If you were to blink for a second and think you're in Italy, you would very much be forgiven as, standing in front of the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik, Croatia, conjures the incredible elegance and beauty of the great Renaissance cities of the world. This architectural gem is one of the most stunning buildings in the country and is the crowning pearl of this lovely seaside city, which is saying something as Šibenik itself is quite the beauty in its own right. Located in central Dalmatia, where the river Krka meets the Adriatic, it is an often overlooked destination by tourists in favour of some of the more famous cities in Croatia but the discerning visitor will take note: it is the oldest native Croatian city, the first city in the world to have a system of electric street lights, boasts lovely views out onto the Adriatic, has some incredible beaches, is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites (the cathedral being one of them), hosts many interesting festivals throughout the year, and remains an authentic little gem that has gone untainted by the outside world. The Cathedral is the final flourish, the cherry on top of the pretty cityscape of Šibenik, that completes the picture and makes it such a very appealing place to holiday. If you have found a vacation rental in Šibenik, you should make sure to pencil in some time to check it out and admire the wonderful feat of fifteenth century architecture that it is.
The ground at the Cathedral of St. James was broken in 1402, though the building of a church on the site had been in the works since 1298, when the city had officially become a municipality. Building did not actually begin until 1431 and it sought not to create an all-new structure but, rather, to transform an older Romanesque cathedral that was already built on the site. It was completed in three stages, between 1433 and 1441 under both Croatian Masters and Italian Masters who were brought in for the job, including Andrija Budčić and Grubiš Šlafčić and Francesco di Giacomo, Lorenzo Pincino, Pier Paolo Bussato, Bonino da Milano, and Giorgio da Sebenico.
Built entirely from limestone from a nearby stone quarry and marble from the island of Brač, it was originally conceived as a relatively simple structure but eventually became a stunning triple-nave basilica, with three apses and crowned by a dome, and the most important architectural monument of the Renaissance in Croatia. Throughout the church are many examples of great works of art and design by celebrated masters of the time such as the western main portal decorated with statues of Christ and the twelve apostles by Bonino da Milano; the bronze door created in 1967 by the Šibenik sculptor Grga Antunac; an altar painting by Felipe Zaniberti and another by Bernardo Rizzardi; and, in the Cathedral Treasury, there are works by the likes of the Renaissance master Horacije Fortezza of Šibenik, who was an an exceptional goldsmith and miniaturist.
Construction of the church was completed in 1536 and it was officially consecrated in 1555, having brought together some of the Adriatic’s finest craftsmen to create a glittering gem that arises on the seafront in Šibenik. It is an exceptional beauty, filled with an astounding collection of late-Medieval and early-Renaissance sculpture, entirely and uniquely wrought in stone, and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. If you are spending any time in a holiday rental in Šibenik or have found a vacation rental in Croatia and are looking to explore a little bit, this is one of the great architectural highlights of the country that is not to be missed!
Built entirely from limestone from a nearby stone quarry and marble from the island of Brač, it was originally conceived as a relatively simple structure but eventually became a stunning triple-nave basilica, with three apses and crowned by a dome, and the most important architectural monument of the Renaissance in Croatia. Throughout the church are many examples of great works of art and design by celebrated masters of the time such as the western main portal decorated with statues of Christ and the twelve apostles by Bonino da Milano; the bronze door created in 1967 by the Šibenik sculptor Grga Antunac; an altar painting by Felipe Zaniberti and another by Bernardo Rizzardi; and, in the Cathedral Treasury, there are works by the likes of the Renaissance master Horacije Fortezza of Šibenik, who was an an exceptional goldsmith and miniaturist.
Construction of the church was completed in 1536 and it was officially consecrated in 1555, having brought together some of the Adriatic’s finest craftsmen to create a glittering gem that arises on the seafront in Šibenik. It is an exceptional beauty, filled with an astounding collection of late-Medieval and early-Renaissance sculpture, entirely and uniquely wrought in stone, and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. If you are spending any time in a holiday rental in Šibenik or have found a vacation rental in Croatia and are looking to explore a little bit, this is one of the great architectural highlights of the country that is not to be missed!