St. Mary's Church and Permanent Exhibition of Religion Art, Zadar

Located in Zadar, the Church of Saint Mary is a Benedictine monastery that was established in 1066 on the eastern side of the town's old Roman forum. The noblewoman 膶ika founded the monastery alongside an existing church and later endowed it with valuable items such as two Hymnariums (collection of hymns) and a prayer book. While the Hymnariums are lost, the prayer book is currently kept in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

膶ika's daughter, Vekenega, became the first successor of 膶ika and sought financial aid from King Coloman of Hungary to complete the monastery and erect new objects. As a result, the monumental tower bears Coloman's name and was constructed in 1105. The church houses Vekenega's tomb, which is adorned with Latin verses.

The monastery underwent several renovations throughout the centuries, including a Renaissance-style portal and southern facade by Nikola 艩pani膰 in 1507, and the addition of Baroque motifs to the interior decorations in 1744. During World War II, the church and its surroundings were destroyed by Allied bombing but were rebuilt after the war.

Today, the Benedictine nuns in Zadar own one of the most valuable church collections in Croatia, containing approximately 200 items such as stone sculptures, paintings, wood carvings, and goldsmith's works. Visitors to the monastery can view these exhibits, which have been collected over the centuries, including ancient Bibles, Christian symbols, and old monastery furniture.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zadar. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: St. Mary's Church and Permanent Exhibition of Religion Art
Sight Location: Zadar, Croatia (See walking tours in Zadar)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Zadar's Architecture Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Zadar, Croatia

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Creating your own self-guided walk in Zadar is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Zadar's Architecture Walking Tour

Zadar's architecture is a tapestry woven with the threads of Roman, Byzantine, and medieval influences, each contributing to a rich and vibrant heritage. Indeed, as you walk the streets of Zadar, you can't help noticing a plethora of ancient buildings reflecting the varied cultural influences imposed on the city over the centuries.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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