To anyone interested in Catholic history, or is a Catholic themself, heading to Czestochowa to the Jasna Gora Monastery from Krakow might be a good idea.  The original Czarna Madonna is held here, and the monastery is also an end-point for thousands of people on pilgrimages, my mother-in-law included.  The actual piece of art is held behind the main churches altar and can be visited after each mass.  The nuns at the monastery are more than helpful and will point you in the right direction of anything you want to see with no problem.

Visiting the Czarna Madonna is a moving experience, not only because of its significance in Poland’s history, but because many people visiting will crawl on their knees behind the altar to pay their respects to it, where you will find elderly men and women doing the same, a true testament to their devotion to their religion.

And as always, if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at emilysguidetokrakow@yahoo.com or if you want to stay with us, find us on Airbnb, here and here.