The round Church of St Donatus in Zadar, built on the Roman forum

Church & monasteryDalmatia

Church of St Donatus in Zadar: a round church on the Roman forum

The Church of St Donatus (Crkva sv. Donata) is a circular church in the heart of Zadar, begun by Bishop Donatus in the early medieval period. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia and a symbol of the city. Built from Roman stone on the old forum, it is a highlight for anyone exploring Dalmatia beyond the beaches.

This church is built on top of a Roman forum, with column drums and even a Roman altar buried in its foundations. Today a building that was once a warehouse is a concert hall prized for its acoustics.

WhereOld town of Zadar, Dalmatia, next to the Cathedral of St Anastasia

TypePre-Romanesque circular church, 9th century, now a concert venue

Best forArchitecture lovers, history fans and concert-goers

Getting thereIn the historic centre of Zadar, on the site of the Roman forum; the old town is best explored on foot

The history of the Church of St Donatus

The building of the church is placed in the second half of the 8th century, and it is thought to have been completed in the 9th. Tradition credits Donatus, bishop and diplomat of Zadar, who led delegations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and to Charlemagne. He is often linked with the years 801 to 814, when he visited both the Carolingian and the Byzantine courts.

The church was built on the north-eastern part of the Roman forum, using material from the ancient buildings. Among the fragments in its foundations a sacrificial altar can still be made out, with the inscription naming Juno Augusta and Jupiter Augustus. When the foundations were uncovered for research, a whole series of Roman column drums appeared beneath the walls.

It was first named the Church of the Holy Trinity. Its first written mention comes in the 10th century, in the work De Administrando Imperio by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus. Only in the 15th century did it start to be called after St Donatus. The church was meant to stand alone but became part of the episcopal complex beside the Cathedral of St Anastasia; a narthex, last rebuilt in the 18th century, linked the two.

The uses of the building changed with the centuries. Under the Republic of Venice it served as a warehouse, as it did under the Napoleonic occupation and Austria-Hungary. It later housed an archaeological museum for a time. The Second World War caused damage in Zadar, and the surroundings were cleared of later buildings. Today the church is no longer used for worship but as a concert venue, home to the annual Musical Evenings in St Donatus, an international festival of medieval and Renaissance music.

Curiosities about the Church of St Donatus

It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia, and its form is rare: a 27-metre-high round church with a double interior space.
Originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity, it took the name of St Donatus only in the 15th century.
A sacrificial altar with the inscription IVNONI AVGUSTE IIOVI AVGUSTO is still visible among the foundation fragments.
The architecture recalls the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna and Charlemagne's palace chapel in Aachen, though the church has no direct models.
Its excellent acoustics make it a favoured concert hall, and classical music evenings are held here in the tourist season.
The three apses are arranged radially around the eastern side, which makes the church closer to medieval than to late-antique architecture.

Tours near Church of St Donatus

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Experience Zadar Archipelago with Antares sailing shared tour

★ 5 (77 reviews) · 4 h

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Private Boat Tour To Pakleni Islands and Red Rocks

★ 5 (41 reviews) · 5 h

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Full Day Sailing Tour

★ 5 (39 reviews) · 9 h

See details ›

Quad Tour the Hidden Trails of Dalmatia from Zadar

★ 5 (38 reviews) · 3 h

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Visiting the Church of St Donatus

The church stands in the old town beside the Cathedral of St Anastasia, at the edge of the Roman forum, so one walk covers both.
Inside, look for the central round space, the ring-shaped ambulatory and the gallery above it, reached by a spiral staircase.
Concerts are held here, especially in summer, when the church is used for the Musical Evenings in St Donatus; check the current programme and opening hours before you go.
Around the church you can see the remains of the Roman forum, from which much of the building's stone and columns were taken.
The Sea organ and the Monument to the Sun, both on this guide, are a short walk away on the waterfront.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.