Saint Ignatius Church, Dubrovnik (must see)

Climb the broad staircase in Ruđer Bošković Square, and you might feel a sudden sense of déjà vu. That's no accident. The steps leading up to the Church of Saint Ignatius were clearly inspired by Rome’s famous Spanish Steps. At the top, waits a church that would look perfectly at home in the heart of Italy. Built for the Jesuit order in 1725, this church follows the Roman Baroque style and was designed by the Jesuit architect Ignazio Pozzo as a single-nave space meant to impress rather than whisper.

Once inside, the ceiling quickly steals the show. Baroque frescoes painted by Gaetano Garcia unfold above, illustrating scenes from the life of Saint Ignatius. Later additions brought in more layers to the interior. In 1885, a small grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was painted by Jesuit artist Antonio Moscheni. Balconies and small gallery boxes line the sides, while daylight gently filters through the stained-glass roof, filling the church with a soft glow that highlights every painted surface.

Outside, the façade delivers full Baroque drama. Free-standing columns frame the central section, while sculpted angels gather around an ornate portal designed by architect Marino Groppelli. The result feels theatrical, as if the building itself is making a grand entrance.

Right next door stands the Jesuit Collegium. Its first version appeared in 1662, though the great earthquake of 1667 prompted its major reconstruction between 1669 and 1725. One of the institution's most famous teachers was the celebrated scientist and philosopher Ruđer Bošković, whose ideas traveled far beyond Dubrovnik’s walls. Today, the building still serves education, housing the Classical Gymnasium High School of Dubrovnik—a vivid proof that even centuries-old Jesuit classrooms can continue shaping new generations...