Explore the historic highlights of Odense
Odense, Denmark
c. 1300
Odense, Denmark
1096
Odense, Denmark
1906-1908
Odense, Denmark
1721
Odense, Denmark
1942
Odense, Denmark
975 AD
Odense, Denmark
12th century
Odense, Denmark
14th century
Odense, Denmark
12th century
The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.