The city of Sibenik is a small town in Croatia. It is of historical importance. Venetians till the I World War first ruled the city. Later, after the war it came under the control of Yugoslavia. During World War II, the Nazis and Fazis occupied the town and after the war, it was again clubbed with Yugoslavia. The city is the house of many tourist attractions, however the most important and beautiful one is:
The St. Jacob’s Cathedral:
The Church is one of the listed places in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The plan of the Church began as early as 1298. However, the construction was started only by 1402. The main person behind the construction of this Cathedral was Juraj Matvejev Dalmatinac. He was elected unanimously as the architect of the Cathedral. He constructed the church almost up to its end. His exquisite ideas over the construction of the Church, however changed the concept of the church and it became more of an architectural piece. He developed many schemes for the construction and built up a huge network of associates, who followed his style and guidance to contribute their share in the construction. After the death of the master, the associates continued their work and completed the project. The Cathedral was finally consecrated only in 1555.
Architecture:
Venetian craftsmen built the Church. It is based on the Gothic style of construction.
The Cathedral consists of a main dome. The other structures include many chambers, apses. Stone sculptures are found aplenty. These include many decorations and human figures. The Baptistery and other sides on the outer region are all made out of stone. The parallel galleries and sanctuary add beauty to the whole Cathedral. However, it has to be mentioned that the construction of different parts of the Church took place in phases by different constructors, under the supervision of very many architects.
In 1991, the dome was badly damaged by shelling. However, within a span of few years, the damage had been rectified and the dome rebuilt.
Interiors of the Cathedral:
The Cathedral is built on Gothic and Renaissance ideas. The inside is divided into two areas. While the anterior part is dedicated for churchgoers and worshippers, the posterior part of it opens out into two galleries and shrines. The anterior part has high ceiling and semi circular stone roof. The posterior part delights the visitors with intensive lighting and almost occupies the entire Cathedral.
The Cathedral houses the tombs of many bishops. The tombs too consist of artwork and engravings. The tombs signify the important roles played by these Bishops in the development of the Cathedral.
One significant feature to be noted about this Cathedral, are the sculptures. All of the sculptures are made of stone and they involve intricate ornamentation. The sculptures are based on human figures, angelic and Godly figures. The shapes of these structures create many moods and are capable of moving the visitor.
The Cathedral forms the main attraction of the Sibenik town. Thousands of visitors pour in throughout the year. Many events take place during the International Children’s Festival. All in all, it is a sight of holy vibrations and a gallery to expose the most beautiful architectures of the world, telling stories about the meticulous and creative artists and craftsmen of the region.
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