Dubrovnik and Dalmacija travel guide

Cathedral of St James, Šibenik
For over a century, the citizens of Šibenik struggled to finance the building of
one of the Mediterranean’s largest and finest cathedrals. Now, this remarkably
harmonious blend of Gothic and Renaissance styling dominates the city.
When the main architect, Juraj Dalmatinac, died in 1475, his pupil Nikola
Firentinac took over, completing the presbytery, choir, galleries, vaulted roof
and dome. It has taken international experts several years to restore the
building since its damage by Serbian shelling in 1991, during Croatia’s war
of independence. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
Dubrovnik & the Dalmatian Coast
A face carved on the
cornice of the apse
The Gradska Vjenica
café, opposite the
cathedral, makes a
good spot to sit and
admire the splendours
of this great building,
over coffee or perhaps
a leisurely lunch.
To appreciate the
visual impact of the
cathedral better,
climb up to the
nearby fortress of
St Ana, from where
you will be able to
take in fully its
massive scale as
well as the grandeur
of its exterior.
• Map C4
• Trg Republike
Hrvatske 1
• Open May–Sep:
8:30am–noon, 6–8pm
daily; Oct–Apr: 8:30am–
noon, 4–6:30pm daily
Top 10 Features
Array of Heads
Façade
Door of Lions
Gothic Portal
Dome
Vaulted Roof
Interior
Transept
Presbytery
Baptistry
Array of Heads
These 72 stone heads
adorn the exterior of the
apse. They are reputed to
represent, depending on
whom you believe, either
the cathedral’s generous
benefactors or locals who
were too mean to dispense
any of their wealth on the
building’s construction.
Façade
Taking 105 years to
complete (1431–1536), the
cathedral’s symmetrical
façade (above) is crafted
from local limestone and
Bramarble. Its impressive
dimensions are 38 m (125 ft)
by 14 m (46 ft). Look out for
the angel standing protectively
above the north portal.
Inside Šibenik Cathedral
Door of Lions
Two stone lions guard
Juraj Dalmatinac’s finely
crafted portico, supporting
statues of Adam and Eve
(below). The doorway
itself is framed by ornately
carved spiral columns.
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