ROMAN VILLA AND EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN EREŠOVI BARE

Roman villa and early Christian church in Erešovi Bare

(Church in Erešovi Bare)

At the site of Erešove Bare, which in ancient times was outside the walls of the city of Narona, a suburban villa was built in the 2nd century , which underwent several renovations until the 5th century, and the luxurious furnishings of its interior are best evidenced by the remains of architectural decoration and plaster painted with frescoes. An early Christian church was built over the remains of the villa at the end of the 6th century. The remains of a single-nave church with a vestibule on the facade and a semicircular inscribed apse at the rear, as well as traces of two annexes leaning on both sides of the nave, have been preserved, which makes it possible that the basilica had a cruciform plan. The apse had a vault, and a semicircular brick seat for the clergy has also been preserved in the sanctuary. In addition, the remains of stone church furniture have been preserved, such as fragments of an altar, altar partitions, and the like, which probably originate from the church in Erešove Bare.

Roman Villa and Early Christian Church in the Ponds of Ereš

(Church in the Ponds of Eresh)

In the locality of the Ponds of Ereš, that in ancient times was outside the walls of the town of Narona, a suburban villa emerged in the 2nd century that by the 5th century underwent several renovations; the luxurious equipment of its interior is best presented by the remnants of the architectural ornaments and fresco painted plaster. At the end of the 6th century , an early Christian church emerged on the remains of the villa. The remains of the single-nave church with an antechamber at the front and semi-circular inscribed apse at the end and traces of two annexes leaning on both sides of the nave have been preserved, making it possible for the basilica to have a cross plan. The apse had an arch and, in the sanctuary, there is also a preserved semi-circular brick seat for the priesthood. Moreover, the remnants of the stone church furniture such as fragments of the altar, altar partitions and similar were preserved, which probably date back to the church in the Ponds of Ereš.