Statues of the Virgin Mary, Praga district, Warsaw
A hidden gem
The Praga district, in the east of Warsaw, is well known to the public for having hosted part of the shooting of the movie The Pianist (2002). But it is another attraction that brought me to visit this district. The dilapidated buildings, but full of history, sometimes shelter, within their interior courtyards, mini chapels decorated with a statue of the Virgin Mary. Totally integrated into the decorations, the inhabitants pass there, pray or simply deposit flowers.
All have different styles
Born during the war, a symbol of peace
Mostly built during the darkest days of Polish history, during the Second World War, these chapels allowed Poles to meet and pray in safety during the bombing. The fighting, which saw the destruction of 80% of the city, paradoxically led the Poles to show even more creativity to continue to exist.
A treasure hunt through Warsaw, with a hundred statues in all
A social and spiritual link
The courtyard is also a place of socialization, it is also where believers of the same building met to celebrate certain events such as Christmas carols. Although these traditions are disappearing, the statues are still there and are not likely to disappear anytime soon. With hundreds of them and all of them different, hunting for the chapels is a great excuse to explore the neighborhood and the daily life of the residents.
