Page 99 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

ZAD AR  97

Zadar: Church of St Donat VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Sv. Donat
Practical Information
Forum. n (023) 250 516.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, which later took the name Open Apr, May & Oct: 9am–5pm
of its founder Bishop Donat, is one of the finest examples of daily; Jun–Sep: 9am–9pm daily;
Byzantine architecture in Dalmatia. It was built in the early Nov–Mar: by appt. &
9th century on the paving stones of the former Roman Forum
and has a circular ground-plan with three circular apses.
Inside is a women’s gallery which goes all the way around the
church and creates an upper storey. St Donat has not been
used as a church since 1797, but because of the good
acoustics, concerts are often held here.
Dome
The cylindrical, conical
dome rises in the centre
of the church to a height
of 27 m (88 ft).
Exterior
The church is built of honey-
coloured Dalmatian stone, much
of which came from the old
Roman Forum.

Each of the three
apses has blind
arches. At one time
the altar was situated
in the central apse.

The Women’s Gallery The internal walls are
The interior of the church has completely bare. Probably the
a matroneum, or women’s original decorations, frescoes
gallery, supported by six or mosaics, have been lost.
pilasters and two Roman Roman Fragments
columns which border the Stones from the Roman Forum were used for
circular nave and divide the paving; other Roman material is visible in
the structure into two floors. the walls, entrance and gallery.

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