Church of Our Lady of Tarac

Welcome to the Church of Our Lady of Tarac, or 'Gospa od Tarca' as it is known locally. We are standing on the island of Kornat, the largest in the Kornati National Park archipelago. …

To understand the Church of Our Lady of Tarac, one must first look down. The modest 17th-century chapel is significantly smaller than the structure that originally occupied this site. …

The current structure of Our Lady of Tarac was built in the late 17th century, a period when the Adriatic was a frontier between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire. During this time, the islands of the Kornati…

Entering the Church of Our Lady of Tarac, one is immediately struck by the cool, dim atmosphere, a stark contrast to the brilliant Adriatic sun outside. The interior is sparse, reflecting the ascetic reality of island life. …

Standing on the path leading up from the church, look toward the summit of the hill where the Tureta fortress stands. This impressive ruin is contemporary with the original 6th-century basilica, forming part of the same Byzantine…

The quietude of the Bay of Tarac is transformed every year on the first Sunday in July. This is the day of the traditional pilgrimage to Our Lady of Tarac, an event that draws hundreds of boats from Murter, Zaglav, and other…

Looking away from the church toward the interior of Kornat island, we see a landscape dominated by stone. This is a classic karst environment, where the absence of surface water and the presence of soluble limestone have created…

As we conclude our visit to the Church of Our Lady of Tarac, let us take a moment to absorb the profound sense of continuity that defines this place. From the grand Byzantine visions of the 6th century to the humble votive…