Rijeka Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. Vitus in Rijeka is the only Baroque rotunda of monumental proportions built on Croatian territory. Construction began in 1638 on the site of a demolished church dedicated to St. Vitus, Rijeka's patron saint. The project was inspired by the renowned Venetian church Santa Maria della Salute. The dome and additional sections were built by architect Bernardin Martinuzzi in 1727. The interior is decorated with powerful columns supporting chapel arches with multicolored marble altars, works of renowned Baroque masters. The cathedral received its cathedral status between the two World Wars and became the seat of the Rijeka Archdiocese.