Church of St. Stephen, Roman Catholic parish church in Stari Grad, Croatia
The Church of St. Stephen sits on the eastern side of St. Stephen's Square and is a three-nave basilica constructed with stones from Korcula Island. The building features solid masonry construction and stands next to a separate bell tower from the 18th century.
The current building was erected in 1605 and replaced a 9th-century church that functioned as the Diocese of Hvar cathedral until 1278. The bell tower was completed in 1753, marking an expansion of the parish facility in the modern period.
The church takes its name from St. Stephen, Christianity's first martyr, who became the town's spiritual protector. The interior displays religious artworks that reveal how faith and artistic expression shaped the community over centuries.
The church is easy to reach on foot since it sits on the town's main square in the old quarter. Visitors can explore both the church and the adjacent bell tower, which offers good views of the surrounding town from its location.
The bell tower's base incorporates stone blocks from the ancient Greek city walls of Pharos, the predecessor settlement that existed long before modern Stari Grad. This reuse of older materials offers a tangible link between the medieval town and its far earlier roots.
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