St Martin's Church

We return to the northern wall of Spleet to explore the Church of Saint Martin from a different perspective—that of the 'spiritual sentinel.' As we have discussed, this tiny church is embedded in the very fortifications that once…

To understand Saint Martin's, we must first understand the Roman 'sentinel's walk.' This was a tactical corridor that allowed guards to move unseen along the northern wall. The architectural style is known as 'opus…

The first major transformation of this space occurred in the 6th century, during the Byzantine period. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Split remained a key outpost for the Emperors in Constantinople. …

The 11th century brought another layer of history to Saint Martin's. This was the era of the Croatian kings, a time of national awakening and artistic flourishing. …

One of the most remarkable aspects of Saint Martin's is the way light interacts with the space. Because the church is located within the wall, the windows are deep and narrow. …

The story of Saint Martin's is incomplete without mentioning the Dominican Sisters who have been its guardians for generations. Their convent is a nearby island of calm, and their daily care has ensured that the church remains a…

As we conclude our tour, we look once more through the narrow windows toward the north. Below us, the city of Spleet continues its daily rhythm. …

As we step out from the Church of Saint Martin and back into the shadow of the Por-ta Ow-re-a, we are struck by the power of the small. In a palace designed to overwhelm with its scale, this tiny chapel offers a different kind of…