On the western coast of Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, almost directly across the Adriatic from Venice, is the town of Poreč. Established in Roman times, the town has a long history. Much of this history can be seen in its Euphrasian Basilica, a World Heritage Site. A part of the Venetian Empire, it shows the Byzantium influence on the culture and architecture of Venice. It’s been the site of a Roman house and a few early Christian churches. The whole complex has a number of parts, including a baptistry, a bell tower, and the basilica.
The basilica dates from the 550s and is a unique example of a mostly unaltered Byzantine church. The most striking feature of the basilica are its gold mosaics. They show Jesus, Mary, and the whole gang — complete with Bishop Euphrasius, holding a model of the church (apse mosaic, second from left).
The church has a central nave and two aisles, separated by an arcade with richly sculpted Byzantine and Romanesque capitals and arches decorated with detailed stucco work. The marble ciborium, the canopy structure in the apse, was added later in 1277.
The amazing thing about the basilica is that it has remained almost intact since the time of Justinian. It’s a rare, original church.
