The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Treasury are two of the must see sights in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Their many artifacts have turned them into premier tourist spots.
Location
The cathedral and treasury (which are side by side and often considered as one) can be found at Kneza Damjana Jude 1, Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik can be found at the Adriatic Sea Coast. This is at the end of the Dubrovnik Isthmus.
What to See
The cathedral is best known for its various paintings by Italian artists, including Dalmation. Visitors to the cathedral will see numerous Christian relics. The treasury also has over 200 gold and silver reliquaries.
The treasures of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Treasury is protected by a wall of glass. Equally attractive is the gilded shelving. This is custom designed to fit in the myriad types of relics and artifacts. All bone fragment and mummified remains are stored properly. As such, the arm-shaped reliquaries contain arm bones and so on.
The cathedral is planned like a Latin cross. There are three naves that end in apses. Built over older churches, their remains can still be seen today. The transept crossing is encompassed by a dome designed in the Baroque style.
One of the biggest attractions here is the Assumption by Titian (1552). This can be found at the altar. The treasury is also known for the Virgin of the Chair, a work attributed to Raphael. This is a copy; the original piece is in Florence. Many of the objects here are constructed of gold. There is a basin and pitcher of gold.
History
The cathedral and treasury was constructed sometime in the 6th or 7th century. According to legends, the reconstruction of the cathedral was provided by King Richard the Lionheart (1157-99).
This happened after the king got shipwrecked at the place. In 1667, an earthquake struck, heavily damaging the structure. The Roman architects Paolo Andreotti and Andrea Buffalini rebuilt the cathedral.
Cost
The entry fee to the Treasury is 10kn (1.75 USD).
Other Info
Some of the most notable relics are the skull, leg and gold plated arm of Saint Blaise. Also included in the collections are swaddling clothes said to belong to the baby Jesus. There is also an artifact believed to belong to the cross where Jesus was crucified.
From Mondays to Fridays, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Treasury opens at 9 in the morning until 12 noon. It opens again at 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm. On Sundays it opens 11:30 am-5:30 pm.
