St. James. Šibenik

The night before when it was gray and rainy, I had the Old Town of Sibenik pretty much to myself. I thought maybe the tourists had gone since it is mid September though I felt bad for the shop keepers. Then again, maybe they too were weary of the tourist crush.

But this morning after a brief, dramatic shower or two, there were lots of people around.

       

The plan was to visit the restored Fortress...after that, I had no plan.

This is from the Fortress high above the town itself. It shows just a bit of the Adriatic. Sibenik is a protected harbor with a number of small islands between the city and the vast Adriatic. When I bought my ticket for entrance the ticket agent helpfully said that I could also visit the second Fortress over on that hill....and she pointed it out. (About a 20 minute up and down hill walk). Then she pointed out a third Fortress which is being renovated "over there" and she pointed.

"They filmed some of "Game of Thrones" at that fortress she said.

Apparently lots of Game of Thrones scenes have been filmed in Croatia as dramatic castles and fortresses. Everywhere are Game to Thrones T-shirts and stores of memorabilia. I don't even understand Croatian but whenever I am around tour guides....inevitably you hear "Game of Thrones" mixed in with the description of this and that.

I've never even seen the show and it's more popular here than European Football or even their President.

        

No matter where you go or what you see....Game of Thrones has been there before to film.

Fortress?...Game of Thrones

Old Cathedral?....Game of Thrones

Salvatore's Fish Shack?....Game of Thrones

            

I missed mass but in the afternoon, the Cathedral was open and I spent awhile in there. I was rather surprised by the upper interior of the Cathedral.

It contained this dramatic stained glass window as so many huge churches do...but the cut stone was unfinished. This country is made of limestone and finding a quarry is no trick...(I imagine Game of Thrones has filmed in a few quarries) but usually there is paint or extensive decorations in the upper reaches of the churches.

But, as one can see, the overall effect is dramatic. It is said that the stones are fitted together without the need for mortar. Impressive, though I noted countless leaks. The barreled roof is also local stone. It took a shelling in the 1991 war but they restored the Cathedral and it is all good.

     

I'm sure there is a scriptural text to support this skull on the altar where the Virgin Mary and Child stand....but have to say that I have not seen such in any other church. It does give one pause.

          

Go down the right aisle and you will find the Baptistry...."Baptisterium".

 It is in a half-level-down undercroft.

   

                  

The most impressive thing in the Cathedral....and one of THE most impressive things I have ever seen in ANY church is the Baptistry. My pictures do not do it justice.

               

It's about 12 feet high with carvings and statues covering walls and ceiling with the Baptismal Fount in the center...made of marble.

       

Immediately above the Fount are the sculpted relief works (above and below)

        

With the most dramatic of God directly above the center of the four foot high Fount. God and the Holy Spirit (the dove belove the beard of God).  It's covered by lace-like sculptures. It's both Gothic an Renaissance style.

          

King David and the prophet Simon flank the Fount. Two other statues were stolen a back in the 1990's.

                 

The Fount itself is supported by three angels at the base. You can see the corrugated seashells which are in the four corners of the Baptistry. Marvelous symbolism of shells and water and the Trinity. And the third part of that Trinity...the Son....is symbolized by every child which is baptized beneath the God, the Creator and the Holy Spirit (Dove)

This Baptistry, alone was worth the trip to Sibenik.

             

Peace,   Bob