtyard.

View the ground plan of Wawel Castle, Krak�w.

The Renaissance architectural style appears in Poland under the late Jagiellon dynasty, and especially in the reign of Sigismund I (1506-1548), whose wife came from the Sforza family of Lombardy. The rebuilding of his Wawel Castle (1507-36) in Krak�w was begun by the Italian Francesco della Lore and continued by Bartolommeo Berecci of Florence. It presents a blend of local Gothic and 15th-century Italian architecture. The great courtyard has three stories of loggias; the two lower ones, with semicircular arches on squat Ionic columns, suggest the new style, but the much taller upper story, with the steep roof supported by excessively slender posts, betrays a medieval wooden tradition.

The photo shows the courtyard.

View the ground plan of Wawel Castle, Krak�w.