Ulica kneza Damjana Jude 1, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Dubrovnik)
A Baroque cathedral in the walled city of Dubrovnik, rebuilt after the catastrophic 1667 earthquake, housing a treasury of medieval reliquaries including a reliquary of the head of St. Blaise, the city's patron.
Dubrovnik's cathedral stands in the center of the old walled city, a few steps from the Rector's Palace and the main street of the Stradun. The current building is Baroque, designed by the Roman architect Andrea Buffalini and built between 1672 and 1713 to replace a Romanesque cathedral destroyed in the devastating earthquake of 1667. The facade is restrained — pale stone with pilasters and a simple pediment — and the interior follows a standard Latin cross plan with a dome over the crossing. What makes this cathedral worth a special visit is the treasury. Behind the altar, in a series of display cases, is one of the finest collections of medieval reliquaries on the Adriatic coast. The gold and silver reliquaries date from the eleventh to the eighteenth centuries and include a reliquary of the head of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik's patron saint, as well as reliquaries said to contain fragments of the True Cross and swaddling clothes of Jesus. The main altarpiece is a polyptych attributed to the school of Titian. The Assumption painting above the high altar is by the Venetian artist Titian himself, though this attribution has been debated. The cathedral was damaged again during the 1991-92 siege but was carefully restored in the years following.
Diocese: Diocese of Dubrovnik
Style: Baroque
What to See
The treasury is the highlight and should not be rushed. The reliquaries are beautifully crafted — gold, silver, and enamel work from the medieval Republic of Ragusa, which rivaled Venice in artistic ambition if not in scale. The reliquary of St. Blaise's head is the most important piece; Blaise is everywhere in Dubrovnik, and this is where his presence is most literally felt. The main altarpiece rewards close attention. The dome over the crossing lets in good light. The Baroque interior is elegant without being overwhelming — a contrast to the exuberance of Italian Baroque churches.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is inside Dubrovnik's walled old city, accessible on foot through the Pile or Ploce gates. The old city is car-free. The treasury charges a small entrance fee separate from the cathedral itself. Mass is offered regularly. The Feast of St. Blaise on February 3 is the most important day in Dubrovnik's calendar — the city processes with the saint's relics through the streets, and the celebration is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. Dubrovnik is crowded in summer; spring and fall are better for a contemplative visit.