|
ZICA
Zica Monastery, an endowment of King Stefan the First Crowned built
between 1208 and 1220, lies in a plain near Kraljevo, at the entrance to the
Ibar gorge. Zica was the first seat of the autonomous Serbian Archbishops
and it was there that almost all medieval Serbian rulers were crowned.
Archictecturally, Zica belongs to the Raska school, characterized by the
Romanesque style of the Littoral adapted to the needs of the Ortodox
religious service. However, more in keeping with the tradition of the Mount
Athos monasteries, Zica was originally painted red.
Only a few of the old frescoes dating back to the 13th century still remain
in this church. These frescoes can be seen mainly in the lateral choir
recesses.
The rest of the wall paintings are from the early 14th century. The fine
frescoes in the south chapel, dedicated to St. Stefan, belong to this
period.
|