Summary
The complex of St John the Baptist in Povlja brings together an Early Christian basilica, a baptistery, the later parish church and the fortified residence of the former Benedictine abbey. The 12th-century Povaljski prag (Povlja lintel) bears witness to the site’s medieval phase.
The surviving baptistery, the veneration of relics, the Povaljski prag (Povlja lintel) and Povaljska listina (Povlja charter) form a connected whole; individual relics are described as having been historically kept at the site.
History and purpose
The complex of St John the Baptist in the Lokve area above Povlja Bay developed beside a monumental Early Christian basilica. According to the municipal register, the surviving baptistery with its baptismal font became the sanctuary of the later church dedicated to St John the Baptist.
Structure and traces of the past
During the Benedictine abbey’s existence, a fortified building with battlements was erected above the sanctuary of the Early Christian church. In the 12th century, the famous Povaljski prag (Povlja lintel), bearing a Cyrillic inscription by the master Radonja, was installed; it is now in the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split. The present bell tower dates from 1882, and the church’s side aisles were added in 1924.
Access and visiting
The site is in Povlja and encompasses several historical layers. Ask the parish or local tourist office about visiting the interior, museum displays and current access conditions.
