Sacred sites

Cathedral Church of St. Philip and Jacob and the Bell Tower

Above the old part of Novi Vinodolski, on a plateau of a rocky cliff that steeply descends towards the sea, stand the 36-meter-high bell tower and the Cathedral Church of St. Philip and Jacob.

The old church had a bell tower on its roof until the years 1909–1911. During that period, a new bell tower was built separately from the church, and the old rooftop bell tower was demolished. Today, Novi Vinodolski is recognized by its distinctive skyline, dominated by the tall, white bell tower.

On the site of today’s bell tower, a votive church dedicated to St. Fabian and Sebastian was built in 1551. According to legend, the people built it in just 24 hours to protect themselves from the plague, which repeatedly ravaged the region at that time.

The present-day cathedral is built in a basilica style with three naves. On the outer side of the western wall of the church, the year 1520 is engraved using a combination of Arabic and Roman numerals, followed by Glagolitic script. It is believed that this marks the year of renovation or expansion, as it is known that a church already existed in Novi at the time the Vinodol Code was enacted.

In the church, in front of the main altar, lies the tomb of Christopher Dubrovčanin (Petančić), the Bishop of Modruš, who fled with his chapter from Modruš before the Ottoman invasion and found refuge in Novi Vinodolski. He passed away there in 1499. His tombstone is made of marble and features his image with a Latin inscription. To the right of the altar is the tomb of Bishop Ivan Krstitelj Caballini, and to the left is that of Bishop Ivan Krstitelj Ježić. Above the sacristy door is a relief tomb monument of Canon Abbot Nikola Mrzljak, the General Vicar of the Modruš Diocese during Bishop Ježić’s tenure. On the side altar, there is a wooden Gothic Madonna from the 15th century.

The Cathedral Church also preserves ornately carved wooden choir stalls from the second half of the 17th century. These stalls represent a masterpiece of woodcarving from the last period of Frankopan rule. The altars were built in the 19th century in a neoclassical style.

Church of the Holy Trinity

In the old town of Novi Vinodolski stands the small Church of the Holy Trinity. The church is well preserved and represents a classical Gothic architectural style. It has a single-nave layout with a rectangular apse. The interior features a pointed stone vault without prominent ribs or belts. The church was built from dressed stone arranged in horizontal rows. Original elements include stone frames around windows and doors and a small bell-gable (preslica). Frescoes, partially preserved, date back to the first half of the 15th century, when the church itself was constructed.

Inside the small church is an exceptionally valuable museum collection of sacred items. Among the noteworthy exhibits are the First Breviary of Novi from 1459, the Novi Missal from 1474, the Second Breviary of Novi from 1494, and a silver reliquary shaped as the bust of Saint Ursula. The collection is open for visitors during the summer months.

According to prof. dr. Radmila Matejčić, this small church belongs to the category of town chapels. The church is undoubtedly worth visiting, not only because of its valuable sacred collection but also for its special charm, enhanced by the network of winding alleys and houses that surround it and lead to it.

Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Remains of the Pauline Monastery

In the immediate vicinity of Novi Vinodolski harbor, on the Glavica peninsula, one can see the remains of the monastery of the friars of the Order of Saint Paul the Hermit, known as the “Paulines”. Locals called them “white friars” due to their white clothing.

Next to the monastery was the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Ospa. In land registries, the area is recorded as Osap. Few written documents about the history of the church and monastery remain, but their construction is undoubtedly connected to the Frankopan princes, particularly Prince Martin. This same prince confirmed on December 10, 1446, the will of Mihovil Župan, in which he left his property to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This document provides convincing evidence that the church existed already in 1446.
The monastery had its own harbor, known locally as the “Fratarski porat” (Friars’ harbor).
Today, the area of the former monastery and church is occupied by Novi Vinodolski’s cemetery, which remains in use.

Small Church of Saint Marin

Only 205 meters from the coast, the small island of San Marino is “anchored” off Novi Vinodolski. The most distinctive feature of the island is the small Church of Saint Marin, dating from Gothic times. The church is named after Saint Marin (Saint Marina), a female saint who lived as a monk. The dating is also supported by the fact that devotion to this saint spread due to Venetian influence in the late 13th and throughout the 14th century.

