Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Sućuraj – Baroque Church from 1663
The Church of St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most significant historical buildings in Sućuraj and one of the few preserved churches that directly recalls the turbulent period of Venetian-Ottoman conflicts on the eastern end of Hvar. It was built in 1663, during a time when many families from the Makarska Riviera and other inland areas were settling in Sućuraj, fleeing from the Ottomans.
The church was erected by settlers led by Franciscans in a part of the village known as Donja Banda. A small monastery was also built alongside it. The monastery building has been preserved, but it no longer serves that function and is used as a family home.
Although the church is small and quite simple on the outside, its interior is particularly interesting. It houses the oldest known painting in Sućuraj, two statues of St. Anthony, a statue of St. Nicholas, as well as a small archaeological collection with items found in the sea around Sućuraj.
Church Built After the Settlement of Inland Population
The history of the Church of St. Anthony is closely intertwined with the history of Sućuraj itself.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the eastern part of Hvar was very close to the border between the Venetian Republic and the area under Ottoman rule. The Makarska Riviera was under Ottoman control, Pelješac belonged to the Dubrovnik Republic, and Sućuraj was one of the easternmost locations of Venetian territory.
Refugees from the mainland arrived in the village, and some settled in the previously less developed Donja Banda. The Franciscans who came with the settlers participated in the construction of the new church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua.
The year 1663 has been preserved as the year of its construction.
Baroque Church with Elements of Older Architectural Tradition
The Church of St. Anthony is most often described as a Baroque building, and its appearance also reflects elements of older Dalmatian architectural tradition.
It does not have monumental dimensions or a richly shaped façade like those seen on large urban churches. Its modest proportions are well suited to the time and community in which it was built.
Today, it is valued primarily because it has been preserved as an authentic part of Sućuraj from the 17th century – a period when the village began to expand again after decades of wars, attacks, and insecurity.
The Oldest Painting in Sućuraj
Inside, the oldest preserved painting in Sućuraj is housed.
It depicts St. Paschal, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and St. Roch, and it is believed to likely be the work of the master Filip Nadij from the 18th century.
For a small place like Sućuraj, such items are particularly important as the church is not only an architectural monument but also a place where traces of local religious and cultural history have been preserved for centuries.
Two St. Anthonys – “Skinny” and “Fat”
One of the most interesting details in the church is the two different statues of St. Anthony.
The first represents St. Anthony of Padua, to whom the church is dedicated, while the second depicts St. Anthony the Abbot.
In local tradition, the people of Sućuraj refer to them more simply and vividly as “Skinny St. Anthony” and “Fat St. Anthony”.
Such local names may seem trivial, but they give the church the character of a living part of the village, rather than just a historical site viewed from the outside.
The church also contains a statue of St. Nicholas, another saint traditionally revered in Sućuraj.
Amphorae and Anchor from a Sunken Roman Galley
The Church of St. Anthony hides another surprise that has no direct connection to Baroque sacred art.
Inside, there is a small archaeological collection with amphorae and an anchor found from a sunken Roman galley in the underwater area of Sućuraj.
The area around eastern Hvar was an important maritime region even in ancient times, and numerous traces of navigation and shipwrecks have been found in the sea around Sućuraj.
Thus, in a very small space, two completely different stories intersect – the Roman maritime past of Sućuraj and the religious heritage of the 17th-century settlers.
Feast of St. Anthony on June 13
The church still plays an important role in the life of the village, especially on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua on June 13.
On this day, a traditional mass and procession through the village are held, during which the statue of St. Anthony of Padua is carried from the church.
The procession is not a recent tourist event but part of a long-standing local religious tradition. During the feast, the church best demonstrates its original function – as a gathering place for the community, rather than just a cultural landmark.
The Church is Part of the Old Donja Banda
The church is located in the eastern part of Sućuraj, in the old part of the village known as Donja Banda.
It can be reached from the waterfront and the center of Sućuraj by a short walk through the village. Since Sućuraj is not large, the church can easily be included in a walking tour along with the Church of St. George, the old monastery, Fortica, the waterfront, and the lighthouse.
Walking is the best way to get to know historical Sućuraj, as its main attractions are relatively close to each other.
Can You Enter the Church?
The church is an active sacred site, but one should not expect typical tourist opening hours like those of a museum.
The interior is easiest to see when the church is open for mass, a feast, or another church event. If visiting primarily for the historical items and archaeological collection, it is advisable to check in advance about the possibility of entry.
Even when closed, the church is worth a brief stop during a tour of old Sućuraj due to its history and location in the former Donja Banda.
Parking and Access
The church can be approached via local streets, but there is no significant parking available directly next to the church in the old part of Sućuraj.
If already staying in the village, it is best to arrive on foot. Sućuraj is small enough that a short walk from the waterfront and most of the center will lead to the church.
When arriving by car, it is more practical to park in an available spot in the wider central area and continue the tour of the old core on foot.
Useful Information
Location: Sućuraj, eastern part of the island of Hvar
Name: Church of St. Anthony / Church of St. Anthony of Padua
Year of Construction: 1663
Style: Baroque, with elements of older architectural tradition
Builders: Settlers from the mainland led by Franciscans
Historical Part of the Village: Donja Banda
Features: The oldest painting in Sućuraj, two statues of St. Anthony, and an archaeological collection
Archaeological Items: Amphorae and an anchor from a sunken Roman galley
Feast of St. Anthony: June 13
Procession: Yes, traditionally on the feast of St. Anthony
Access: Best on foot from the center of Sućuraj
Parking: No large parking area directly next to the church
Sveti Ante / Comments
Looks like you are not signed in!
