Church of St Donatus, Zadar

If you love old buildings, especially old churches, then you have come to the right place. Our beautiful city – Zadar – is adorned by the Church of St Donatus, originally the Church of the Holy Trinity, which was built as early as the 9th century. With its distinctive shape, it still dominates the old part of the city today, and is considered one of the most valuable monuments of pre-Romanesque architecture. Due to its state of preservation and distinctive shape, the Church of St Donatus is one of the most significant buildings, not only in Croatia, but in Europe as well.

The Appearance of the Church of St Donatus in Zadar

In its shape, the church follows the classical form of churches built in that period. It is a church with a circular floor plan, specific to the early Byzantine period, yet it stands out for its originality due to its rough monumentality, its unusual cylindrical shape, and its double interior space.

According to tradition, it was built by the Zadar bishop St Donatus in the 9th century. It was originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and it only began to be called after St Donatus from the 15th century onward.

Today the church no longer has a sacred function, and from 1893 to 1954 it housed Zadar's Archaeological Museum.

The church has exceptional acoustic qualities, and for decades it has hosted the musical performances of the renowned international festival of medieval and Renaissance music, the Musical Evenings in St Donatus.

If you visit Zadar, be sure to also visit the Church of St Donatus. The building itself and the surroundings in which it stands inspire many of our guests to capture their most beautiful memories of Zadar in this very place.