Korčula Cathedral: A Gothic Church and Former Episcopal Seat in Croatia
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.7
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Croatia
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval, Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Venetian
- Site type
- Religious
- Remains
- Cathedral
On this page6 sections
History
Korčula Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of St. Mark, is a Roman Catholic church in Korčula, Croatia, founded in 1407 and built in the Gothic style from the fifteenth century to the mid-sixteenth century. Dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, the Christian figure traditionally associated with the Gospel of Mark, it occupies an important place in the religious history of Korčula.
The church served as the cathedral and episcopal seat of the Diocese of Korčula until 1828. In that year, the diocese was suppressed in favour of the Diocese of Dubrovnik, and the church lost its cathedral status. It remains an active Catholic parish church and belongs administratively to the Diocese of Dubrovnik.
Remains
Building and furnishings
The cathedral stands on an elevated position in the centre of Korčula, on the upper part of the peninsula. Local masters built it in the Gothic style, a medieval architectural tradition associated with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a strong emphasis on vertical form. Its surviving features include the main portal, the altarpiece, organs, and the baptistery, the part of a Christian church used for baptism.
Portal
The portal was made by Bonino da Milano, an Italian sculptor and architect active during the late medieval and early Renaissance periods.
Altarpiece and organs
Jacopo Tintoretto, a major sixteenth-century Venetian painter associated with the later Renaissance, painted the altarpiece. An organ was installed in 1557, and Vinko Klisevic built a new organ in 1787.
Baptistery
A bronze statue of Jesus Christ by the Croatian sculptor Frano Kršinić was added to the baptistery in modern times.
