St. Mary's Church

Beram, Croatia

The Church of St. Mary on Škriljinah is a Gothic church with a portico, a bell gable and a wooden tabulate added. In the church interior there is the Dance of Death scene, one of the most well-known series of frescoes and, along with the Arena in Pula and Euphrasian Basilica, the most recognizable cultural monument of Istria.

Frescoes were finished in 1474 by the workshop of Master Vincent from Kastav, of which there is a Latin inscription depicted on the south wall. Although Vincent was the main painter in the Church of St. Mary on Škriljanah, Beram frescoes were the work of several artists. He was helped by two other painters, of whom one is the author of the famous Dance of Death, and the other painted the image of St. Martin the horseman, who cuts a piece of his luxurious cloak giving it to a freezing, bare and poor passer-by in order to wrap himself in it.

The impressive Adoration of the Magi, the scene filling the entire upper part of the north wall, is the most valuable work by Vincent. The first scene the visitor sees upon his/her entrance is an unusual representation of a fool. When the eye becomes accustomed to the unlit interior after a few moments, the figures of saints pop out in the field framed by a wine of acathus leaves as in a puppet theatre. Scenes from the life of Mary and Christ are intertwined with the scenes of saints. The Dance of Death is most attractive for visitors on the west wall. One of the oldest preserved representations of this theme, the teaching representation of death in those times which treats us all equally and from which no one can escape, was painted after the epidemics of bubonic plaque.

Along with the dancing dead, the pope, the cardinal and the bishop, the king and the queen, a fat innkeeper, a child, a beggar and a soldier whose robust armour cannot help, and finally a trader who is not successful in bribing death with gold ducats move toward the open grave in a silent procession. The dancing skeletons move along the rhythm set by the death itself by playing the bagpipes.

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Address

Unnamed Road, Beram, Croatia
See all sites in Beram

Details

Founded: 15th century
Category: Religious sites in Croatia

More Information

www.istria-culture.com

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Alen Milic (13 months ago)
Need to Get a Bell tower lady to open the Church door and She charges a fee for that that goes in her pocket. And this is Church property. Gave 2 stars instead of 1 Because the fresco of Death Dance is unique, preserved for almos 700 Y
Andrea Brady (2 years ago)
A wonderful church, whose interiors are completely covered in beautiful and well-preserved 15th century frescoes (some damaged on the porch wall by the later addition of windows) by the workshop of Vincent of Kastav, and some ancient graffiti. Scenes from the lives of Christ and Mary, portraits of saints, and an astonishing Dance of Death. Approach it by a turning below the taverna, past a small square with a cross. A helpful woman from the village opens the church and offers explanations in German, Italian or Croat. Well worth the diversion.
Julie A (2 years ago)
Impossible to come in Istria wothout seeing it with its magnificent fresques. A small contribution for the restauration is nothing compared to the holyness of this church.
Martin Komínek (4 years ago)
Beautiful and unique place. Totally worth The visit.
Fritz Wintersteller (5 years ago)
Amazing place.
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