Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Zadar

A museum attendant had told me, that the small church of St. Lawrence (Sveti Lovre) was to find at Narodni Place. Near the famous City Guard (Gradska straža) with the city clock tower, "but behind a coffe shop". It took some time, but I found it. Behind the coffee shop! The visitor actually walks through the coffee shop - and there it is. Dated to the 11th century, small and hard to find. When it was erected, there were still many Roman ruins around, so that building material got reused. Looking back - to the coffee shop on the other end of the church.

A museum attendant had told me, that the small church of St. Lawrence (Sveti Lovre) was to find at Narodni Place. Near the famous City Guard (Gradska straža) with the city clock tower, "but behind a coffe shop". It took some time, but I found it. Behind the coffee shop! The visitor actually walks through the coffee shop - and there it is. Dated to the 11th century, small and hard to find. When it was erected, there were still many Roman ruins around, so that building material got reused.

A museum attendant had told me, that the small church of St. Lawrence (Sveti Lovre) was to find at Narodni Place. Near the famous City Guard (Gradska straža) with the city clock tower, "but behind a coffe shop". It took some time, but I found it. Behind the coffee shop! The visitor actually walks through the coffee shop - and there it is. Dated to the 11th century, small and hard to find. When it was erected, there were still many Roman ruins aroound, so that building material got reused. This capital seemes to be "Christian", having a small person in adorante-gestus. For a while I saw this as a baptism..

A museum attendant had told me, that the small church of St. Lawrence (Sveti Lovre) was to find at Narodni Place. Near the famous City Guard (Gradska straža) with the city clock tower, "but behind the coffee shop". It took some time, but I found it. Behind the coffee shop! The visitor actually walks through the coffee shop - and there it is. Dated to the 11th century, small and hard to find.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here is a large fragment of an an altar screen from the Church of St. Lawrence (Sveti Lovre). I learned from a museum attendant, that the church still exists "behind the coffee shop at Narodni Place". It took some time, but I found it. Behind the coffee shop! Here is the "Visitation" (Mary and Elizabeth), the "Nativity" and below the "First Bath" (Joseph is watching). Then there are the Magi on horses approaching Bethlehem.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. Seen here is the "Flight into Egypt".

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. Seen here is the "Massacre of the Innocents", the infanticide ordered by Herod the Great (Matthew 2:16–18).

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. Mary, seated on a folding chair, having Jesus on her knees, welcomes the Magi. Little Jesus, just a few days old, masters already the blessing gesture. The Magi resemble older carvings in Ravenna on the western side of the Adriatic Sea. Just like them, they wear phrygian caps. They are clearly "byzantine" in style. Younger carvings mostly show the Magi wearing crowns. A political symbol, probably invented by a gifted spin doctor, bringing the Magi into an ancestral line with the medieval Kings.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. While on the left the shepherds watch the "First Bath" (under the Star of Bethlehem), Mary, seated on a folding chair, having Jesus on her knees, welcomes the Magi. The Magi resemble older carvings in Ravenna on the western side of the Adriatic Sea. Just like them, they wear phrygian caps. They are clearly "byzantine" in style. Younger carvings mostly show the Magi wearing crowns. A political symbol, probably invented by a gifted spin doctor, bringing the Magi into an ancestral line with the medieval Kings.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. Not seen here (further to the left and very damaged) is the "Annunciation", - seen here is the "Visitation", the "Nativity" (Mary is resting. Ox, ass and the Star of Bethlehem under the arch) and the "First Bath". The shepherds watch the scene.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. This gable is important, as the name of the Croatian Prince Branimir (879-892) is inscribed. The name of the Croats is written here for the first time.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection. This bear (?) was created from clay in Northern Dalmatia during the Neolithic times.

Zadar has a very long history. After the Romans had left, Ostrogoths, Huns, Avars and Slavs had been here. It was part of the Byzantine Empire upto the early 9th century, when the Franks held it, but returned it to Byzantium after the Treaty of Aachen in 812. In 1069 Zadar was under the rule of Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. but already 1102 whole Dalmatia became Hungarian. Since the 12th century Zadar was a rival to Venice. The Venetians and the Crusaders conquered the town after a siege in 1202. Zadar changed hands a couple of times, but in 1409 Ladislaus of Naples, titular King of Hungary (and husband of Mary of Lusignan) sold Dalmatia to Venice for 100.000 ducats. The Roman Forum and St. Donatus (Crkva sv. Donata) seen from the inside of the Archaeological Museum. The "Arheoloski Muzej" has a fantastic collection of medieval art found in Croatia.

Zadar has a very long history. After the Romans had left, Ostrogoths, Huns, Avars and Slavs had been here. It was part of the Byzantine Empire upto the early 9th century, when the Franks held it, but returned it to Byzantium after the Treaty of Aachen in 812. In 1069 Zadar was under the rule of Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. but already 1102 whole Dalmatia became Hungarian. Since the 12th century Zadar was a rival to Venice. The Venetians and the Crusaders conquered the town after a siege in 1202. Zadar changed hands a couple of times, but in 1409 Ladislaus of Naples, titular King of Hungary (and husband of Mary of Lusignan) sold Dalmatia to Venice for 100.000 ducats. During the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s Zadar was under siege for about 2 years and shelled sporadically, what created a lot of damage. Attacks on the city continued until the end of the war in 1995. - Most important bishop here was Donatus, who had strong ties to the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I and was a well travelled diplomat. In the "Vita Karoli Magni" Einhard, Charlemagne´s biographer, wrote about a meeting between him and Charlenagne in Thionville (805). Donatus may have seen the octogonal Palatine Chapel in Aachen - and maybe even San Vitale in Ravenna. These structures seem to be models of the "Crkva sv. Donata", completed probably mid 9th century. Built on the foundations of the Roman forum this was the bishop´s "private chapel", neighbouring the cathedral. Over centuries the church was used as a warehouse, during Yugoslavian times, it served as an archaeological museum. As the building has a brilliant accoustic it is now a venue for the annual International Festival of Medieval Renaissance Music. www.donat-festival.com/ There are nice views from St. Donatus. Seen in the backdrop is the island of Ugljan.

