The square has been situated in the northern part of the city since ancient times. The major intersecting street (cardo maximus), along the western facade, used to be accessed from the port area through a gate. Today's gate has been carrying its notable name Porta Marina, meaning the Sea or Port Gate, since the 16th century, and was built in 1573 to commemorate the victory of the Christian armada in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Stone fragments of a Roman triumphal arch with inscriptions were built in the upper zone of the gate. They are vital for the earliest history of this part of the city where the Roman emporium and port facilities used to be. The central and most important building of this area is the Church of St Chrysogonus. It is the only remnant of the powerful Benedictine monk monastery dismissed at the beginning of the 19th century. Consecrated in 1175 it is a true masterpiece of Romanesque style, whose characteristics are exquisitely shown in the decorative design of the main apse. The interior is divided into three parts, the nave and two aisles. The main altar was made in the style and its tabernacle is adorned by four skilfully carved sculptures depicting patron saints of Zadar: St Chrysogonus, St Anastasia, St Zoilus and St Simeon. Fragments of Late Romanesque frescoes have been preserved inside the side apses. On the north-western corner of the church there is an unfinished bell tower from the 15th century. New buildings of the National Museum, which house valuable cultural and historical collections, are built on the site of the monastery that was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War. The southern side of the square was flanked by the northern and western facades of St Thomas' Basilica, an Early Christian three-nave basilica, which was reconstructed in the Romanesque period and later in the 15th century re-dedicated to St Sylvester. Its remnants are presented in the ground floor of a newly renovated bank.

Type of Data Point - Publicly Available Information

Square of St Chrysogonus - Public Info

Visit page of the element - Square of St Chrysogonus

Inserted: 15-02-2023 08:02:09