Holy Cross Church

SIGHTSEEING, WARSAW Updated : Sep 9, 2015, 05.23 PM IST

Anita Rao Kashi

Anita Rao Kashi is a freelance travel and food writer based in Bangalore. After nearly 12 years with The Times of India in Bangalore,she went freelance in Jan 2006 to write about travel and food. Her stories have appeared in such publications as Lonely Planet Magazine India, National Geographic Magazine India, Economic Times, Jetwings, Femina, Tiger Tales, Silkwinds, Bangalore Mirror, The Star of Malaysia etc. Apart from writing for various national and international magazines, newspapers and websites, as well blogging on travel and food, she has worked on travel and food guides.

Photo courtesy: Anita Rao Kashi

Located almost at the beginning of the Royal Route is the Holy Cross Church, a beautiful stone building. A Renaissance church in shades of yellow, it is imposing from outside. Inside, it is mostly calm and serene with a plethora of carvings and sculptures. But what is most interesting is a pillar inside containing an urn with Chopin’s heart. The story goes that when Chopin died in Paris in 1849, hostilities were so high that the authorities refused permission for his body to be buried in Poland. But Chopin fervently wished to be buried in Poland and according to his last wish, his sister smuggled his heart into Poland. It was brought to the Holy Cross Church where it lies in a pillar topped by a bust of the composer with the words “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” an inscription from Matthew.
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