How would you like to proceed?
Anonymous comment
Login
Register
Your comment was submitted successfully and it will be published after approval by administrator!
General Conditions of Publication
General Conditions of Publiciation
1. Web page
Web page www.holiday-link.com is an interactive web page where the visitors can put texts, news, photos and video movies regarding the content about tourism, gastronomy, culture and entertainment. Information can be uploaded by the owners, managers, employees, tourist boards, residents and tourists, basically all those who want to introduce the public to the specific content (facilities). The site allows evaluation of the attractiveness of a specific content and it allows writing comments by other visitors. Visitors, who log in and want to publish an information about some content (facility) or promote some tourist service, become users or suppliers and they agree to the general terms and conditions that are stipulated here and are obliged to act in accordance with the general terms and conditions (general conditions do not apply if a person is only visiting the page). A person can become a user by signing up with a user name and a password. The user agrees to put the accurate access data, name and surname and the address. Contents that users publish will be signed with a nickname they choose, while the personal data will be used in accordance with the privacy statement. Persons under the age of thirteen are not allowed to enter any content. General terms can be changed from time to time and if the user or supplier doesn’t agree with the changed general terms and conditions he can remove his content from the site.
2. Content
The page is not the media that publishes editorial program contents but the page where the visitors publish information that serve for the educational and cultural public informing about the touristic, cultural and gastronomic contents (facilities). The goal of the site is to collect the information that will give the tourists, as well as the locals, the insight into touristic, cultural and gastronomic offer of the certain location (city, region and country). Publishing the information about the content (information on facilities) is completely free of charge. Except the touristic content , on these pages, providers of various services in tourism may publish and advertise services they offer. These are, further in the text, referred to as a suppliers. Users and suppliers are solely responsible for the publication of their contents in accordance with the statement of responsibility.
3. User obligations
Each user is obliged to use the website in accordance with the general terms and conditions. By publishing the certain text, comment, photo or video movie on the site, the user guarantees that the published information are true, and that they are not copyrighted by a third party. Each user is morally and materially responsible for the publication of content. It is forbidden to copy texts from other websites. Administrators review entered contents and approve them for publishing. Holiday-Link.com has the right not to show the content it finds inappropriate, untrue or offensive. The owners, managers or employees of the gastronomic facilities (eg. restaurants) have the right to reply to the articles and comments on their own content. The owners have the right to request the removal of the text regarding their facilities if they find it inappropriate. The complaint can be send to complain@holiday-link.com. By publishing the content, the user is giving the exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual transferable, irrevocable and fully sublicensable licence (copyright) to use, reproduce modify, adapt, translate, distribute, publish and publicly display subscribed content to the Holiday-Link.com and its affiliates.
4. The obligations of suppliers of tourist services (accommodation and other services)
Company Holiday-Link.com Ltd acts as advertising website on this website and not as a tour operator or intermediary travel agency. Suppliers of tourist services who register their capacity on this site, pay the commercial advertising model they choose. Interaction, regarding arranging a specific accommodation or other tourist service, is done directly between supplier and visitor. Visitors arrange the accommodation or some other touristic service directly with the suppliers and pay the arranged service to them. Suppliers are responsible for all entered data, images, prices and more. Suppliers guarantee that they have all licences necessary to carry out the services they offer, and to operate in accordance with the laws of their home country. By purchasing certain service, visitor accepts the terms and conditions of a supplier from whom he purchased the service. Holiday-Link will check each supplier before putting its facilities to be visible on the page.
5. Statement of Responsibility
The information, that users and suppliers are entering, can be wrong. Holiday-Link.com does not check the entry of the information, pictures and movies and cannot guarantee their accuracy and it disclaims any responsibility for any incorrect data. If you notice a certain misstatement, inaccuracy or inadequacy in any content, please contact us by e-mail: complain@holiday-link.com The responsibility, for every information about some content, is on the user who entered the information. Suppliers, who advertise touristic services via this website, act as independent entrepreneurs. They enter the data about their services , as well as the pictures and the prices, on their own. Holiday-Link.com does not check entered data and disclaims responsibility regarding the errors that can occur during the entering. Suppliers have to own all the licences regarding the services they offer, and they have to respect the laws and regulations of the home country. Visitor arranges the specific service directly with the supplier, on the basis of data that is entered by a supplier as independent entrepreneur, and he pays it directly to the supplier. Therefore, Holiday-Link.com disclaims responsibility for any problem related to the certain reservation.
6. Privacy Policy
When logging into the website, users and suppliers have to enter some personal data (name and surname, e-mail, address, phone number, etc.). Holiday-Link.com guarantees that this data will be kept secret and will not be forwarded to the third parties. Holiday-Link.com can use an user and a supplier e-mail for sending necessarry informaion and for advertising.
7. Cookie Policy
Cookies are small text files that can be stored into device of a visitor if it is allowed by a web browser. Holiday-Link.com uses cookies to provide a better user experience on the website for the visitors. Also, while visiting Holiday-Link.com, you can automatically collect a certain data.
8. Court Jurisdiction
In case of any dispute, related to the site holiday-link.com, the court in Split and the Croatian law are competent.