Church of Saint Blaise

Brief information

The Church of St. Blaise stands on Luža Square in the center of Dubrovnik, but its main point of intrigue is connected not with the square, but with the replacement of a lost church. A 14th-century Gothic church once stood on this site: it survived the severe earthquake of 1667, but was destroyed in a fire in 1706. The new building was constructed from 1706 to 1715 according to a design by the Venetian architect Marino Gropelli, so its present appearance is associated with Baroque rather than with the Gothic style of the earlier church.

The strongest historical trace is found not in the walls, but on the main altar. There stands a gilded silver statue of St. Blaise, made by local masters in the 15th century. In his hands, the saint holds a model of Dubrovnik before the earthquake of 1667. This detail turns the statue into a small image of a vanished city inside a later building.

What to notice first

You can compare several elements that show how the church acquired a new language after the fire. The richly decorated facade and Baroque portal act as an 18th-century ceremonial shell: they do not continue the Gothic church, but replace it with a different image. The broad staircase reinforces this effect: the entrance is made as a conspicuous approach to the building, not as a modest opening in a wall. The large dome on the roof adds a vertical accent and helps the church read as a coherent Baroque structure.

Inside, the meaning shifts from architecture to memory. The gilded silver statue of St. Blaise is older than the present building: it dates to the 15th century, while the church was built after the fire of 1706. The model of the city in the saint’s hands is especially important. It shows Dubrovnik before the earthquake, so three moments in time appear side by side: the old city in miniature, a medieval work by local craftsmen, and the Baroque building that took the place of the burned church.