The Church of St NicholasA recognisable symbol of Nin is the Church of St Nicholas, located in the field of Prahulje, it is very important for the rulers of the Croatian dynasty and for the history of Croatia and Nin. According to tradition, seven Kings were crowned in Nin, and every crowned ruler rode on horseback to the Chruch of Saint Nicholas, and it was in fact here that he would be presented to the people by the same symbolic ritual-on that mound he would cut with a sword the four corners of the world. The small church is built on an earthen mound which rises above the wide field, and it is just here on this place that the visitor can experience an unforgettable sunset. In the mound can be found, as yet, unexcavated prehistoric graves. The church s 5.90 m long, 5.70 m wide and 6 m in height (measured from the inside), while the walls are 50 cm thick. Due to the danger from the Turks as an addition to the church, a defence crown with 8 battlements was built in the 16-17th century, which served as a watch tower. The Church of Saint Nicholas is the only preserved example of the early-Romanesque architecture of such form in Dalmatia, which dates from the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century. |
Curiosities
Miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary in Nin Did you know that in Nin's area the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary is celebrated for 500 years three times a year: on the day of the Apparition 5th May with the pilgrimage to Our Lady's Island by land and sea; on the actual holiday, the first Monday before the holiday of the Ascension; and on 5th August, Homeland Thanksgiving Day? There are around 20 preserved customs referring to the miraculous apparition. 
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