The church was constructed in the 17th-18th century on the foundations of an older structure and was renovated in 1818. Traces of an older church with a semicircular apse, built from regularly arranged carved stone, are visible upon examining the area around the current church. Discovered remains of walls along the southern side suggest that the original building was larger than initially thought.

Parts of the entrance threshold and façade of the older church were discovered in the porch area of the newer church. The church has a stone vault, walls built from irregularly broken limestone, a rustic entrance, and a small bell-gable on the façade.

Especially significant is a marble slab (stela) from the 4th century, discovered in the church foundations, with an inscription honoring the Roman Empress Helena, erected by Flavius Julius Rufinus Sarmentius, the governor of Dalmatia. The slab is currently housed in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb.

Together, the church and the island form an ambient unity and are, in a way, a symbol of the town.

Chapel of Saint Lucy

At the very western entrance to Novi Vinodolski, within the area of today’s Wyndham Grand Novi Resort, stands the small but well-preserved and restored Chapel of Saint Lucy. Originally built as a countryside chapel, it was once a pilgrimage site visited annually on December 13th, the feast day of this patroness of sight.

The chapel has a simple rectangular floor plan with a semicircular apse. Above the central part of the façade rises a small Gothic bell-gable (“preslica”) with a Glagolitic inscription from 1493. It is assumed that this date marks a renovation, specifically an extension of the chapel and the construction of a new, significantly higher vault. Over the years, the chapel has undergone several renovations and expansions.

Especially enchanting is the large green area and row of trees surrounding the chapel, which, along with intimate lighting, gives it a special romantic charm.

Small Church of Saint Nicholas

Situated directly on the coastal promenade Obala Petra Krešimira IV, only about 30 meters from the sea, is the small Church of Saint Nicholas.
Parts of the visible original wall structures and the characteristics of the floor plan reveal the church’s medieval origins, with an overall length of 9.80 m, a width of 5.40 m, and a semicircular apse. The entrance doorframe is made of various ancient spolia, with a small semicircular relieving arch set above the lintel. The relief arch contains a depiction of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors and fishermen, after whom the church is named.
The church underwent several renovations, both during the Middle Ages and subsequently.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

On the hill of Calvary stands the votive chapel dedicated to the Passion of Christ, also known as the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It was built in 1860 by Ivan Maričić – Ponjavar – Rokin, a local landowner and mill owner, who fulfilled his vow given for the healing of his sick son. The chapel, along with the 12 stations (small chapels) leading up to it, symbolically represents Christ’s Way of the Cross. Each year on Good Friday, many locals gather at the chapel to participate in the Way of the Cross procession.
Being built on a hill, the chapel provides a magnificent view of Novi Vinodolski.

Chapel of Saint John

In the settlement of Krasa stands the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist from the 17th century. The chapel has undergone multiple renovations starting from 1807. Each year on June 24th, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, Holy Mass is celebrated in the chapel.

Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian

On a prominent plateau above Veliko polje in Novi Vinodolski stands the Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian. The chapel belongs to the category of suburban countryside chapels. Most of its architectural features suggest a Romanesque origin, but its high vault was most likely built later, during a Gothic renovation.

The chapel is single-nave, with a semicircular apse. The door frame and triumphal arch of the sanctuary are made from finely carved stone and have a semicircular shape. The chapel has no windows except for one narrow window in the apse.

A tombstone depicting a bishop’s mitre serves as the altar table slab, whose base was expanded at some point afterward. Based on the analysis of architectural elements, the chapel dates back to the 13th or the first half of the 14th century, though it was first mentioned in historical sources only in 1459.
Fragments of ancient pottery have been discovered near the chapel.

Chapel of Saint Mark

In the heart of Novljansko polje, surrounded by peaceful greenery, stands the Chapel of Saint Mark. The chapel has undergone several restorations, but its layout clearly reveals its original Romanesque design. Unfortunately, today the chapel is neglected.

