This striking city portal bears one of the most sacred icons in Europe. Pope John Paul II prayed here in 1993, and it's quite commonplace to see groups of pilgrims singing and weeping in the street below. The painting of the Mother of Mercy was immortalised by the king of Romantics, Adam Mickiewicz, and every Pole can recount his verse 'To the Holy Virgin Shining From The Sharp Gate'. If you enter the small chapel itself, don't miss the magical collage of silver votives by Ferdynand Ruszczyc. ('The Sharp Gate' is known as Ausros Vartai in Lithuanian, and Ostra Brama in Polish).
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