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Šibenik Cathedral

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The front side of the cathedral with the rosetta and the portal

The Cathedral of St. James or St. Jacob (Katedrala sv. Jakova) in Šibenik (formerly Sebenico), Croatia is a cathedral church of the Catholic Church in Croatia, the see of Šibenik bishopric. The Cathedral was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000.

The building of the church was initiated in 1402. The actual work to transform the older church began in 1431. A multitude of Venetian and local craftsmen worked on it, in Gothic style.

In 1441, the city council entrusted the work to the Dalmatian master Giorgio Orsini/Juraj Dalmatinac. He enlarged the cathedral with a side nave and apses, prepared it for the dome and added various sculptural decorations, including 71 small human heads on the outer sides and a baptistery, all in stone. Juraj Dalmatinac worked on the cathedral up to his death in 1475.

Between 1475 and 1536 the work was overseen by Tuscan master Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino ("Nicholas the Florentine"). He continued the building in the Renaissance style, completing the dome, the outer sculptures of St. Michael, St. Jacob and St. Mark, the roof and the upper façade. He built also built the triforias (parallel galleries) and worked on the presbytery and sanctuary.

After Fiorentino died in 1505, the construction was finally completed by another group of Venetian and local craftsmen.

The dome of the church was heavily damaged when Serbian forces shelled Šibenik in 1991. The damage since has been repaired.

  • Portal - detail Portal - detail
  • Main altar Main altar
  • The cathedral dome and sculptures The cathedral dome and sculptures
  • Human heads on the external part belong to unknown individuals, but it is commonly speculated that Juraj Dalmatinac made them after the local residents of Šibenik at the time. Human heads on the external part belong to unknown individuals, but it is commonly speculated that Juraj Dalmatinac made them after the local residents of Šibenik at the time.
  • Side portal Side portal

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World Heritage Sites in Croatia
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