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Poreč/Parenzo is a town on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula. The town's population of approximately 12,000 resides mostly on the outskirts. Poreč is a town with a long and turbulent history which nurtures remnants of its past in the heart of its old town. From Ancient Roman times to the present day more than two thousand years have passed, and the streets of Poreč continue to preserve their original architecture and numerous cultural and historical monuments. Of these we can especially note the Euphrasian Basilica with its distinctive mosaics dating from the 6th century which UNESCO recognised and protected as a world heritage site in 1997

The Euphrasian Basilica or

the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of

Mary is a basilica in Poreč, CroatiaBasilica entrance

Basilica entrance

The Episcopal complex, including, apart the basilica itself, a sacristy, a baptistery and the bell tower of the

nearby archbishop's

palace, is one of the best examples of early Byzantine architecture in the

Mediterranean region

The Euphrasian basilica has for the most part retained its original shape, but accidents, fires and earthquakes have altered a few details. Since it is the third church to be built on the same site, it conceals previous buildings, for example the great floor mosaic of the previous basilica from the 5th century

Because of its exceptional value, it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. The Basilica is also the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Poreč-Pola

The 16th-century bell tower

Euphrasian Basilca Western facade seen from the Bell Tower

Euphrasian Basilca Western facade seen from the Bell Tower

Bishopric cathedra- end of the 8th century

The colonnaded atrium - Built after the basilica, it is

covered on all four sides by a portico

which houses a rich collection of stone

monuments

Medieval Agnus Dei

The 6th-century octagonal baptistery - Built in the 5th

century together with the pre-Euphrasian basilica, and underwent considerable

alterations

The "Mosaics Museum": a collection of loose stones and tiles that have been recovered from this site. It includes some excellent early mosaics of subjects like vines, reminiscent of Roman pieces 

The earliest basilica was dedicated to Saint Maurus of Parentium and dates back to the second half of the 4th century. The fish on the floor mosaic dates from this period  

Remains of Early Christian church

The 16th-century bell tower

Remains of Early Christian church

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The Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Porec is one of the best examples of early Byzantine architecture and art (mosaics)

The two aisles are separated from the nave by 18 elegant Greek marble colonnades with richly sculpted Byzantine and Romanesque capitals, decorated with depictions of animals

The basilica was rebuilt from the year 553 under the Byzantine Empire and

bishop Euphrasius on the

site of the older basilica that had

become dilapidated

For the construction, parts of the former church were used and the marble blocks were imported from the coast of the Sea of Marmara. The wall mosaics were executed by Byzantian masters and the floor mosaics by local experts. The construction took about ten years

The arches between the capitals are decorated with stucco work

All capitals, decorated with depictions of animals, carry the monogram of Saint Euphrasius

Arch between the capitals 

The apsis is dominated by the marble ciborium, modeled after the one in St. Mark's in Venice; it was built in 1277 on the orders of by Otto, Bishop of Poreč

The canopy, decorated with

mosaics, is carried by four

marble columns that belonged to

the previous 6th-century

ciborium

The front side of the canopy

depicts representations of scenes from

Mary's life, the Annunciation

The lower part of the apse is decorated with stone slabs encrusted with mother-of-pearl. Part of these came from an earlier wainscoting. They consist of 21 fields with 11 different decorations. In the middle stands the bishop's throne, flanked by candlesticks.

The altar

Chapels

The best preserved frescoes from the end of the 14th c. in the former sacristy, above the sanctuary of the one-time northern basilica 

Text InternetPictures: Internet & Sanda FoişoreanuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors.

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasandahttp://www.authorstream.com/sandamichaela/

Sound: Radojka Sverko - Ave Maria - Rock Opera  Gubec Beg 1984