Description of the attraction
A very recognizable architectural dominant of Dobrota is the Church of St. Matthew with a high bell tower, which was erected in the era of the economic prosperity of the city. When the ancient temple, which stood on this place, was destroyed by an earthquake, the inhabitants of the city decided to restore it, or rather, to rebuild it. In 1670, the Baroque Church of St. Matthew appeared here, which has hardly changed since then. As usual, the bell tower was added to the temple much later than the nave of the church. This happened in the 18th century. The walls of the sacristy have survived from the old temple, on which you can see ancient inscriptions in Latin, which are more than seven centuries old.
Ordinary residents of the city did not allocate funds for the construction of this church. All the expenses were covered by the famous Dobrot families - Kamenarovichi and Radimir. Pavo Kamenarovich presented the new temple with a main altar made of noble marble and paid for the construction of the tower. Without Antoine Radimir's money, the church would have lost the chapel of St. Antoine and would not have had a golden reliquary.
The interior of the temple is also executed in a baroque manner: luxury and splendor prevail here. The most valuable icons, skillfully made sculptures, rich church utensils - everything is designed to emphasize the wealth and virtue of the donors. The most interesting piece of art kept in the Church of St. Matthew is considered to be the work of Giovanni Bellini "Madonna and Child of Dobrota", which was painted in the 15th century. It is worth noting the images of St. Nicholas and the scene of the Descent from the Cross. These paintings are by Italian artists. The temple also contains paintings by the local painter Mark Radonichich, who had no special education and was self-taught.