It has a single nave with a semicircular apse. The only preserved opening is located in the southern wall and was most likely created in the late medieval period. The entrance doorway has a frame topped with a semicircular lintel. The triumphal arch is also semicircular.

Only a hollow remains at the spot where the altar base once stood. The earliest historical mention dates back to 1462, referring to Saint Mark in Ponikve.

Chapel of Saint Martin

In the southeastern part of Novljansko polje lie the remains of the Chapel of Saint Martin. The chapel’s walls are partially preserved up to the roof cornice, while the apsidal semi-dome remains fully intact.

Throughout history, the chapel underwent several renovations and expansions. During one reconstruction, the floor level was raised, the original opening was walled up, and two new small embrasure-like windows were created in the apsidal wall facing southeast. From the beginning of the 16th century, the chapel thus served an additional defensive purpose. In later centuries, it became the center of the Novi Vinodolski Paulines’ estate.

Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

In Ledenice, a small coastal village with only about 200 residents, stands the parish church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, accompanied by a parish house built in 1827 in the Biedermeier style. The church itself was constructed in 1682 and was expanded in 1810. It has been restored in multiple phases.

The church’s main altar dates from 1715 and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a valuable piece crafted under the influence of Baroque art. By the early 18th century, parish priests in Ledenice were already referring to it as a parish church. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was under the patronage of the Austrian emperors, who contributed to the construction of the parish house in 1826.

The church bell tower was heightened in 1930, and a bell dating back to 1467, originally from the old Church of Saint Stephen on Gradina hill above Ledenice, was placed in the renovated Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The church dominates the village of Ledenice.

Old Parish Church of Saint Stephen in Ledenice

In the Middle Ages, Vinodol was ruled by the princes of Krk, also known as the Frankopans. Recognizing the natural wealth of this area, they built nine fortified castles (kaštels) for protection. One of the most important and highest castles was located in Ledenice. Around this castle gradually grew a settlement with two churches, a cemetery, houses, artisan workshops, and a well. Apart from the castle, the town was protected by massive walls and towers.

Just beyond the town entrance on the left are the remains of the former parish church. The church was dedicated to Saint Stephen the Protomartyr and retained its form until the 20th century. Between the First and Second World Wars, the old roof construction was covered with concrete for protection. At the end of the 1970s, cracks in this construction were carelessly repaired using cement mortar. Over time, the church withstood invasions and the icy Bora winds on a hilltop 260 meters above sea level until 1987, when its concrete roof collapsed.

The most valuable sources about the church are photographs from 1945 and 1975, before its collapse. These images, along with currently preserved structures, provide insight into its interior and exterior. It was a single-nave vaulted church, oriented north-south, with a deep rectangular sanctuary and a chapel located in the center of the northern wall. A view from the sanctuary of St. Stephen’s church reveals two construction phases: the earlier (Romanesque) phase in the western part with semicircular arches, and the later (Gothic) phase in the sanctuary area emphasized by a pointed rib/arch.

Unfortunately, today only ruins remain of Ledenice Gradina and the Church of Saint Stephen.

Saint George in Ledenice

Just 140 meters from Ledenička Gradina, on a plateau, lie the remains of the cemetery chapel of Saint George along with an old circular cemetery.

Modest remains of this single-nave, elongated chapel with a pronounced semicircular apse rest at the center of the now-abandoned cemetery. The chapel has a distinctly irregular orientation and was mentioned by bishop Glavinić in 1695.

What makes this site especially intriguing is the cemetery surrounding the chapel. It is circular in shape, enclosed by a dry-stone wall forming a perfect circle with a diameter of 35 meters. The cemetery has long been out of use. Within it are stone gravestones mostly dating from the end of the 19th century. Although this resting place has never been archaeologically explored, it must be quite ancient. It was in continuous use until the beginning of the 20th century. Burials were conducted in family tombs within the Chapel of Saint George and around it.

(Before it was destroyed, it was one of the largest churches in medieval Vinodol. It is known that local believers used to hold processions every year on Saint George’s day, praying, adoring, and kneeling to invoke the protection of Saint George.)

Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

At the very entrance to the small tourist village of Povile, along the seashore, stands the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, who is also the patroness of the village.

