Discover Nowica: Church Art, Nature Quest and Spoon-Carving Tradition

Church of Saint Paraskeva: Architecture and Furnishings

The walls of the Greek Catholic Church of Saint Paraskeva in Nowica are shingled, while the roofs and roof turrets are covered with sheet metal. A roof turret is a tower-like structure on the roof; here, these features are also among the sheet-metal-covered parts. This makes it possible to distinguish the shingled walls from the roofs and roof turrets. The distribution of materials gives the building a distinctive architectural feature.

The interior furnishings can also be distinguished by location and date. Frescoes from 1927 adorn the interior. The main altar stands at the center of the sanctuary and dates from the 18th century. In the nave is a late Baroque side altar from the second half of the 18th century. It bears icons of the Mother of God with the Christ Child and Saint John the Baptist. The term “late Baroque” identifies the style of the side altar; the date narrows down its period more precisely.

The dates are given with different levels of precision: the main altar is dated by century, the side altar also by the second half of that century, and the frescoes by the specific year 1927. This lets you compare the furnishings by date without treating the information as equivalent. The altars are also distinguished by their locations: one stands at the center of the sanctuary, the other in the nave.

Outdoor puzzles: the Przysłupianka Quest

The quest “Dolina Przysłupianki skarbnicą czystego powietrza” (“The Przysłupianka Valley, a Treasure Trove of Clean Air”) starts in Nowica and follows a forest path along the mountain stream Przysłupianka. Along the way, you can discover natural features. As an outdoor game, the quest combines the route with a challenge: you read rhyming clues, solve puzzles, and search for the final word to receive a commemorative stamp. The verses and riddles give the walk a playful structure and a clear ending.

The route was temporarily blocked; check its current status before setting off.

A regional craft tradition

Nowica is known in the region for making spoons and spoon carving. This tradition adds a connection to craft culture to the focus on the church. Spoon-making refers to the broader field, while spoon carving is a specific activity within it. This adds another local highlight to the architecture and sacred furnishings: working with an everyday object as part of a craft tradition known throughout the region. If you would like to include local crafts alongside the church’s details in your travel plans, spoon carving offers a distinct point of interest.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Krzywa, Hańczowa, Rożnowice, Ropa, Gorlice, Ropki, Sękowa, Wysowa-Zdrój.

For the main travel overview: Gorlice.