The historic centre of the charming coastal town of Zadar in Croatia is an exceptionally picturesque place with a pretty city beach, plenty of trees and greenery, sweet squares set with bistro tables under canopies where locals and visitors alike sip on coffee and wine, lovely churches and architectural gems from various periods and in different styles, and much more besides. Among all these photogenic sights and beautiful buildings, the distinctive circular shape of the Church of St. Donatus stands out in the city and in the context of European ecclesiastical architecture.
Originally the Church of the Holy Trinity and later renamed the Church of St Donatus in the 15th century, this is the largest pre-Romanesque building in Croatia and an example of the centralised building of the Carolingian period of the dynasty of Charlemagne’s family. Dating back to the 9th century, the building is a symbol of the city of Zadar itself, making it a must-see for those who book a holiday rental in Zadar.
While it is steeped in history as a church and retains a preserved appearance, the Church of St Donatus is, however, no longer actually used for religious purposes. It is, instead, open to visitors to admire and used as a venue for musical performances due to its incredible acoustics. A rich programme of performances takes place in the church each year as part of the Musical Evenings at St Donatus festival, now already in its 64th edition. This years’ opening ceremony kicks off on the 7th of July in the Roman Forum next door with a concert by the Croatian Radio-Television Symphony Orchestra.
The oldest and most prestigious artistic event in the city, the Musical Evenings at St Donatus festival is unmissable for any culture vultures who book a vacation rental in Zadar. Inaugurated in 1961, the idea for the event was put forward by the conductor and founder of the event, Pavle Dešpalj, and his colleagues at the Zadar Music School, as well as other music-lovers in the city. Now a major part of the city’s cultural heritage and event schedule, the festival draws performers and attendees from all over Croatia, Europe, and the world. With special attention on music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, the festival preserves early musical traditions and revives the interest of the public.
For this year’s edition, over the summer of 2025, the Church of St Donatus and other venues around the city such as the Bersa Brothers Concert Hall and St Chrysogonus’ Church will hold concerts and performances by musical groups, quartets, soloists, chamber orchestras, and more. The works of classical greats such as Dvořák, Beethoven, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Schubert and more as well as Croatian composers will be performed by the musicians and there will be other events such as musical workshops for children throughout the duration of the festival.
For those who book a villa in Zadar and are exploring the city this summer, a visit to the Church of St Donatus is a must but to attend a concert in this beautiful space is an especially magical way to spend an evening, which would really add to your experience of this historic gem on the coast of Croatia.
