Historic Churches & Monasteries

This collection highlights the architectural evolution of the Zadar region, featuring significant Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque structures. It includes the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia, the largest church in Dalmatia, and the Church of the Holy Cross in Nin, a 9th-century chapel designed to track solstices and equinoxes. The list also features the Benedictine Monastery of Ćokovac on Pašman island, a center for Glagolitic script, and the Church of Saint Simeon, which houses a 14th-century silver-gilt sarcophagus.

Silverije / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Cathedral of Saint Anastasia

The Cathedral of St. Anastasia is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Zadar, Croatia, seat of the Archdiocese of Zadar, and the largest church…

Andrej Šalov / CC-BY-SA-3.0

B

Church of the Holy Cross

A 9th-century Pre-Romanesque church in Nin, often called the smallest cathedral in the world. Its architectural design and window alignment allow it to function as a solar calendar and sundial.

Croq / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Church of St. Nicholas

The Church of St. Nicholas is a late 11th or early 12th century Pre-Romanesque style Roman Catholic church located in the field of Prahulje,…

Isabelle Delval / CC-BY-SA

D

Crkva svetog Lovre

An 11th-century Pre-Romanesque church located on Zadar's People's Square. It is one of the city's best-preserved early medieval buildings and features a three-nave interior.

Katalin Behina / CC-BY-SA

E

St. Simon

This church houses the silver-gilt sarcophagus of Saint Simeon, a 14th-century masterpiece of medieval goldsmithing. The building features a 17th-century Baroque facade and elements from an earlier Gothic structure.

Vid Pogacnik / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Samostan Ćokovac

A 12th-century Benedictine monastery located on Ćokovac hill on the island of Pašman. It was a significant center for Glagolitic liturgy and features a 14th-century Gothic church with a valuable painted crucifix.