Euphrasian Basilica
A monument of global sacred heritage and art, the Euphrasian Basilica (Euphrasiana) in Poreč is one of the finest preserved examples of early Byzantine art in the Mediterranean. It was built in the 6th century, on the site of an earlier early-Christian church, during the time of Bishop Euphrasius and Emperor Justinian I, and is part of the episcopal complex. In 1997, UNESCO declared it a World Cultural Heritage Site.
The Euphrasian Basilica complex consists of several remarkable structures: the Basilica itself, the Parish Church, the Sacristy and the Cella Trichora, the Baptistery and the Bell Tower, the Oratory of St. Maurus, as well as the nearby Bishop’s Palace, which recent research has confirmed to belong to the same Byzantine period as the Basilica. The sacred collection of the Diocese of Poreč and Pula has recently been housed there. Alongside the presentation of archaeological remains—primarily mosaics dated as early as the 3rd century—the complex also features valuable sacred monuments and artistic objects from the early-Christian, early Byzantine, and medieval periods.
The Basilica, which is in fact the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, began construction in 553 on the foundations of an earlier three-nave basilica. Over the centuries it has undergone numerous changes, so that the original early-Christian structure is now the third church on this site, rebuilt in the Gothic style. Although earthquakes, wars, and fires damaged the building, the authentic 5th-century floor mosaics have been preserved and stand as a representative example of early-Christian art, while the golden mosaics decorating the church’s interior and façade are among the finest preserved works of Byzantine art.
In the second half of the 20th century, a programme of summer classical music concerts in the Euphrasiana was launched—an event that continues to this day as one of the oldest classical music festivals in Croatia.
Concerts in the Euphrasiana are a distinguished and recognisable musical event due to the unique combination of a precious historical setting and timeless music.