EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES WITH A CONTINUITY INTO THE PRE-ROMANESQUE PERIOD IN ZADAR

The paper deals with the early Christian architecture with a continuity into the Pre-Romanesque period in Zadar. The churches in the area of the town and its suburban areas are analysed. These are the basilicas of St. Peter, St. Thomas, St. Stephen, St. Mary Major, St. John on Relja and a church of a simple form which came about by adapting the ancient space of St. Peter and Andrew. All the basilicas in Zadar had a very similar (almost identical) form emulating the first erected monumantal Basilica of St. Peter, around which a whole bishop complex of the town would develop. Such emulation of architecture is connected with the closed Zadar peninsula, which was subject to mutual influences. Basilicas were put up in the areas of public buildings following a rather regular pattern of Roman streets. All the churches had continuity into the Pre-Romanesque period when they were all partially reconstructed or their interior was renovated. The already existing early Christian saints (titulari) were kept, and most often the churches were dedicated to St. Peter, St. Mary and St. John.