Church of St. Romuald and All Saints in Rijeka

The Church of St. Romuald and All Saints (Croatian: Crkva sv. Romualda i svih svetih) is a parish church in Rijeka's Kozala district, built between the late 1920s and 1934. It blends neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic elements and was designed by the Rijeka architect Bruno Angheben.

Who designed the church?

The architect was Bruno Angheben, a Rijeka native. He drew the first plans in 1926. Work began with the crypt in 1928, and the whole building was finished in 1934. Art and architecture historians have studied both the architect and the building, and a scholarly article in the journal Ars Adriatica is devoted to Angheben and an assessment of this church.

How did it come about?

The idea came from a city committee headed by Mons. Isidor Sain, the first bishop of the Kvarner province. The church stands above a crypt holding the remains of legionnaires and of soldiers killed in First World War battles in the region. That gives the site a role as a place of remembrance as well as worship.

Style and character

The mix of neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic design sets the church apart from the surrounding buildings in Kozala. The bell tower is visible from nearby streets, and both the interior and the crypt reward anyone interested in interwar architecture in Rijeka. The building is under cultural heritage protection.

Restoration

In November 2021 work began on the bell tower and part of the roof. The parish initiated the project, led by pastor Fr. Luka Pranjić together with the Ministry of Culture and the conservation department in Rijeka. The restoration was completed in early June.

Practical information

Where is it?

The church is in the Kozala district, at Baštijanova 25, Rijeka. It is the seat of the parish.

When are services held?

Public parish listings give Sunday Masses at 9:00, 10:30 and 18:00. Check before you go, as times can change.

Can I visit the interior?

It is a working parish church, so the best approach is to visit outside service times and keep quiet. Shoulders and knees should be covered.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Church of St. Romuald and All Saints? Bruno Angheben, a Rijeka architect; his first plans date from 1926.

When was it completed? In 1934, after work started with the crypt in 1928.

What architectural style is it? A combination of neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic features.

What is in the crypt? The remains of legionnaires and soldiers killed in First World War battles in the region.

Is it a protected monument? Yes, it is under cultural protection.

Where exactly is it? In Kozala, at Baštijanova 25, Rijeka, Croatia.