Church of St. Simon in Zadar

The Church of St. Simon (Crkva svetog Šimuna) is a Baroque church in Zadar, built to house the relics of the city's patron saint. It stands in the historic old town on the peninsula and is an easy stop on any walk through Zadar.

Why was this church built?

In 1572 Zadar's city council resolved to commission a new church for the saint's relics, and a Venetian architect was hired. Work dragged on for roughly half a century. The facade was completed up to its top gable, then construction halted in 1623.

To make room for a new sanctuary, builders took down the apse of an older Early Christian basilica dedicated to St. Stephen. The church was reconsecrated as St. Simon in 1632. Its design blends two contemporary Venetian models, and construction took so long that the church was shaped over several generations of Zadar residents.

What is the most valuable thing inside?

The key treasure is the silver chest of St. Simeon (Kovčeg sv. Šimuna). It was commissioned by Elizabeth Kotromanić and made in 1377 by Francesco da Milano. Crafted from silver and cedar wood, the chest now stands on the main altar. Until 1572 it was kept in the church of St. Mary the Greater.

This piece of medieval goldsmithing is the main reason to step inside. For centuries the chest was the focus of devotion to Zadar's patron, and moving it into the new church in the 17th century underlined the importance of the whole building project.

The church also holds a late Baroque series of paintings devoted to St. Simeon, commissioned by Archbishop Vicko Zmajević, which reflect the long devotion to the city's patron.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of St. Simon? In Zadar's old town, on the peninsula, close to the city's main sights.

Which saint is it dedicated to? St. Simeon, the patron of Zadar, whose relics rest in the silver chest on the main altar.

How old is the building? The church is a 17th-century Baroque building, reconsecrated in 1632. The chest itself is older, dating from 1377.

What should I look at inside? Mainly the silver chest on the main altar and the Baroque paintings of the St. Simeon cycle.

Was the church built on an earlier structure? Yes. The apse of the Early Christian basilica of St. Stephen was demolished to make way for the new sanctuary.

How long does a visit take? A few minutes to a quarter of an hour is enough to see the interior and the chest, and it pairs easily with a stroll around the old town.