Church of St. Blaise
You’ll find the 18th-century St. Blaise Church in the heart of Vodnjan’s old town, on the main square. It is the largest church in Istria and its bell tower is said to be the tallest. Entrance to the church itself is free, but there is a charge to see its main attractions, the treasury of sacral art and the mummies. The treasury lies in the sacristy, and will undoubtedly appeal to those who like things morbid. It contains an astounding collection of some 370 relics (the body parts of saints), mainly bones, though one glass reliquary is said to contain the tongue of St. Mary of Egypt. The treasury also exhibits other religious paraphernalia, most notably a 14th-century polyptych of Blessed Leon Bembo, painted by Paolo Veneziano in 1321. Bembo is said to have had the ability to bring the dead back to life, and his mummified body is on display next door. Behind the altar, hidden by thick velvet curtains, you’ll find the infamous Vodnjan mummies. There are six in all, saints dressed in period clothing and displayed in dimly lit glass-fronted cases. Expect to queue if you visit in high season. You’ll then have approximately 10 minutes to view the mummies, accompanied by a recorded explanation (in English) about what you are looking at, with some historical background and details about the lives and deaths of the deceased. Note that when visiting churches in Croatia, you should be appropriately dressed—no bare shoulders or bare legs, for men or women, and no hats, either.
You’ll find the 18th-century St. Blaise Church in the heart of Vodnjan’s old town, on the main square. It is the largest church in Istria and its bell tower is said to be the tallest. Entrance to the church itself is free, but there is a charge to see its main attractions, the treasury of sacral art and the mummies. The treasury lies in the sacristy, and will undoubtedly appeal to those who like things morbid. It contains an astounding collection of some 370 relics (the body parts of saints), mainly bones, though one glass reliquary is said to contain the tongue of St. Mary of Egypt. The treasury also exhibits other religious paraphernalia, most notably a 14th-century polyptych of Blessed Leon Bembo, painted by Paolo Veneziano in 1321. Bembo is said to have had the ability to bring the dead back to life, and his mummified body is on display next door. Behind the altar, hidden by thick velvet curtains, you’ll find the infamous Vodnjan mummies. There are six in all, saints dressed in period clothing and displayed in dimly lit glass-fronted cases. Expect to queue if you visit in high season. You’ll then have approximately 10 minutes to view the mummies, accompanied by a recorded explanation (in English) about what you are looking at, with some historical background and details about the lives and deaths of the deceased. Note that when visiting churches in Croatia, you should be appropriately dressed—no bare shoulders or bare legs, for men or women, and no hats, either.
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