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The city of Zagreb, capital of Croatia, with a population of nearly one million, contains almost a quarter of the entire population of Croatia.
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CROATIA 18 Zagreb 4 The Cathedral on Kaptol
The Zagreb Cathedral on Kaptol is a Roman Catholic institution and not only the tallest building in Croatia, but also the most monumental sacral building in Gothic style southeast of the Alps. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and to kings Saint Stephen and Saint Ladislaus. In 1093 king Ladislaus (1040-1095) proclaimed the existing church as a cathedral. Construction on the cathedral finished in 1217. The building was destroyed by the Tatars in 1242 but rebuilt a few years later
The cathedral is depicted together with the Statue of King Tomislav on the reverse of the Croatian 1000 kuna banknote issued in 1993
The cathedral was severely damaged in the 1880 Zagreb earthquake. The main nave collapsed and the tower was damaged beyond repair. As part of that restoration, two spires 108 m high were raised on the western side, both of which are now in the process of being restored as part of an extensive general restoration of the cathedral.
The cathedral was visited by Pope Benedict XVI on 5 June 2011 where he celebrated Sunday Vespers
Honey-stone, stone of captured sunlight, warm like the evening sun
After the cathedral had been reconstructed in the Neo-Gothic style, a fountain designed by Hermann Bollé was built in front of the cathedral
The Austrian sculptor Fernkorn was responsible for the gold-plated statues of the Virgin Mary and four angels, the latter symbolizing the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope, Innocence and Humility.
When facing the portal, the building is 46 meters wide and 108 meters high
Old City Wall, next to the Cathedral and Zagreb 1880 earthquake's clock The Prislin Tower is one of the best preserved parts of the defensive fortifications, which were built in the 15th and 16th century
Outside the cathedral two pillars: one restored and one not. At the end of the Communist era the whole cathedral was in the same state. These two pillars serve as a good example of the ravages of time on the low-quality stone used during Bolle's reconstruction
The top of the door is decorated with the Statue of Christ surrounded by two statues of Hungarian kings - St Stephen and St Ladislaus.
Angels above the statues of Saints Methodius, George, Barbara next to the front door
Zagreb, with a population of nearly one million, contains almost a quarter of the entire population of Croatia
During the 17th century, fire damaged the cathedral several times, but every next reconstruction enriched its interior with valuable inventory
Mitre from the Treasury of Zagreb cathedral, 14th century the ivory plenarium
The most valuable and oldest object is the ivory plenarium illustrated with ten scenes from the life of Jesus. It has been in Zagreb ever since 11th century. A thief posing as an art-loving aristocrat once made a copy of the plenarium, taking the original to America where it was sold. Subsequently recovered, the original is now preserved alongside the copy in the treasury. On the eve of the visit of Pope John II to Zagreb, scenes from the plenarium were copied onto the covers of the Book of Gospels that was presented to the Holy Father as a gift
An effigy of the archbishop Aloysius Stepinac rests on a raised platform behind the main altar The church now measured 77 metres in length, and 46.60 metres in width. The inside of the Cathedral occupied 2386 square metres of space, and the steeples reached a height of 93 metres
Cathedral main altar The cathedrals altar is modeled on the country's famous statue of the Madonna and Child from the revered church and place of pilgrimage at Maria Bistrica
