Saint Hyacinth's Church

Saint Hyacinth's Church, situated adjacent to Warsaw's largest monastery, was established under the guidance of the Dominican Order. The architectural style of the church is a captivating fusion of Renaissance and early-Baroque influences. The commencement of its construction dates back to 1603, with the final touches being added in 1639.

Throughout its construction and the immediate years following, the church was embellished with intricate chapels. Notably, in 1627, Jadwiga Mińska introduced the Holy Cross Chapel, often referred to as the Dark Chapel. In 1651, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows was established by the Royal Musicians.

The unfortunate intrusion of Swedish and Brandenburgian forces into Warsaw in 1655 resulted in the church sharing the fate of other city structures. Plundered and set ablaze, it endured significant damage. However, after the war, a determined effort to restore and reconstruct was made, and in 1661, Bishop Wojciech Tolibowski of Poznań consecrated the rejuvenated church. The adjacent bell tower was erected in 1662, and in 1690, the influential figure Adam Kotowski, Wyszogród's pantler, introduced the Saint Dominic Chapel, a significant addition envisioned by the renowned Warsaw architect Tylman Gamerski in exquisite Baroque style.

The 18th century marked the zenith of the church's prosperity. The monastery's library boasted the most expansive collection of volumes in all of Poland, although regrettably, it would eventually suffer complete destruction.

The somber backdrop of World War II saw the church and monastery repurposed as a field hospital during the Warsaw Uprising, catering to the Polish forces. This alteration in function rendered them susceptible to frequent bombardments by German forces, resulting in the tragic loss of over a thousand lives, including civilians and insurgents alike.

The exterior boasts a baroque design, while the interior exudes a thoroughly modern ambiance due to the limited preservation of the original church furnishings. Notable among the preserved elements are the tomb monuments. One such monument is the mannerist tomb of Katarzyna Ossolińska, constructed in 1607, although it has undergone partial reconstruction. Another remarkable piece is the tomb of Anna Tarnowska, meticulously carved from brown Chęciny marble around 1616. This sculpture portrays Anna in the classic Polish sepulchral style, depicting her in a serene sleeping pose. Additionally, the church houses the black marble epitaph of Regina Sroczyńska, an affluent merchant from Kraków. Originally adorned with a tin plate portrait of Regina herself resting in a coffin, this epitaph adds to the church's historical allure.

Adjacent to the sanctuary, a dedicated chapel for Saint Dominic is present, featuring a prominent centerpiece – an 18th-century wooden statue of Ecce Homo, crafted by Antoni Osiński. This statue is accompanied by lavish stucco decorations, an altar made of black marble, and an intricately designed portal.