The first cathedral on Wawel was begun around 1020. From it only the underground crypt of St Gereon survives. From the second, Romanesque cathedral the crypt of St Leonard, the lower part of the Silver Bells Tower and the foundation of the Clock Tower. the foundations of the Clock Tower. The construction of the present Gothic cathedral Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and Wenceslas was begun in 1320 under Wladyslaw Lokotka, and was consecrated in 1364 during the reign of Casimir the Great. In the following centuries it was was enlarged and rebuilt several times. Since 1320 all Polish monarchs were crowned in the cathedral, except for the last one, Stasimir the Great. monarchs, with the exception of the last one, Stanislaw August Poniatowski. For many of them. of them the crypt of the cathedral became the place of final resting place.
In the rich interior of the cathedral, the first thing that catches the eye is the mausoleum of St Stanislaus, of great religious and artistic significance. The silver casket with the relics of St. Stanislaus' relics is a masterpiece of jewellery art of the 17th century. Carved in 1670 by the Gdansk jeweller Pieter van der Renner, it is decorated with 12 reliefs with scenes from the life of the saint. scenes from the life of the saint. The marble canopy over the sarcophagus was executed in 1626-30 by Giovanni Trevano. 1626-30 by Giovanni Trevano. The most outstanding ensemble of works of art are the tombstones of Polish kings and bishops of Krakow.
