Cathedral and Treasury, Dubrovnik
Cathedral of the Assumption from above. Photo
Br Lawrence Lew, OP.
The imposing Dubrovnik Cathedral from the east. Photo by DDanzig.
Facade of Dubrovnik Cathedral by night. Photo by Simon Law.
Statues atop the cathedral roof. Photo by Michael Hirst.
Location map and aerial view of Dubrovnik Cathedral. For a larger view,
see our Dubrovnik Map or get our free Google Earth download.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin (Velika Gospa) in Dubrovnik is an imposing baroque cathedral built after the 1667 earthquake. Inside are a number of important paintings (including one by Tatian) and an extensive treasury.
History
Dubrovnik's cathedral was originally built in the 6th or 7th century in the Byzantine style, then rebuilt as a Romanesque church between the 12th and 14th centuries.
According to legend, the church was financed by a grateful donation from King Richard the Lionhearted, who was shipwrecked and rescued in Dubrovnik.
The Romanesque cathedral was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1667, after which it was rebuilt in the baroque style by the Roman architects Andrea Buffalini and Paolo Andreotti.
What to See
The cathedral consists of three high naves culminating in three apses. Remnants of the earlier churches are still visible inside. The transept crossing is surmounted by a grand Baroque dome.
The main altar features a painting of The Assumption by Titian (c.1552) and the side altars have paintings by various Italian and Dalmatian artists of the 16th through 18th centuries.
Next door is the Cathedral Treasury (Riznica Katedrale), which is famed for its collection of around 200 reliquaries. Among the relics they enshrined are the arm, leg and skull of St. Blaise (all plated with gold) and a fragment of the True Cross.
There is also a copy of a Virgin of the Chair attributed to Raphael (the original is in Florence) and a large collection of sacred objects made of gold. One notable example is a pitcher and basin illustrating the flora and fauna of the Dubrovnik area.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Velika Gospa; Cathedral of the Assumption; Dubrovnik Cathedral |
| Type of site: | Cathedral |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | c.1670 |
| Architecture: | Baroque |
| Location: | Kneza Damjana Jude 1, Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| Phone: | 020 411 715 |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri: 9am-noon & 3-8pm; Sun: 11am-5:30pm |
| Cost: | Treasury 10kn ($1.75) |
Sources
- Frommer's Croatia, 1st ed. (Frommer's, 2006).
- Eyewitness Travel Guide to Croatia (London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2005).
