When I read that there was a cemetery on Brac and saw the pictures, I knew this was one I had to visit. The most famous modern sculptor in Croatia was Ivan Rendic, and he is buried here. The St Nicholas Cemetery on Brac has some unique buildings and beautiful art.
Ivan Rendic
Ivan was neither born nor died on Brac, however he lived most of his life on the Island. His mother was from Brac and his family moved back to the island when he was only 3 months old.
Ivan Rendic created about 200 works of art in his life time, mostly stone and bronze sculptures. There is a large museum in Split dedicated to his work. He is revered here in the city and rightly so. He is Croatia’s most famous sculpture of the modern age.
When I entered the cemetery on Brac, his was the first tomb I saw. It is located right beside the church and cannot be missed. So simple and so beautiful.
Church of St Nicholas
The cemetery is located on the St Nicholas cape which protects Supetar from the west. There are ancient Roman ruins here, as well as the Church of St Nicholas and the cemetery.
The church is small and so very pretty and was completed in 1673. It sits towards one end of the cemetery.
The Domes
There are two prominent domes on the grounds, close to the church. The largest and tallest one belongs to the Petrinovic family and is absolutely stunning. From the bronze doors to the sculpted stonework, the entire dome is exquisite, especially against the turquoise backdrop of the Adriatic Sea.
Tombs
The oldest tomb in this cemetery dates from 1740. There are even two large sarcophagi. Many of the tombstones were carved by Ivan Rendic. Walking through and looking at the beautiful sculptures is like walking through an art gallery.
This cemetery is a very special place. Not only have these grounds been used since ancient roman times, but the peacefulness and space itself is full of beauty and wonder. I was the only person walking around at the time I visited. What a marvel.
