Church of Our Lady of Health, Jelsa

The church of Our Lady of Health in Jelsa is a votive church in a prominent place above the settlement. It belongs to Split-Dalmatia County. It is interesting to visitors because the seafarers of Jelsa have sought the protection of the Mother of God for centuries.

It was built in 1535 as a vow during a great cholera epidemic. Over its history it was extended twice, and a thorough renovation was carried out in 1863, when the west nave, bell tower and approach to the church were built. The sanctuary then acquired its present appearance. It is single-nave, elongated, with a square apse and a bell tower on the south side, eight metres wide and 23.5 metres long. It is a fine example of historicist architecture that connects organically with the earlier core and the impressive location.

The church is a protected cultural good, entered in the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia under the code Z-6631.

Photo: Samuli Lintula, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Data: Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia (Ministry of Culture and Media), Open Licence; coordinates: DGU (centre of the settlement).