St. Mary's Church and Permanent Exhibition of Religion Art, Zadar

Located in Zadar, the Church of St. Mary is a Benedictine monastery that was established in 1066 on the eastern side of the town's old Roman forum. The noblewoman Čika founded the monastery alongside an existing church and later endowed it with valuable items such as two Hymnariums (collection of hymns) and a prayer book. While the Hymnariums are lost, the prayer book is currently kept in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

Čika's daughter, Vekenega, became the first successor of Čika and sought financial aid from King Coloman of Hungary to complete the monastery and erect new objects. As a result, the monumental tower bears Coloman's name and was constructed in 1105. The church houses Vekenega's tomb, which is adorned with Latin verses.

The monastery underwent several renovations throughout the centuries, including a Renaissance-style portal and southern facade by Nikola Španić in 1507, and the addition of Baroque motifs to the interior decorations in 1744. During World War II, the church and its surroundings were destroyed by Allied bombing but were rebuilt after the war.

Today, the Benedictine nuns in Zadar own one of the most valuable church collections in Croatia, containing approximately 200 items such as stone sculptures, paintings, wood carvings, and goldsmith's works. Visitors to the monastery can view these exhibits, which have been collected over the centuries, including ancient Bibles, Christian symbols, and old monastery furniture.