September 11, 2016

2748 POLAND (Lesser Poland) - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park (UNESCO WHS)


With a vision while viewing the neighbouring hills and valleys from the Castle of Lanckorona, on 1 December 1602, Mikołaj Zebrzydowski, the Voivode of Kraków commissioned the construction of a calvary, i.e. Roman Catholic monastery and the trails of the Passion of Christ modeled on the Calvary outside the city walls of Jerusalem. The town takes its name from the monastery and the last name of its founder Zebrzydowski. The town of Zebrzydów was established in 1617 in order to house the growing number of pilgrims visiting the Roman Catholic site of worship.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is an exceptional cultural monument in which the natural landscape was used as the setting for a symbolic representation in the form of chapels and avenues of the events of the Passion of Christ. The result is a cultural landscape of great beauty and spiritual quality in which natural and man-made elements combine in a harmonious manner. Established for Franciscan monks (custodians of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem), it was modelled on the 1584 map of Jerusalem by Christian Kruik van Adrichem.

Basilica of St. Mary was designed by Giovanni Maria Bernardoni and the construction was conducted by Paul Baudarth from Antwerp, between 1603-1609. Ecce Homo Chapel was built on the plan of the Greek cross between 1605-1609 by the same Paul Baudarth. The vault adorned with profuse stucco decorations in the style of Dutch mannerism. Chapel of the Crucifixion is the first structure built and give a beginning to the whole complex. Heart of Mary Chapel was built on the plan of a heart in 1615 also by Paul Baudarth. The chapel commemorate Jesus' encounter with Mary on the road to Calvary.

About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Flowers and Fruits, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is part of the series Polish Olympic National Team Rio 2016, designed by Agata Tobolczyk and issued on July 8, 2016. The last stamp is part of the series Polish Animated Cartoon, designed by Aleksandra Pietrzak and issued on May 20, 2016.

References
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska park - Wikipedia
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park - UNESCO official website

Sender: Krystyna Betiuk (direct swap)
Sent from Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (Lesser Poland / Poland), on 01.09.2016

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