Did you know that the ”world’s smallest cathedral” is the Church of the Holy Cross, the most famous landmark of Nin? Built in the 9th century in the shape of a Greek cross, it is located right by the parish church in the said town.
A bystander might notice errors in the construction which, surprisingly so, are not a sign of ignorance but a result of a deliberate decision made by its designers. You see, the experts say that these axis shifts or so-called errors in the construction, were meant to follow the sun path. So, in the beginning it was used as a sundial and calender of sorts. During the period of Croatian rule, it served as a chapel of the duke’s court located close-by. The lintel of the chapel door, which carries the name of the county ruler Godečaj (Godeslav), is considered to be the oldest Croatian inscription.
In the immediate vicinity of the Church there are approximately 170 old Croatian tombs from the 8th to the 15th century with remains that can be seen today.
For those of you who are interested in history and religious objects, I recommend visiting Nin to experience first-hand the world’s smallest cathedral.
D. Šabić