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popularly called ‘nepomuks’, were often raised at
road intersections and on bridges. Warsaw features
a number of such statues.
More information: Route No. 1: The Royal Route,
page 23.
8
Church of St. Anthony of Padua and the
Monastery of the Reformists
(Kościół św. Antoniego Padewskiego i klasztor
Reformatów)
ul. Senatorska 31
Baroque church, built in the 17th century, the square
designed for the temple was already within the
city limits, and so at one time the church enjoyed
the special protection of Polish kings. There was
a small house on the grounds as well, for Jan III
Sobieski’s personal retreats. In 1944, during the
Warsaw Uprising, the church was partially destroyed,
but not wholly, and today, there are epitaphs and
tombstones from the 18th and 19th centuries in the
naves – among those laid to rest here are victims of
the battles of World War II.
9
Blue Palace (Pałac Błękitny)
ul. Senatorska 37
It owes its name to the colour of the roof – it was
covered with blue sheeting in the 18th century. The
Blue Palace was originally built in the 17th century
for Bishop Teodor Potocki. In 1726 the building was
purchased by King August II as a Christmas present
for his daughter Anna Orzelska, a renowned beauty;
it was rebuilt in the Rococo style, as per the new
owner’s tastes, and was given its current name, as
blue was Anna’s favourite colour. In order to meet
the deadline for completion within six weeks, 300
masons and craftsmen were hired to work on it day
and night. In the second half of the 18th century, the
owners of the residence were the Czartoryscy, and
from the beginning of the 19th century, the Zamoyscy,
for whom the building was reconstructed in the form
of late classicism. Fryderyk Chopin had concerts and
recitals here, and author Stefan Żeromski (author of
‘Early Spring’, a novel which takes place in Warsaw,
and highlights the face and spirit of the city after
regaining its independence) was a frequent guest.
Currently, it houses the headquarters of the Municipal
Board of Transportation.
More information: Route No. 10: The footsteps of
Maria Skłodowska-Curie, page 90.
BANKOWY SQUARE AND
SURROUNDNG AREA
Formed in 1825, as a representative square for
the important Polish institutions. In the PRL it
was called Dzierżyński Square (between 1951-
1989), and in the place of the Juliusz Słowacki
Monument was a monument of Felix Dzierżyński,