Euphrasian Basilica Porec
Euphrasian Basilica is a must see if you have rented an apartment, a room or a holiday house in Porec. Euphrasian is situated in the old town, on the peninsula, instead of the church, and it was built there already in the 4th century. Bishop Euphrasius ordered the construction of a new basilica in the middle of the 6th century and this beauty of Porec bears his name to date. The Euphrasius Basilica is the most beautiful part of the whole complex of buildings that includes the parish church, the sacristy, the baptistery with a bell tower, the Oratorio di Mauro and the Bishop's Palace, which dates from the same era as the basilica. The Euphrasian mosaics are recognizable all over the world, and have been created in the 5th century with fragments dating back to the 3rd century. There is not a monument of Byzantine culture in the whole Mediterranean so well preserved and, therefore, the Euphrasian Basilica was included on the UNESCO World Heritage in 1997. Basilica is studied systematically even today for it is one of the most intriguing examples of the development of the architecture of the last millennium. Given the high level of preservation, it is easy to study how the building was updated over the centuries. The Basilica was plagued by earthquakes, fires and wars, but remained a rare example of the victory of human hands over natural and social disasters. Another interesting fact is that Euphrasiana has the same function today as the one it had always had. You can take a tour through it every day, except Sundays and public holidays of the church. The architectural grandeur and the spirit of the millennium running through the vessels of the Byzantine beauty will charm you. You can climb on the tower and enjoy bluish landscape of Porec lagoon or visit the unique display of the Virgin Mary, who is shown here in a state of pregnancy, which is a rarity in the iconography. Ticket prices are 40 kunas, while children under school age have free entry.
