Church of St. Ignatius – Jesuit Stairs – Walk of Shame (Game of Thrones)

The construction of the Church of St. Ignatius (also locally known as Jezuiti / the Jesuits), the Jesuit college Collegium Ragusinum, and the monumental Baroque stairs significantly transformed the urban landscape of Dubrovnik’s oldest quarter. This entire complex represents the most beautiful Baroque corner in Dubrovnik—and according to many, in all of Dalmatia.

History and a Century-Long Construction

The construction of this monumental complex spanned over a hundred years, from the initial concepts to its final completion.

The initiative originated in 1555 with Bishop Beccadelli, who sought to establish a Jesuit college because the citizens of Dubrovnik were dissatisfied with the Italian teachers of the time. However, the idea only began to materialize in 1658, following the resolution of complex legal and property ownership issues.

Demolition of the Old City Core

In order for the church and college to occupy a prominent, elevated position, numerous private homes and ecclesiastical buildings had to be demolished. The initial plans were drafted by Rector Giovanni Battista Canauli and approved in 1656.

The Gundulić Legacy

Construction began in 1662 thanks to generous financial backing from a Jesuit belonging to the noble Gundulić family. Notably, the benefactor passed away before the project documentation had even commenced.

Rome as an Inspiration

The architectural design was entrusted to the renowned Jesuit architect and painter Andrea Pozzo, who modeled the church after Rome’s Church of St. Ignatius and Il Gesù. Construction lasted from 1699 to 1725, and the church officially opened its doors in 1729.

To connect the complex with the rest of the city, Roman architect Pietro Passalacqua designed the monumental Baroque staircase (“Skaline”) in 1738, modeled after the Spanish Steps in Rome.

The Church Interior

The church was designed as a single-nave Baroque structure with a grand, imposing facade, modeled after the Church of St. Ignatius and Il Gesù in Rome.

Baroque Illusionism

The interior features impressive frescoes by Gaetano Garcia depicting scenes from the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola—a magnificent example of Baroque illusionistic painting (trompe-l’œil).

The Artificial Grotto

Inside the church is an artificial grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, dating back to 1885. Considered one of the oldest such grottos in Europe, it was painted by the Italian Jesuit Antonio Mosheni.

The Jesuit College

Adjacent to the church stands the Collegium Ragusinum, a historical Jesuit institution of higher learning that educated many prominent Dubrovnik intellectuals, including the world-renowned scientist and Jesuit Ruđer Bošković. Today, it houses the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, which bears the famous scholar’s name.

The Monumental Baroque Staircase – Jesuit Stairs

Leading up to the complex is a magnificent Baroque staircase designed in 1738 by Roman architect Pietro Passalacqua. Modeled after the Spanish Steps in Rome (Piazza di Spagna), it connects Gundulić Square with Bošković Square.

Design and Inspiration

Built in 1738 according to the design of Roman architect Pietro Passalacqua, the staircase ingeniously reinterprets Roman urbanism and adapts it to the tight, strictly defined space within Dubrovnik’s city walls.
In order to build the steps, the Republic of Ragusa had to demolish a series of existing houses and widen the street.

The steps are crafted in an elegant, dynamic concave-convex form inspired by the famous Spanish Steps in Rome (designed by Francesco de Sanctis and built just a decade earlier).

They introduce a dramatic, theatrical Baroque movement into Dubrovnik’s otherwise Renaissance-Gothic urban grid.

Cultural Significance

For decades, they have served as one of the most picturesque open-air stages for the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, hosting legendary performances of classic works such as Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Pop Culture

The steps achieved global fame as the filming location for the iconic “Walk of Shame” scene in the TV series Game of Thrones. As a result, alongside the ancient city walls, they are now the most visited site in Dubrovnik.

Major Restoration in 2025

In April 2025, the first comprehensive restoration in 290 years was completed. The €302,000 investment included stone cleaning, repair of shrapnel damage from the Croatian War of Independence, and archaeological documentation of three historical drainage channels discovered underneath the steps.

The Jesuit Order

“Jezuiti” or Jesuits (Latin: Societas Jesu, SJ) are the popular names for the Catholic religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1534, officially named the “Society of Jesus”.

The order is known for its intellectual work, education, and missionary activity. Their motto is “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam” (For the greater glory of God), and they are distinguished by their strict organization and direct submission to the Pope.

In Dubrovnik, they left an indelible mark on science, culture, and education. The most prominent among them was Ruđer Bošković, a world-renowned physicist and astronomer whose name is borne today by the square in front of the church and the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium.

Why “Jesuits” and Not “Ignatians”?

Up until that point, all religious orders in the Catholic Church took the name of their founder. Ignatius and his companions were opposed to being called “Ignatians” from the very beginning. In a mystical vision at La Storta near Rome, Jesus appeared to Ignatius carrying a cross, alongside God the Father, who said: “I want you to take this man as your servant.” Jesus turned to Ignatius and said: “I want you to serve us.” This event deeply influenced the founding and naming of this new religious community.

From the start, the first “Jesuits” did not want anyone to be their head except Jesus Christ, whom alone they wished to serve—and so they named themselves the Society of Jesus.