The story of Euphrasian Basilica

The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč is considered the best-preserved early Christian church in the world, and it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. It is actually the third church on this site. The first, dedicated to Saint Maurus, dates from the second half of the 4th century, and the floor mosaic of its prayer room, once part of a large Roman house, survives in the church garden; look for the fish, an early Christian symbol.

The present basilica was built from 553 under Bishop Euphrasius, whose name it bears, and it took about ten years. Its marble came from the shores of the Sea of Marmara, and Byzantine masters made the dazzling wall mosaics, while local craftsmen laid the floors.

In the apse, look for Euphrasius himself, holding a model of his church, standing next to Saint Maurus. The whole complex, with its sacristy, baptistery and bell tower, is an outstanding example of early Byzantine architecture.