Zadar - Church of St Donat

(Local Name: Sv Donat) The Church of St Donat (SV Donat) was built in the 9th Century and is one of the largest examples of Byzantine architecture in Dalmatia. It was originally named the Church of the Holy Trinity but was later changed and named for Bishop Donat. St Donat is one of the main architectural highlights of Zadar. This circular church is flanked by three circular apses. It was built on top of the old Roman forum and incorporated some of the old structure. Two pillars from the form are built into the church and the floor of the church was removed to show the stone work of the forum on the ground below. Many of the stones used to build the church of St Donat, were taken from the Roman forum.