The Church of St. Barbara (Crkva Sv. Barbare) is a historic Gothic church located in the heart of Šibenik, Croatia, near the renowned Cathedral of St. James. This positioning places it within the city's medieval core, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its outstanding Renaissance and Gothic architecture. The church serves not only as a religious site but also as a museum of ecclesiastical art, showcasing artifacts from the 14th to 17th centuries.
The construction of St. Barbara's Church in Šibenik, Croatia, commenced around 1400 and reached completion in 1447, establishing it as a quintessential specimen of 15th-century Gothic architecture along the Dalmatian coast. Initially consecrated as a Benedictine church dedicated to St. Benedict, it was subsequently rededicated to St. Nicholas before assuming its present name in the early 17th century. This renaming coincided with the relocation of the city's esteemed bombardier fraternity, who venerated St. Barbara as the patron saint of artillerymen, miners, and those facing sudden peril, reflecting the era's military and occupational hazards in the region. Amidst the Napoleonic occupation in 1806, the church underwent desacralization and was repurposed as a military storage facility, a fate shared by many sacred sites during that turbulent period. Over time, it evolved into an exhibition venue and presently operates as the Museum of Ecclesiastical Art, safeguarding Šibenik's religious legacy through a collection of artifacts, despite enduring economic downturns, regional conflicts, and shifts in political control that have marked Dalmatia's history. Notably, the church's high altar, crafted in the early 17th century likely within a Venetian workshop and commissioned by St. Barbara's Brotherhood, stands as one of Dalmatia's finest, featuring an altarpiece by artist Angelo Mancini depicting St. Barbara alongside St. Nicholas and St. Paul, completed between 1608 and 1610.
St. Barbara's Church embodies a single-naved Gothic design,
characterized by its modest yet sophisticated aesthetic typical of late
medieval coastal Croatian structures, with impressive vaulted ceilings
and meticulous stone carvings that highlight the era's craftsmanship.
Situated near the renowned Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik's historic
core, its facade captivates with a prominent Gothic niche surmounting
the primary portal, containing a detailed sculpture of St. Nicholas
attributed to the skilled Italian artisan Bonino da Milano.
Complementing this is an exceptional stone clock face exhibiting a dual
array of Roman numerals (I to XII repeated), ingeniously designed as a
24-hour timepiece—an uncommon innovation for the 15th century that
underscores the blend of functionality and artistry in medieval
engineering. The exterior is enhanced by a pair of diminutive bell
towers, contributing to its charming outline against the azure Adriatic
Sea.
Internally, the church's high altar showcases exquisite
proportions and expert woodworking, with a fully gilded retable and a
preserved antependium adorned in vibrant hues, flanked by fluted
semi-columns and pilasters topped with Corinthian capitals, and
supported by lion motifs beneath a central oval coat of arms. Recent
conservation efforts have revitalized these elements, employing advanced
techniques to restore original gilding methods, ensuring the space's
historical integrity as part of its museum function.
Inside, the church boasts high-quality wooden altars from the first
half of the 17th century, likely produced in Venetian workshops and
transported by sea—a testament to the strong cultural and trade ties
between Dalmatia and Venice. Remarkably, nine such altars have been
preserved, despite regional hardships that limited further
embellishments.
The centerpiece is the high altar dedicated to St.
Barbara, commissioned in the early 17th century by the St. Barbara’s
Brotherhood and probably crafted in a Venetian studio. Regarded as one
of the most beautiful altars in Dalmatia, it features balanced
proportions and exquisite craftsmanship. The retable is fully gilded,
while the antependium (the front panel) incorporates colored sections
for added visual depth. Structural highlights include two fluted
semi-columns on the interior and pilasters on the exterior, all topped
with Corinthian capitals. A central cartouche in the pediment is
supported by two lions holding an oval coat of arms, and the antependium
originally included consoles for reliefs or small sculptures.
Complementing this is an altarpiece by the artist Angelo Mancini,
painted between 1608 and 1610, depicting St. Barbara alongside St.
Nicholas and St. Paul. The museum collection extends to other
ecclesiastical items, including sculptures, paintings, and liturgical
objects from the 14th to 17th centuries, offering insights into the
evolution of sacred art in the region.
In recent years, the church has undergone significant conservation efforts, particularly on the high altar and antependium. Supervised by the Croatian Conservation Institute, these restorations involved chemical analyses, micro-sections, and evaluations of gilding techniques, including water-based and oil-based gold leaves, as well as a rare method using quartz sand, gold powder, and oil binders. The work has restored the original surfaces, harmonizing the altar's appearance and revealing advanced craftsmanship from the period. Some original furnishings have been returned to the church following these efforts.
Visitors often describe the church as a hidden gem, appreciating its compact size and the intimate museum setting. The exhibits provide a focused glimpse into local religious history, though the space is small and best suited for those interested in art and architecture rather than large-scale tourism. It's easily accessible while exploring Šibenik's old town, and entry is typically included in broader cultural tours of the area.
Today in the church of St. Barbara housed the Museum of Church Art which preserves valuable works of art and sculpture, wood carvings and objects of applied art, made in the period from the 14th to the 18th century. in various styles, from Romanesque to Baroque. Here, among other things, is the triptych of St. Barbara in Sv. Nicholas and St. Gregory from the 16th century, a polyptych by Blaž Jurjev Trogir from the 15th century. which depicts the Virgin Mary on the throne with a child in her arms, and the polyptych of the Virgin Mary with saints from the 15th century, the work of the Šibenik master Nikola Vladanov, which was once located on the main altar of the church of Sv. Gregory. In a special display case is kept the oldest exhibit - the Evangelist from the 11th century. There are also exhibited Renaissance sculptures of St. Peter and St. Jakov from the side, northern portal of the Šibenik Cathedral, the work of Juraj Dalmatinac, which are considered his best and most powerful sculptural achievements. The showcases also display the works of the great goldsmith Horace Fortezza, who worked in Šibenik in the 16th century. His works represent the meticulousness of workmanship, richness and variety of motifs and characters. In the church there is also a beautiful fence of the presbytery, and the medallion of St. Barbara at the side door of the church.