St. Lawrence Cathedral

The cathedral of Saint Lawrence, in Trogir

The cathedral of Saint Lawrence is the most emblematic monument of Trogir, masterpiece of the Romanesque and Gothic art of Dalmatia. The Trogir audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this building begun in the thirteenth century and completed in the seventeenth, famous for the sculpted portal of the master Radovan in 1240, one of the summits of European Romanesque art, and its bell tower of forty-seven metres.

History

Here is the cathedral of Saint Lawrence, the most emblematic monument of Trogir. Its construction began at the very beginning of the thirteenth century, on the ruins of a church destroyed by the Saracens, and was completed only in the seventeenth century, after more than four hundred years of works: each generation left its imprint there. The gaze falls first on the monumental portal, realised in 1240 by the master Radovan, sculptor of Trogir, one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art in Europe. You see there Adam and Eve, lions, the apostles, but also the months of the year and scenes of daily life: Radovan made a whole world enter the stone, mingling sacred and profane with an astonishing realism for his time. The bell tower, forty-seven metres high, illustrates the evolution of architecture: Gothic base, second floor inspired by Venetian palaces, Renaissance summit of the seventeenth century, crowned with mannerist statues and a gilded sphere containing relics. Whoever climbs to the summit is rewarded with a spectacular view of the city and the Adriatic. Inside, the chapel of Saint John is a treasure of the Dalmatian Renaissance. You will visit this place of prayer with respect.

What to see

Here you admire, with respect, the emblematic monument of Trogir, cathedral raised from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century, whose portal sculpted by the master Radovan in 1240 is a summit of Romanesque art, mingling sacred and profane scenes; its bell tower of forty-seven metres offers a spectacular view, and the chapel of Saint John is its treasure. The cathedral of Saint Lawrence is a major place of prayer, to be visited with respect. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The cathedral of Saint Lawrence stands on the John Paul II square, in the heart of the old town of Trogir, reachable on foot. It is a place of worship in activity, whose access is made in the respect of the services and of contemplation; the visit and the climb to the bell tower are generally paying and the hours vary. It is best to enquire before coming and to adopt correct attire.

Why is the portal of the cathedral of Trogir famous?

Because it was realised in 1240 by the master Radovan, sculptor of Trogir, and counts among the masterpieces of Romanesque art in Europe; you see there Adam and Eve, lions, the apostles, the months of the year and scenes of daily life, in a mixture of sacred and profane of an astonishing realism for its time. The cathedral was raised from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century.

Where is the cathedral of Saint Lawrence in Trogir?

On the John Paul II square, in the heart of the old town of Trogir, in Croatia.