Churches in Istria
The wealth of Istria is in its more than 3,000 religious sights. Early Christian churches, the Romanesque basilicas, a Gothic cathedrals prove that here, the history can be felt by hand, by scent and absorbed with the eyes.
Churches have been restored and upgraded through centuries so that inside one church you can notice more architectural styles which intertwine. In Istria, the following architectural styles were represented: Pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, Neo -Byzantinism and Neo - Romanticism along with modern construction.
The presence of Christianity already in the first centuries is witnessed by early Christian basilicas from the 4th and 5th century. Byzantine rule brought Pula and Poreč rich cultural and artistic life as it emerges one of the most beautiful early Byzantine churches in Europe.
Pre-Romanesque style of construction (11th century) is noticeable at the Church of St. Pelagius in Novigrad, at the Church of St. Andrew situated at red Island near Rovinj, at the Church of St. Stephen in Peroj, in the Church of St. Foška near Žminj, at the Church of St. Sophia in Dvigrad ...
Period of Romanesque construction (11th - 13th century) is noticeable at the church of St. Barnabas and the church of St. John in Vižinada, at the church of St. Elisha in Draguć, at the church of St. George in Završje, at the church of St. Sophia in Dvigrad, at the cloister of the Monastery of St. Peter in the forest (Sv. Petar u šumi), at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Rovinj ...
Gothic period (13th - 15th century) can be experienced at the church of Sv. Anthony in Žminj, at the church of St. Mary's at the Square in Gračišće, at the parish Church in Beram, at the church of St. Euphemia in Gračišće, at the church of St. Nicholas in Pazin, at the church of St.Mary in God's field ...
Style of the Renaissance period (15th - 16th century) can be recognized at the parish Church in Savičenta, at the portal of the Church in Mutvoran and Franciscan churches in Pazin ...
During the 17th century and the Baroque period many of the older church are turned into Baroque style, like facade of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pula, the parish church of St. Nicholas in Pazin ...
Construction of the churches in the 18th century has been largely under the Venetian influence: Church of the Mary's Assumption and St. Peregrin in Umag, Church of St. Euphemia in Rovinj, Church of St. Blaise in Vodnjan, Church of St. Servul in Buje, the Franciscan monastery in Rovinj ...
In the late 19th century in Pula was built the Church of Lady of the Sea in a style which is mixture of Neo-Byzantinism and Neo- Romanticism.
It is a valuable legacy of religious architecture in Istria which you will be able to see in the city and town centers, at the picturesque hills and in coastal towns, at the lonely places by the roads and cemeteries ... so we invite You to explore and visit many churches in our region and in that way enrich Your knowledge about our region.
