Croatia Architecture
Overview

Croatia architecture history

Croatia architecture developed under the influence of many different cultures - Greek, Roman, Celtic, Illyrian, Austrian, Hungarian, Byzantine. Here is the rough overview of the main historical periods of the Croatian architetture.

Pre-Roman architecture

A special importance have about 150 Pre-Romanesque Croatian churches (9th to 11th century), mostly along the coast. About 15 of them are well preserved (some of them completely destroyed during the Greater Serbian aggression in 1991-1995). Probably the best example of old Croatian church architecture is the Pre-Romanesque Chapel of Holy Cross in Nin built around 800 AD. Taken from Croatian History of Art.

One of the most important monuments of the Pre-Romanesque architecture in Europe is the Church of St. Donat in Zadar built in the 9th century.

Very important remain of Byzantine art in Croatia is the Euphrasius Basilica in Porec, built in the 6th century.

Ancient Greek and Roman Period
On the territory of Croatia there are many remains of the Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. The most important are:

The beautiful palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian
The ancient city of Salona near Split, the most important Early Christian archeological site after Rome.
The ancient city of Narona near Metkovic.
The Arena in Pula (1st century, 6ht largest in the world, 23,000 seats).

Stari Grad - Greek Faros
The Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar is an agricultural landscape that was set up by the ancient Greek colonists in the 4th century BC, and remains in use today. The Stari Grad Plain is Croatia’s 7th location protected by the UNESCO. See all Protected World Heritage Sites in Croatia.

Romanesque Croatia architecture
The most impressive Romanesque church in Croatia is the circular Church of St Donat in Zadar which dates from the 9th century. Later Byzantine culture grew in influence along the coast, leaving its mark in the small church on Lopud island.

Historic City of Trogir - This triple-aisled basilica, set on the foundations of an early Christian church destroyed during an Arab invasion, was built mostly in the 13th century, during the Romanesque period. The greatest value of Trogir’s Cathedral lies in its renowned Romanesque portal (1240), the masterwork of one of Croatia’s greatest sculptors, master Radovan.

Trogir Romanesque Cathedral

Gothic architecture

Cathedral of St. James

The earliest Gothic style appeared in Trogir on the renowned Cathedral of St Lovro, carved by Radovan around the same time as the carved wooden portal on Split’s Cathedral of St Domnius. In Zagreb the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary displays early Gothic influences.

Late Gothic style reached its highest expression in Croatia in the work of Juraj Dalmatinac whose finest work was Sibenik’s Cathedral of St James, built entirely out of stone.

Renaissance architecture
For Renaissance architecture in Croatia, Dubrovnik has no equivalent examples. Although it was destroyed in the 17th-century earthquake, the splendid Sponza Palace stands as an example of the style that once pervaded this south Adriatic city.

Baroque in Croatia architecture

Introduced by Jesuit monks in the 17th century, the baroque style is characteristic of northern Croatia, particularly in Varazdin, which has a strikingly well-preserved baroque centre. Zagreb also has fine examples of the baroque style.

The Church of St Catherine, the Church of St Xavier and the mansions containing the Croatian Historical Museum and the Croatian Museum of Naive Art reflect the flourishing baroque style of the 18th century.

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Croatia Architecture Overview

Croatia Architecture
Overview