The Sunken City is located in the bay of Agios Vlasios, on the beach “Kalymnios” of Ancient Epidaurus. Although not a huge site, the underwater city of Epidaurus is very unique and fun to explore. The ruins lie very close to the shore and just 2 meters below the sea level.
The architectural remains include traces of an ancient port, various walls and a cluster of three buildings, the closest of which is located only 45 meters from the shore. This is the structure you’ll be seeing when visiting the site. Archeologists believe these are the remains of a rural Roman villa from the 2nd century, which was inhabited by a wealthy Roman family and their staff.
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.