Viničko Kale is an ancient ruin located on the hill above the town of Vinica, North Macedonia. It is located on the left side of the Grdečka River, on a hill about 400 meters above sea level. Viničko Kale was discovered in 1954. In 1978, 5 fragments of terra-cotta icons were discovered in Viničko Kale, which shows that it was inhabited from Neolithic times to the Middle Ages.
In 1978, 5 fragments of terra-cotta icons were discovered in Viničko Kale, which shows that it was inhabited from Neolithic times to the Middle Ages. What makes Vinica especially important are the archaeological findings that have written exceptional pages in the cultural history of these areas. Besides the two antique statues of women without heads, in full size (found near the village of Kalimanci), in the vicinity of Vinica, at the archaeological site Vinicko Kale, discovered are the famous Vinica terracotta icons from the 4th and 6th century. They are unique and are listed in teh series of especially valuable world collections of archaeological findings that open spaces to new and creative scientific theories and researches.
References: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.