Historic center of the Croatian town of Zadar at the Mediterranean Sea, Church of St.Simeon, Europe.; Shutterstock ID 698125786; Your name (First / Last): Anna Tyler; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: destination-image-southern-europe

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St Simeon’s Church

Zadar


While this 17th-century baroque church is pretty enough, it's what lies inside that makes it truly noteworthy. Taking pride of place above the main altar, the sarcophagus of St Simeon is a masterpiece of medieval goldsmithery. Commissioned in 1377, the coffin is made of cedar and covered inside and out with finely executed gold-plated silver reliefs.

The middle relief, showing the presentation of Jesus to Simeon at the temple, is a copy of Giotto’s fresco from Cappella dell’Arena in Padua, Italy. Other reliefs depict scenes from the lives of the saints and King Ludovic’s visit to Zadar. The lid shows a reclining St Simeon.