The Cistercian Church of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Bernard, called Oliva or Oliva Cathedral Basilica, was founded in 1178. The story of its appearance dates back to the reign of Prince Subislav the First. One day, while hunting, he was seriously wounded. A local peasant dressed the wound, saving the prince's life, after which an angel with an olive branch appeared to Subislav I in a dream, and so it was decided to found a church in this area called Oliva.
The church was seriously damaged by a fire in 1350. It was later rebuilt in the Gothic style. The church survived a second fire in 1577, and the interior was rebuilt in Baroque style.
Olive Basilica is one of the most popular architectural buildings in Gdańsk. It is the longest basilica in Poland, built in the shape of a Latin cross, with vaults and three naves. It is 107 metres long. The interior of the church is decorated with 23 altars. Special attention of tourists is paid to the marvellous organ complex, which was the largest in Europe at the end of XVIII century. It is made in rococo style of more than eight thousand organ pipes, tin and wooden. Every year from May to September you can enjoy organ concerts here using 18th century musical instruments.
Next to the basilica is a picturesque Oliva Park, which has interesting buildings for visitors - the Palace of the Abbots, the monastery. A museum is open in the building of the monastery. This ancient park is located on the territory of the monastery gardens. In it you can admire plants from different parts of the world, an alpinarium, a waterfall, a grotto, a greenhouse, ponds with ducks and a stunning hornbeam alley of the XVII century. The park is punctuated by a network of cycle and walking paths.
