Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

VILNIUS 49

ST CASIMIR (1458–84)

Casimir was the second son

of King Casimir IV of

Poland, whose siblings

became kings and

queens of European

states through lineage

and marriage. Pious

Casimir shunned the

luxuries of court life

and would often go to

the cathedral to pray.

When he died of tuber-

culosis at the age of 25, it

was rumoured that his cof-

fin could cure the disease.

A fresco in St Casimir’s

Chapel shows how a sick

orphan, who prayed

beneath the cof fin, was

miraculously cured.

Richly decorated altar of

St Casimir’s Chapel

. Crypt
A sombre mausoleum holds the remains
of two grand dukes and two wives of
Sigismund Augustus (r. 1548–72),
Gediminas’ last descendant (r. 1316–41).

High Altar

The marvellously

intricate tabernacle

door on the High

Altar, which was

created in the

1620s, is fashioned

from gold and silver.

Two biblical scenes,

the Last Supper and

Christ Washing the

Disciples’ Feet, are

beautifully depicted

on the panel.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Katedros aikštė. Map D2.

# 7am–7pm daily. 8 man da-

tory to visit the crypt. Enquire at

the souvenir shop at the north

entrance for timings and fees.

5 8am, 5:30pm, 6:30pm

daily, 9am, 10am, 11:15am,

12:30pm Sun. =

. St Casimir’s Chapel
Italian masters created this
superb chapel, one of the
major Baroque jewels of
Vilnius, from 1623 to
1636. Its main highlights
are the marble columns,
magnificent stucco figures
and colourful frescoes.