About The Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje
Hrastovlje, a rustic small Istrian village not far from the largest town on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast, Koper, is home to one of Slovenia’s most stunning medieval treasures, the 12th-century Church of the Holy Trinity, a simple Romanesque structure sheltered behind a high defensive wall.
The interior of the church is covered from floor to ceiling with impressive frescoes painted by local artist Johannes de Castua in 1490. Most famous of the frescoes is the eerily enchanting Dance of Death or Danse Macabre on the south wall, in which 11 skeletons leading the same number of people forward to a freshly dug grave. A 12th holds open a coffin. Many of the other scenes feature familiar stories from the Bible, but with the main characters clad in attire from the 15th century, providing a very interesting insight into the lifestyles of people in the late medieval period. Especially creative and unique are the scenes depicting the Book of Genesis, filled with beautiful exotic birds, beasts and plants. Ceiling panels carry charming illustrations of local country life at different stages of the yearly farming cycle and through the seasons.
Photos Of The Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje
A beautiful picture gallery containing 20 high resolution photos of the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje, Slovenia!
There are two hypotheses about the origin of the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje. According to the first, it’s a Romanesque church from the 12th century. According to the second, it’s an example of the Istrian variant of Early Venetian Renaissance architecture from the 15th century. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The church stands behind a wall that locals built to protect themselves from Turkish attacks in the 16th century. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The church is built mostly out of stone, which is very typical for the coastal region of Slovenia. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The church is built mostly out of stone, which is very typical for the coastal region of Slovenia. It has only 2 windows as a result of the local weather conditions. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The church and wall are built on bare rock, and for this reason do not have deep foundations. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The stones were never entirely covered in an outer layer of plaster, so everyone see how the church was built. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The wall encloses the entire building and is shaped like an irregular rectangle. It is 8 metres thick and made out of limestone. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
It’s estimated that the wall was constructed some time around the end of the 15th century, therefore definitely later than the church itself. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The whole of the interior is adorned with frescos. Image by Marco Almbauer / CC0
The church has been painted with Gothic frescoes by Johannes de Castua, who finished his work on 13 July 1490. Image by János Korom / CC BY-SA 2.0
The church is on the World Cultural Heritage list. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The interior is completely festooned with paintings by Johannes de Castua from around 1490. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
Facing you as you enter the church is the 17th-century altar, the central apse with scenes from the Crucifixion on the ceiling and portraits of the Trinity and the Apostles. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
The beautiful artworks helped the illiterate understand the Old Testament stories, the Passion of Christ and the lives of the saints. Image by Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0
What attracts most people to this small church is the famous Dance of Death or Danse Macabre, a fresco that shows 11 skeletons leading the same number of people forward to a freshly dug grave. A 12th holds open a coffin. Image by János Korom / CC BY-SA 2.0
Christ’s Passion is depicted at the top of the southernmost wall. Image by János Korom / CC BY-SA 2.0
To the right are episodes from the seven days of Creation, with Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel on the right. Image by János Korom / CC BY-SA 2.0
On the ceilings of the north and south aisles are scenes from daily life as well as the liturgical year and its seasonal duties. Image by János Korom / CC BY-SA 2.0
There is no part of walls, ceiling and arches that doesn’t tell a story or present an allegorical truth. Image by Samuel Leach / CC BY 2.0
The altar table. Image by Helena Koren / CC BY-SA 4.0
Read more about the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje: All You Need To Know To Visit The Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje!
Koper or Capodistria as it is called in Italian shows two faces to the world: one is a modern, loud and busy industrial part of the city with the only commercial port in Slovenia. The other is the charming small Old Town with the lovely square of Titov Trg and late medieval and early Renaissance buildings, such as the Praetorian Palace, the Loggia Palace and the Cathedral of the Assumption built in Venetian styles. |
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Overall Rating: The main attraction in the seaside town of Koper is its well-preserved medieval city center called the Old Town. Five centuries of Venetian rule are almost impossible to ignore here, especially while strolling along the narrow streets past impressive old buildings and former palaces. |
Overall Rating: This quite sizeable town square is the first place you should head when exploring Koper. It dates back to the Venetian era and is home to several of the town's main attractions. |
Overall Rating: For any visitor to Koper, the Praetorian Palace is a must see. It is located in the centre of the town on the main Tito Square and absolutely dominates the place. |
Overall Rating: Koper's cathedral is located right in the historic city centre on the main Tito square and dates back to the second half of the 12th century when Koper acquired its own diocese. |
Overall Rating: Set on the eastern side of the Tito square in the centre of old Koper is the 54-metre-high Bell Tower. If the weather is good, amazing panoramic views of the entire Koper area and beyond can be had by climbing 204 steps to reach the viewing platform at 43 meters. |
Overall Rating: With its impressive Gothic-style lancet arches, the 15th-century Loggia building stands on the northern side of the historic Tito Square in the heart of old Koper. Its ground-floor arcade is now a café. A side door leads to the first-floor Loza gallery. |
Overall Rating: The rustic village of Hrastovlje, located in the hills above the coast, only a short 20-minute drive from Slovenia's largest coastal town Koper, is home to one of the country's most outstanding medieval treasures, the Church of the Holy Trinity. The church building itself is quite impressive, looking like a small, ancient fort, but what attracts most visitors to this little church is the famous Dance of Death fresco on the south wall. |
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Overall Rating: Skocjanski Zatok Nature Reserve is an oasis of unspoiled nature on the outskirts of Koper, Slovenia's largest coastal town. It is one of the most beautiful protected areas in the country and permanent or temporary home to several hundred animal species, including 300 species of butterflies, 300 species of beetles, 38 species of dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, and almost 250 species of birds which can be observed from newly built bird hides and an observation tower. |
| The accommodation options in Koper can be divided into six main categories: hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, apartments, farm stays and hostels. |
Koper is the largest town on the Slovenian coast and the sixth-largest city in Slovenia. There are currently 5 hotels in the city, but the overall quality of the hotels is not that great, and at the moment there's only one hotel in Koper that we can really recommend. Find out which one and why! |
Guest houses are a traditional form of accommodation in Slovenia for holiday makers and other travellers. They are a great choice for a place to stay as they are comfortable and wallet-friendly with owners who take an interest in their guests. There are more than 10 guest houses available in the Koper area, find out which are the ones that we recommend the most. |
Opting for a bed and breakfast over other types of lodging is a great way to personalize your stay and get to know the locals. Bed and breakfasts feel like you are literally staying in someone’s house, because often you are. The advantage of a B&B is that the breakfasts are often home cooked meals that are prepared with love and attention. These meals are included in your room rate and are a great way to start your day. Find out which B&Bs in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
With all the comforts of home, apartments are a great choice for lodging during your trip to Koper. They are often more affordable and can be very comfortable places to stay. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment! |
Hostels in Koper are the go-to option for travellers and backpackers who plan to spend very little of their time in their room and most of their time exploring Koper and the Slovenian coast. They’re also a great way to meet other travellers. Unlike a hotel, hostels are more communal in nature and that includes sharing a room with strangers, although often you can get a private room if you want to pay a little more. Find out which hostels in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
In recent years, farm stays are growing among a number of travelers looking to reconnect with fresh air, local and organic foods, and a more simple and authentic lifestyle on vacation. Farm stays are a form of accommodation on a working farm. Actual accommodations can vary from a room in a farm house, to a cabin or a guest cottage. Typical rates are similar to a bed and breakfast, and like a bed and breakfast, some offer delicious home cooked meals. Some farm stays also allow guests to participate in the daily activities on the farm if they choose. |