Aerial view

Unlike the other central European countries, in Poland Renaissance architecture continued to flourish throughout the remainder of the 16th century. In 1578 Jan Zamoyski, chancellor of Poland, commissioned the Venetian architect Bernardo Morando to design the fortified town of Zamosc following the latest Italian ideas. The resultant town with street arcades resembles those of northern Italy.

Zamosc has a distinct chessboard layout of streets, with a main square in its centre and two small markets situated on each side. An anthropomorphic plan was also used in the city’s design, with Zamoyski’s home being the head, or brain, the church being the lungs, the town hall the heart, and the main street the spine.

View the plan of the town.