Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr, Warsaw

The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr in Warsaw is St. Florian's Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica at 3 Floriańska Street in the Praga-Północ district. The church is dedicated to St. Florian and is formally known by the full name Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr.

What is the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr?

St. Florian's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica dedicated to St. Florian. Its formal name refers to both of its patron saints: St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr. The cathedral stands at 3 Floriańska Street, in Warsaw's Praga-Północ district.

What survived the destruction of St. Florian's Cathedral?

The church suffered extensive damage during World War II and was not original after its destruction in 1944. Two statues survived: the statues of the church's patron saints, Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Florian.

The two surviving statues are not inside the church. That makes them an important detail to look for outside St. Florian's Cathedral, rather than something to search for in its interior. The Warsaw route Looking for the perfect artist's studio uses the cathedral as one of its stops and draws attention to these surviving statues.

What should you look for at St. Florian's Cathedral?

Look for at least one of the two surviving patron-saint statues outside the church: Saint Michael the Archangel or Saint Florian. The associated Praga district walking route turns this place-specific detail into an observation at the cathedral and asks you to take a photo, without placing the challenge inside the church.

When you visit 3 Floriańska Street, keep both names in mind. The statues of Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Florian are the surviving elements specifically connected with the cathedral's destruction in 1944.