Saint Blaise's Church, Dubrovnik (must see)

Saint Blaise, "Sveti Vlaho" in Croatian, is known as a martyr, a protector of animals, and a miracle worker. The patron saint of Dubrovnik, he once saved the city from a Venetian attack in 971 through a vision to Stojko, a canon of Saint Stephen's Cathedral. Saint Blaise's Church in Luza Square is dedicated to him.

The church was built in 1715 by Venetian architect Marino Groppelli. The building was erected on the foundations of a medieval Romanesque church. The church has a single nave and a ground plan formed as a Greek Cross, a cross with arms of equal length. The apse is flanked by two sacristies. An oblong cupola is in the middle.

The lower facade is set off by four Corinthian columns. Two of the columns flank the main portal. The remaining two are at the edges of the facade. The upper level of the facade is a semicircular gable and a balustrade. A statue of Saint Blaise is at the top of the gable. The figures of Faith and Hope stand at the sides.

The barrel-vaulted interior is lavishly Baroque. There are Corinthian columns in the center. The main altar is of white and multi-colored marble. In a niche is a 15th-century Gothic-style statue of Saint Blaise. He holds a model of the previous Romanesque church destroyed by fire in the earthquake of 1667.