St Donat’s

History

The beginning of the building of the Church of St. Donatus was placed to the second half of 8th century, and it is supposed to be completed in 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Byzantium and Charles the Great, which is why this church is similar to Charles’ court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to St. Vitale’s Church in Ravenna. It belongs to the pre-Romanesque architectural period, being an original variation of the architectural form used in the Byzantine buildings of the 9th century.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and it’s characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism. It has three radially situated apses and an ambulatory around the central area, surmounted by circular gallery. The circular shape is typical of the early Byzantine age in Dalmatia.It was built on the Roman forum and materials from buildings used in its construction. Among the fragments which are built into the foundations it is still possible to distinsh the remains of a sacrificial altar on which is written IVNONI AVGUSTE IIOVI AVGUSTO.

Its use has varied during its lifetime; during the rule of the Venetians and Turks it was a warehouse, and also during the French occupation and when under the Austrians. After the liberation it was an archeological museum for a short period of time and it now serves as the concert venue for the annual International Festival of Medieval Renaissance Music, also known as Musical Evenings in St. Donatus because of its stark interior and excellent acoustics.