The church was most likely built in the 16th century and was renovated several years ago. It is a simple rectangular structure without a prominent apse. Particularly noteworthy is the slender bell-gable (preslica) above the center of the façade and the semicircular arch above the entrance frame. The other openings are completely atypical.

Church of Saint James

The village of Krmpote was established around the old Church of Saint James, mentioned in documents between 1525 and 1527. The church was situated on a small hill known as Tržan, a marketplace abandoned in 1525 due to the Turkish threat. Today, this site is a Calvary, where remains of the foundations of the destroyed old church are still visible. At the foot of Krmpote’s Calvary, a chapel dedicated to Saint James, patron saint of the Krmpote area, has been built, containing a relief dedicated to him.

In 1870/1871, the old Church of Saint James was demolished, and its stone was used for the construction of a new, larger church named after the original Church of Saint James. The newly built church was consecrated in 1873, and a large stone cross was placed at the site of the former church. The church was repeatedly destroyed and burned throughout history.

Krmpote’s old local cemetery, opened for burials at the end of the 18th century, also holds historical significance. Members of the noble Domazetović family are buried there, as evidenced by a gravestone with their family crest. Next to the old cemetery near the Church of Saint James is the new local cemetery, founded in 1930.

Glass Chapel

In the village of Omar, about twenty kilometers from Novi Vinodolski, located in an area of hiking trails and viewpoints, stands the Glass Chapel—an extremely rare monument of religious and architectural heritage.

The chapel’s uniqueness lies in its construction entirely from a metal framework, glass facades, and a glass roof. It exhibits Art Nouveau stylistic features. According to local tradition, Petar Krpan, known as Samac, who owned the property, commissioned the chapel in the early 20th century.
Next to the chapel is a stone cistern with a circular layout, surrounded by a low stone wellhead. The entire surrounding area is shaped by dry stone walls.

The complex represents a valuable example of the preserved architectural heritage of this region. The chapel’s distinctive feature—its construction entirely in glass—makes it a unique example of sacred architecture not only locally but also in a broader context.
In 2010, the chapel was completely restored.

Chapel of Saint Elijah

Not far from the beach, in a beautiful bay at the southernmost part of the town of Novi Vinodolski, in Sibinj Krmpotski, lies a small cemetery with the Chapel of Saint Elijah.

The chapel has a pronounced rectangular sanctuary apse. The most beautiful details of the chapel are the bell-gable (“preslica”) and the massive stone frame of the entrance door, topped with a horizontal lintel bearing the engraved inscription P.O.M.A.S. and the year 1649.

The shape of the apse suggests a Gothic floor plan, while an even older medieval origin is indicated by the relieving arch above the lintel of the entrance portal. Finely carved stone blocks form a crescent-shaped arch, and the space between the lunette and the flat lintel is recessed by several centimeters relative to the surrounding facade surface. This detail is characteristic of relieving arches on portals found along the Croatian coast dating back to the 12th century.

Church of Saint Anthony of Padua

On the slopes of the Kapela mountain, only 7 km from Novi Vinodolski, lies the village of Donji Zagon. The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua dominates the village. The church and its cemetery were built in 1901 and named after the village’s patron, Saint Anthony of Padua. The social life of the village revolves around the church, in front of which interesting events and festivities take place during the summer months.

Church of Saint Margaret

In Klenovica, a small fishing village that is becoming increasingly known for tourism, stands the Church of Saint Margaret. Perched on a hill just below the Adriatic coastal road, the church proudly watches over the village.

The church was built in 2003 and named after Saint Margaret, the patroness of the village.

Chapel of Saint Anthony

In the village of Gornji Zagon, hamlet Plužnica, just about twenty kilometers from Novi Vinodolski, stands the newly built Chapel of Saint Anthony.

Since the villages of Gornji Zagon experienced a significant exodus of their population during the 1950s and 1960s, with people moving to larger nearby cities and often abroad, descendants of the original inhabitants constructed this chapel in 2020/2021. They wished to leave it as a legacy for future generations, dedicating it to Saint Anthony, the saint revered by their ancestors.