Site database
Site map
Stakeholder database
POI data
General information
Name:
Romanesque Basilica of St. Mary of the Sea
Alternative name:
Category:
Church, ruined church, chapel, temple
Religion:
Catholic
World heritage:
no
Description:
In the Vrsar harbour there is a very interesting medieval monument: the Romanesque basilica of St. Mary of the Sea. The basilica represents an outstanding monument of the Romanesque architecture in Istria. Its history is long and curious. In Roman times some large building (maybe "villa rustica" - a country house with farm buildings) was standing on that place. The original and modest church of St. Mary was built on that spot in the early Middle Ages (second half of the 8th century). Between the 8th and the 12th century the original church was repeatedly reconstructed. Its present-day architectural and artistic appearance is dating from the 12th century. Right by the basilica there are remains of an old monastery. In written documents the monastery was mentioned for the first time in the second half of the 12th century (1177) under the name "Prioratum Sanctae Mariae". However, it is not certain whether the monastery really existed at that time. A more reliable document dates from the year 1227. The first monks in the monastery were the Carmelites (named after the Mount Carmel in Palestina) who. persecuted by the Turks and the Arabs travelled through Cyprus and Sicily and arrived to Europe. The Carmelites settled down in Vrsar either at the end of the 11th century or at the beginning of the 12th century and founded their monastery here. With some interruptions the Carmelites lived in the monastery till the middle of the 14th century. In the second half of the 17th centurv (about 1631) the Franciscans came to the monastery and stayed here up to 1660. when it was closed due to a conflict between the monks and the Poreč Bishop Gianbattista de Giudice. The matter in dispute was ownership of monastery possessions (in a quarrel the monks killed the Bishop's nephew). The Franciscans renovated the old monastery building in the Baroque style. In the ground floor there were wine-press, olive-mill and store-rooms for agricultural products. After the Franciscans had left.for some time (till 1732) the seminarium (school for priests) was held in the monastery. The facade dating from the 17th century has been preserved till the present days.
Events:
Location
Address:
City:
Vrsar
Zip:
52450
Country:
Croatia
Territorial unit:
Istria
Latitude:
45.1505
Longitude:
13.6033
Elevation:
6.78
Contact
Manager:
Phone:
Web address:
http://www.istra.hr/en/regions-and-towns/vrsar-funtana/arts-and-culture/cultural-sights/2833-ch-0?&l_over=1
Stakeholder organization:
Additional information
Accessibility:
Good
Availability:
Scheduled visit
Condition:
Good
Attractiveness:
Medium
Particularity:
City attractiveness:
International
City services:
Thematic routes:
oip:
Religious tourism,Cultural tourism
Keywords: