Our Lady of Skala

The Virgin Mary of Skala is a monumental painting created in 1863 by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski on a rock in the Mnikowska Valley, in a place known as the "Circus." Its origin is tied to heroic events related to the January Uprising, where the Virgin Mary is said to have shown a safe cave to hiding insurgents. Another version of the legend tells of Countess Potocka, who, after praying for her daughter’s healing, saw an image of Mary on the rock in a dream. Radzikowski, also motivated by the desire to create a place of prayer for the uprising participants, painted this image. After the fall of the uprising, when holding masses for the homeland in Krakow’s churches was forbidden, the people of Krakow organized secret masses at the Virgin Mary of Skala painting, making it a site of both religious and cultural significance. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary as Polonia, dynamically portrayed in motion, symbolizing the strive for freedom. In 1952, Father Karol Wojtyła visited this place, which marked the beginning of his journeys across Poland. Today, annual masses are held to commemorate this visit. In the 1980s, the image of the Virgin Mary of Skala was painted over and replaced with a new version. Currently, stairs lead to the painting, with a field altar beneath it, and stations of the cross are placed along the path. The valley also features information boards and benches for tourists, enhancing its cultural and recreational appeal. The Virgin Mary of Skala is not only an object of religious veneration but also an important symbol of Polish history and national identity.