Church of St. Blaise

The Church of St. Blaise stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Dubrovnik, constructed on the site of a 14th-century Romanesque predecessor. While the original building survived the devastating earthquake of 1667, it was tragically consumed by a fire in 1706. The current Baroque structure was commissioned shortly after and completed in 1715 under the direction of the Venetian architect Marino Gropelli, who modeled it after the Church of San Maurizio in Venice. Dedicated to the city's patron saint, the church is a central figure in the religious and social life of the local community. According to legend, St. Blaise appeared in a vision to a local priest in 971 to warn of a surprise Venetian naval attack, thereby saving the Republic from conquest. This divine intervention cemented his status as the eternal protector of the city, and his image can be seen throughout Dubrovnik, holding a model of the city in his hands. The interior of the church is equally impressive, featuring a high altar made of marble and gold. The most prized possession is the 15th-century silver-gilt statue of St. Blaise, which miraculously remained unharmed during the 1706 fire. This statue is particularly significant to historians because the model of the city held by the saint depicts Dubrovnik's layout and architecture as it existed before the 1667 earthquake, providing a rare glimpse into the city's medieval past.