St. Mary's Basilica - Kraków, Poland
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 50° 03.692 E 019° 56.297
34U E 424008 N 5546011
St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków appears on this postage stamp issued in conjunction with the visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland, 5-June through 17-June 1999.
Waymark Code: WM160JX
Location: Małopolskie, Poland
Date Posted: 04/07/2022
Views: 7
This stamp, one of a set of four different designs, was issued on June 5, 1999, coinciding with the beginning of a nearly two-week visit to Poland by Pope John Paul II. 1999 also marked the twentieth anniversary of this Pope’s original visit to Poland, where it is said that his message to the Polish people sparked the Solidarity free labor movement that eventually toppled the communist regime. The stamp also includes a picture of a crowd carrying Solidarity signs.
The Pope’s visit began in Gdansk where the Solidarity movement originated among the shipyard workers and ended in Kraków where the Pope was once archbishop. All in all, the Pope visited 21 towns via 23 helicopter trips.
The stamp also shows St. Mary’s Basilica located in the historic center of Kraków. Built in the 14th century in a Brick Gothic style, St. Mary’s is a magnificent structure towering over the old town square. Known for its elaborate artwork, St. Mary’s Basilica was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Stamp Issuing Country: Poland
Date of Issue: 5-Jun-1999
Denomination: 60gr
Color: multicolored
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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