Byzantine period
The period of Roman rule which lasted over five centuries ended with barbarian invasions and migrations of Germanic Goths who finally in 476 managed to upset the already weakened West Roman Empire. However, after some thirty years Justinian, emperor of the East Roman Empire, restored the Empire so the period of Byzantine rule in Istria lasted until 751. While conquering territories on his way from Constantinople to Ravenna in northern Italy, which became the new western capital in 535, he erected a number of magnificent buildings, the most splendid among them being in Poreč on the Istrian peninsula.
The period of Byzantine rule brought Pula and its surroundings a rich cultural and artistic life. Maximian, Bishop of Ravenna (native of Veštar, south of Rovinj) commissioned the building of a grandiose three nave basilica of which today only one of the two memorial chapels in the form of a Greek cross remains. Owing to the lovely ornaments in marble, mosaics and stuccoes the basilica was named St. Maria Formosa. Just like the basilica, both chapels were decorated with floor and wall mosaics. According to the legend, Maximian found buried treasure while plowing which he then gave to Emperor Justinian who in return awarded Maximian naming him a bishop.
UNESCO heritage
The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, built in 553, is part of UNESCO’s universal cultural heritage while Pula’s classical monuments and medieval frescoes in small churches, the works of local masters, are awaiting to be listed.
Euphrasian Basilica
Poreč has one of the most magnificent early Byzantine churches in Europe called Euphrasius’ Basilica after Euphrasius, the Bishop of Poreč who in the 6th century commissioned the building of a grandiose three-nave basilica on the site of an earlier church.
In 1997 the entire complex of Euphrasiana (church, baptistery, atrium and the former Bishop’s Palace) was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Particularly interesting are the magnificent mosaics in the apse, as well as marble slabs with mother-of-pearl and multicolored stone incrustations.
The first sacral structure on that site was Maurus’ Oratory built in the second half of the 3rd century (part of the mosaic has been preserved) as one of the first places for the congregation of Christians. Maurus was the first Bishop of Poreč and martyr, and is today the patron saint of Poreč and its diocese. In the period of the bloodiest persecution of Christians during the rule of Emperor Diocletian he was executed together with the entire clergy of Poreč. His relics are today kept in Euphrasius’ Basilica.
For more than 40 years, traditionally, during sumer months, the basilica in Poreč has been the ideal place for classical music lovers. Renowned musicians from Croatia and abroad perform there and the concerts are thematic and set according to certain events (year of Bach etc). The atrium of Euphrasiana is the setting for chamber music concerts on the harpsichord.
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