The latest news from the expedition of researchers and lecturers from EHU, Alexander Kolbasko, Sergey Сharevsky, and Alexey Lastovsky, on the way from Krakow to Prague as part of the project «The Cultural Path of Francysk Skaryna».
The participants began their journey from the main building of Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Collegium Novum, which now houses the rectorate. On the second floor, amid other memorials to famous graduates of Jagiellonian University, a memorial plaque dedicated to Francysk Skaryna is installed. Our lecturers also visited the palace of the Krakow bishop, Erazm Ciołek, which now houses a branch of the National Museum in Krakow. It is worth noting that the palace was built in 1505 during Skaryna’s studies at Jagiellonian University. Bishop Erazm Ciołek and the Belarusian pioneer of printing must have known each other, as Ciołek was not only a canon of Vilnius but also the personal secretary to Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon. The most famous artist of that era here was Wit Stwosz, who also shortly before Skaryna’s arrival completed his famous carved altar at St. Mary’s Basilica. The palace of Erazm Ciołek also houses the works of the artist.
The expedition members also visited the residence of the kings of Poland – Wawel Castle – visited the treasury and the armory; met with the editorial office of the Belarusian publishing house «Gutenberg» in Krakow, and received copies of Skaryna’s engravings made using ancient techniques.
