Facts About The Cathedral Of St. James In Šibenik For You

The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe.

It was built over a period of one hundred years, from 1431 to 1535. The cathedral is dedicated to St James, the patron saint of Šibenik, and the architecture contains heavy influences from the Renaissance style of Northern Italy.

If you're looking for a beautiful and historic city to visit on your next vacation, look no further than Šibenik, Croatia. With its stunning European architecture and rich history, it's no wonder that this city is one of Croatia's most popular tourist destinations. With all of the great attractions that Šibenik has to offer, you won't be disappointed. In this article, we'll look at some intriguing facts about this beautiful city and the magnificent cathedral that graces it!

Geographic Location

Šibenik is a city located in the Dalmatian hinterland on the Krka River, centering on an inland bay that opens to the Adriatic Sea. The city is ancient and is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Croatia. It's one of the most scenic and historically significant cities in all of Croatia. Šibenik's Cathedral of St. James (Sv. Jakov), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Croatia's most famous tourist destinations, is one of the main attractions you can find in this amazing city.

The cathedral was constructed over a long period of 104 years, from 1431 to 1535, making it one of the longest-lasting cathedrals ever constructed. The architectural style is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance and the cathedral is noted for its exquisite detailing, including a large number of ornate stone carvings. The cathedral's bell tower is also quite famous and is often photographed as a symbol of Šibenik.

The Cathedral of St. James is open to visitors daily from April to October and admission is free. Guided tours are available in German, Italian, English, Spanish, Croatian, and French. If you're ever in Šibenik, be sure to visit this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History And Cultural Significance

The construction of the church, though officially begun in 1431, was underway as early as 1402. Plans for the historic building were made in around 1298, however, initially, it was envisioned as a simple church. Once the simpler church was built, construction was handed over to the Italian masters, notably Giorgio de Sebenico (also know as Juraj Dalmatinac), who was invited to Croatia to help make the church grander, as the original investors were unhappy with the final product.

Giorgio de Sebenico added a number of decorative elements to the church, inspired by the Renaissance style of architecture. He added the sanctuary, the presbytery, and the baptistery, which is considered to be one of his most skillful pieces of work. He worked on the cathedral until his death in 1475.

After his death, the Tuscan architect and sculptor Nikola Firentinac took over as head of the project. It was under his administration that the sculptures of St James, St Mark, and St Michael were built and installed, as well as the vault in the nave (central part) of the church. He also oversaw the completion of all the galleries, as well as the upper façade of the cathedral. He worked on the cathedral until its completion in 1535.

Design And Construction

The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik is one of the oldest and most important churches in Croatia. The church was built in the 15th century and has been damaged and rebuilt many times over the years. The current version of the church is a Baroque-style church that was improved upon in the 18th century.

The church is dedicated to Saint James, who is the patron saint of pilgrims. The church has a very important role in Croatian history, as it was used by Croatian kings as a coronation site. In addition, the church contains relics of Saint John Chrysostom, which are some of the most important relics in Croatia.

The outer part of the cathedral is made of white stone from the island of Brač, while the interior is decorated with marble from Italy. The Lion's Portal, two magnificent columns supported by figures of lions on the north side of the church, are especially ornate. There are also sculpted figures of Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, and other biblical stories.

The exterior part of the church is decorated with a number of statues of saints. The most notable statue is that of Saint James, which stands atop the main entrance to the church. The interior is equally as appealing as the exterior, with a number of paintings and sculptures. The outside of the cathedral is characterized by its three large naves, each with its own unique roofline. The central nave and lateral aisles are also topped by a series of pointed arches and a barrel roof, while the two side naves are capped by semi-circular arches. The cathedral's interior is really impressive, similar to the exterior, with a beautiful transept and an equally stunning main altar.

The baptismal font (where the water for the baptism of Christian children is held) inside the cathedral features carvings of three angels, and there are 74 small portraits in the style of Gothic and Renaissance art featured on the outer walls of the apses. There are also 71 life-sized heads, sculpted out of stone to represent a number of subjects such as fishermen, soldiers, peasants, and other depictions of ordinary people who lived during that period of time.

The Cathedral Of St. James In Šibenik is one of the most beautiful and important churches in Croatia. If you are ever in Šibenik, be sure to visit this amazing church.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

The cathedral was built for and named after St. James, who is the patron saint of Šibenik.

The building is also called the Cathedral of St Jacobs at times, as both James and Jacob are used interchangeably in Croatia.

St. James is also the patron saint of Spain and his feast day is celebrated on July 25.

Being one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, he was also known as 'James the Greater.'

The exterior part of the cathedral is decorated with 72 statues representing various saints, including St. James himself.

Though the cathedral is in Croatia, the architecture greatly shows the influences of the buildings of northern Italy, which is mostly due to the involvement of Italian masters in its construction.

Though the Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik was completed in the early 16th century, the side altars were built in the 17th and 18th centuries and are in the Baroque style.

The mixture of three distinct architectural styles from northern Italy, Dalmatia, and Tuscany helped to overcome the structural problems regarding the dome and cathedral vaulting.

The barrel roof was built by interlocking stone slabs, which fit into grooves. This was an original method of construction.

The stone slabs used for the construction of the roof were specially ordered from the island of Brač.

The cathedral was extensively damaged during World War II, as well as during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991. However, the reconstructions that took place have been true to the Renaissance forms of the original construction.

The cathedral is also a place of pilgrimage for fans of the hit series 'Game Of Thrones', as it features in the fifth season as the incredibly powerful Iron Bank.

FAQs

Why is the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik important?

The Cathedral of St James is considered to be one of the oldest and most important churches built in the Renaissance style in Europe.

Who built the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik?

The Cathedral of St James was built by many acclaimed architects and sculptors, the most notable of these being Giorgio de Sebenico and Nikola Firentinac.

What religion is the Cathedral of St James?

The Cathedral of St James is a church where people following the Christian religion go to pray.

In what country is the Cathedral of St James located?

The Cathedral of St James is located in the city of Šibenik, which is located on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, right by the Adriatic Sea.

When and why was the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik declared a World Heritage Site?

The Cathedral of St James, which is in Šibenik, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000, as it's considered to be one of the most important sites of Renaissance-style architecture in the entirety of Europe.