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The Rotunda of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Rotunda of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was first the baptistery. The fresco of Christ Pantocrator on its vault was painted in the 14 century.
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The Church is located in the centre of the old town of Koper. Start from Tito Square towards Trubarjeva Street between the loggia and the Cathedral. The Rotunda is located next to the Cathedral of Mary's Assumption.
Note:
The Church is always open.
The Rotunda of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was first the baptistery of the Koper Cathedral. It was built in the 12th or the 13th centuries. The fresco was painted in the 14th century during its renovation. In the 18th century, Baroque elements were added. In 1935, it was renovated once again according to designs of architect Ferdinand. Its final renovation occurred in 2005. Christ Pantocrator wearing a green dress and a brown cape is shown frontally on the top of the rotunda, sitting on the rainbow with green background embellished with golden stars. He bestows benediction with his right hand, while his hand resting on the knee holds an open book in which we can read – ego sum lux mundi (I am the light of the world). The painting of the Christ image, although showing some Byzantine face lines, differs from the style then existing in the Byzantine cultural circle and the Byzantine tradition of the 14th century Venice. However, there are some similarities with the Pregiotto school of painting from the late 13th century. The Pantocrator type is related to the Rimini school of painting, for example with paintings in the Pamposa monastery (Pietra da Rimini, 1318). The Pantocrator from Koper primarily reflects the closeness with the Byzantine school of painting.
