Dubrovnik Cathedral – Relics of the Head of St. Blaise, the Holy Swaddling Cloth of Jesus, and a Piece of the True Cross

Dubrovnik Cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the principal church of the Diocese of Dubrovnik, housing the bishop’s throne (cathedra), and serves as the official seat of the bishop.

Today’s church is a Baroque jewel built after the devastating 1667 earthquake that leveled the magnificent Romanesque cathedral to the ground.

Historical Development: From Ancient Walls to Baroque Splendor

Beneath the cathedral’s current marble floors lies a fascinating history spanning over 1,500 years. The oldest traces date back to the 5th or 6th century, when a Late Antique fortress stood on this site—the walls of which were discovered beneath present-day Bunić Square (Bunićeva poljana). Archaeological excavations in 1981 made a sensational discovery: the remains of a monumental 7th-century Byzantine basilica. This reshaped local history by proving that Dubrovnik was already an established, developed urban center at that time.

In the 12th century, construction began on a lavish Romanesque cathedral, which legend ties to King Richard the Lionheart of England. Returning from the Third Crusade in 1192, Richard survived a shipwreck near the island of Lokrum and vowed to donate 100,000 ducats to build a church at the location where he first set foot on land. It was a grand structure featuring a lead roof and outer galleries, but it was completely destroyed in the catastrophic earthquake of April 6, 1667.

During that dire period, diplomat and scholar Stjepan Gradić became a crucial figure; from Rome, he tirelessly raised funds and hired top Italian architects to give his homeland back its cathedral.

The Pinnacle of Roman Baroque on the Adriatic

Built between 1671 and 1713, the present cathedral is a masterwork of Roman Baroque architecture. The design was produced by the Roman architect Andrea Buffalini of Urbino.

Buffalini crafted the blueprints and a wooden scale model of the church and its components, which were sent to Dubrovnik. He never visited the construction site himself; instead, construction was overseen by Italian master builders Paolo Andreotti, Tommaso Napoli, and others, with local master builder Ilija Katičić bringing the work to completion.

The church was designed in the shape of a Latin cross with three naves and a transept. Rising above the intersection of the naves is a tall, elegant dome with a lantern, which today stands as one of Dubrovnik’s most iconic landmarks. The facade is dominated by four large Corinthian columns and a marble plaque dedicated in gratitude to Stjepan Gradić.

As an interesting historical note, records show that in 1538, the famous Croatian playwright Marin Držić worked as an organist in the old cathedral, earning a salary of 100 perpers per year.

The Cathedral’s Treasures Secured by Three Keys

The interior of the cathedral holds priceless artistic treasures.

Dominating above the main altar is the magnificent 16th-century polyptych “The Assumption of Mary,” created by the renowned Venetian master Titian and his workshop.

Visitors can also admire works from the school of the great Raphael, such as the “Madonna and Child,” as well as a unique altar dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk, crafted from purple marble.

Prior to the 1667 earthquake, Dubrovnik Cathedral housed one of the richest church treasuries in Europe, and the city was celebrated for its goldsmithing craft.

For European royal courts, possessing jewelry and goldsmith artwork from Dubrovnik’s famous workshops was a mark of high prestige.

The Treasury preserves reliquaries and liturgical vessels of extraordinary artistic value, mostly crafted by local master artisans.

Although the 1667 earthquake destroyed many valuables and relics, a large portion of the collection was successfully rescued from the ruins and still graces the Cathedral Treasury today.

Reliquary of St. Blaise

Among the most precious and significant items are the reliquaries containing the head and arm of Dubrovnik’s patron saint, St. Blaise (Sveti Vlaho). The head reliquary, shaped like a Byzantine imperial crown, is embellished with enamel medallions and precious gemstones. It stands as a vivid testament to why Dubrovnik goldsmithing was famous worldwide.

The Holy Swaddling Cloth of Jesus

A special place in the Treasury is held by the Holy Swaddling Cloth in which Jesus was wrapped during His presentation at the Temple. It is kept in a silver casket made in the 16th century.

According to legend, Benedictine nuns used to give small pieces of the swaddling cloth to terminally ill patients and women in labor. For a long time, the cloth miraculously regenerated itself, until a piece was gifted to a Queen of Bosnia. When the nuns continued giving away fragments, the Senate of Dubrovnik—fearing the total loss of the relic—deposited it into the cathedral treasury for safekeeping. When the cathedral was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1667, a Venetian commander of bombardiers attempted to steal the relic amid the chaos. However, his mistress, out of fear of God, revealed the plot, allowing the relic to stay in Dubrovnik.

It was also said that the swaddling cloth was fireproof and could not burn.

Wood from the Cross of Jesus

From a religious perspective, the most sacred exhibit is a piece of wood from the Cross of Jesus, brought to Dubrovnik by Queen Margaret. It bore a Papal dedication to a king in Bosnia who was spreading Christianity, and it was fashioned into a Late Gothic crucifix by the goldsmith Jerolim Matov in 1536.

The immense importance of these treasures to the Republic is reflected in the fact that the treasury was secured with three separate keys: one kept by the Rector (knez), one by the Bishop, and the third by the Secretary of the Republic. The doors could only be opened by turning all three keys at the same time.