Chapel of St. Mary Formosa, 6th-century Byzantine church in Pula, Croatia.
The Chapel of St. Mary Formosa is a church building with three aisles and was originally built with a pitched roof. The structure includes two side chapels and a central sanctuary, all supported by a series of arches.
An archbishop from Ravenna commissioned this building in the 6th century on the site of a former Roman temple. The chapel stands as testimony to the religious architecture of that era in the region.
The chapel shows the Early Christian building style that took root in this region. You see columns, flat wall details, and arched windows throughout, which are typical of this period.
The southern chapel is accessible to visitors, while the northern section has been incorporated into residential buildings. You can explore the southern area, but note that other parts are on private property.
Many original marble elements were transported to Venice in 1547 and repurposed in other famous buildings. This removal shows how valuable the materials were at that time.
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