In medieval times, Zadar had two Benedictinian convents. Benedictine nuns still live in the convent around "Sveta Marija" since that time. The church, seen here from Saint Donatus, was constructed in 1091 and altered many times. The facade dates to the 16th century. The Lombardian type bell tower was erected in 1105, funded by Coloman, King of Hungary, (aka "Coloman the Learned", "Coloman the Book Lover"), who was King of Croatia since he had been crowned three years ago in near Biograd na Moru.

Zadar has a very long history - and after the Romans had left, Ostrogoths, Huns, Avars and Slavs had been here. It was part of the Byzantine Empire upto the early 9th century, when the Franks held it, but returned it to Byzantium after the Treaty of Aachen in 812. In 1069 Zadar was under the rule of Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. but already 1102 whole Dalmatia became Hungarian. Since the 12th century Zadar was a rival to Venice. The Venetians and the Crusaders conquered the town after a siege in 1202. Zadar changed hands a couple of times, but in 1409 Ladislaus of Naples, titular King of Hungary (and husband of Mary of Lusignan) sold Dalmatia to Venice for 100.000 ducats. During the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s Zadar was under siege for about 2 years and shelled sporadically, what created a lot of damage. Attacks on the city continued until the end of the war in 1995. - Most important bishop here was Donatus, who had strong ties to the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I and was a well travelled diplomat. In the "Vita Karoli Magni" Einhard, Charlemagne´s biographer, wrote about a meeting between him and Charlenagne in Thionville (805). Donatus may have seen the octogonal Palatine Chapel in Aachen - and maybe even San Vitale in Ravenna. These structures seem to be models of the "Crkva sv. Donata", completed probably mid 9th century. Built on the foundations of the Roman forum this was the bishop´s "private chapel", neighbouring the cathedral. Over centuries the church was used as a warehouse, during Yugoslavian times, it served as an archaeological museum. As the building has a brilliant accoustic it is now a venue for the annual International Festival of Medieval Renaissance Music. www.donat-festival.com/ Looking down from the gallery. When the rotunda was erected on the former Roman forum, there were probably lots of Roman ruins. Many Roman spolia were reused here, like these pillars and capitals.

Zadar has a very long history - and after the Romans had left, Ostrogoths, Huns, Avars and Slavs had been here. It was part of the Byzantine Empire upto the early 9th century, when the Franks held it, but returned it to Byzantium after the Treaty of Aachen in 812. In 1069 Zadar was under the rule of Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. but already 1102 whole Dalmatia became Hungarian. Since the 12th century Zadar was a rival to Venice. The Venetians and the Crusaders conquered the town after a siege in 1202. Zadar changed hands a couple of times, but in 1409 Ladislaus of Naples, titular King of Hungary (and husband of Mary of Lusignan) sold Dalmatia to Venice for 100.000 ducats. During the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s Zadar was under siege for about 2 years and shelled sporadically, what created a lot of damage. Attacks on the city continued until the end of the war in 1995. - Most important bishop here was Donatus, who had strong ties to the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I and was a well travelled diplomat. In the "Vita Karoli Magni" Einhard, Charlemagne´s biographer, wrote about a meeting between him and Charlenagne in Thionville (805). Donatus may have seen the octogonal Palatine Chapel in Aachen - and maybe even San Vitale in Ravenna. These structures seem to be models of the "Crkva sv. Donata", completed probably mid 9th century. Built on the foundations of the Roman forum this was the bishop´s "private chapel", neighbouring the cathedral. Over centuries the church was used as a warehouse, during Yugoslavian times, it served as an archaeological museum. As the building has a brilliant accoustic it is now a venue for the annual International Festival of Medieval Renaissance Music. www.donat-festival.com/ Looking down from the gallery.

Zadar has a very long history - and after the Romans had left, Ostrogoths, Huns, Avars and Slavs had been here. It was part of the Byzantine Empire upto the early 9th century, when the Franks held it, but returned it to Byzantium after the Treaty of Aachen in 812. In 1069 Zadar was under the rule of Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. but already 1102 whole Dalmatia became Hungarian. Since the 12th century Zadar was a rival to Venice. The Venetians and the Crusaders conquered the town after a siege in 1202. Zadar changed hands a couple of times, but in 1409 Ladislaus of Naples, titular King of Hungary (and husband of Mary of Lusignan) sold Dalmatia to Venice for 100.000 ducats. During the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s Zadar was under siege for about 2 years and shelled sporadically, what created a lot of damage. Attacks on the city continued until the end of the war in 1995. - Most important bishop here was Donatus, who had strong ties to the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I and was a well travelled diplomat. In the "Vita Karoli Magni" Einhard, Charlemagne´s biographer, wrote about a meeting between him and Charlenagne in Thionville (805). Donatus may have seen the octogonal Palatine Chapel in Aachen - and maybe even San Vitale in Ravenna. These structures seem to be models of the "Crkva sv. Donata", completed probably mid 9th century. Built on the foundations of the Roman forum this was the bishop´s "private chapel", neighbouring the cathedral. Over centuries the church was used as a warehouse, during Yugoslavian times, it served as an archaeological museum. As the building has a brilliant accoustic it is now a venue for the annual International Festival of Medieval Renaissance Music. www.donat-festival.com/ Standing in the center - looking up.