Blije is known to have had a church ever since the early 13th century, which in catholic times was dedicated to St. Nicolaas. Of the original Romanesque church built in that century only the tower remains. The church itself was replaced by the current Gothic one in the 16th century. It's a rather big church for such a small village, a reminder of the time when Blije was a place of larger regional importance.
Various sources state that the church was built in c. 1540, but it is unknown what part of the church this date refers to; not only is there a small gap between the nave and the choir, the windows of the choir are narrower as well, giving reason to believe the choir was built first, perhaps when the old and shorter church was still standing. Probably in 1737 the roof of the nave was heightened with 3.50 metres, The tower was heightened shortly after, in c. 1741.
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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.