Information
Landmark: Bishop's TreasuryCity: Korcula
Country: Croatia
Continent: Europe
Bishop's Treasury, Korcula, Croatia, Europe
Overview
Tucked beside St. Mark’s Cathedral in Korčula’s Old Town, the Bishop’s Treasury (Biskupska Riznica) is a small museum with a remarkable collection.Inside, you’ll find an extraordinary array of religious relics, vivid artwork, and centuries-old objects-each offering a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural story of Korčula and the lands around it.Tucked beside St. Mark’s Cathedral in the heart of Korčula’s Old Town, the treasury safeguards centuries-old relics tied to the island’s religious and cultural life, from gilded chalices to faded silk vestments.The Bishop’s Treasury holds a dazzling array of religious treasures-gold- and silver-trimmed chalices, ornate ciboria, and glittering monstrances studded with precious stones.Reliquaries, some etched with delicate metalwork, guard sacred relics.Shelves display richly illustrated medieval manuscripts alongside rare early printed books, each offering a window into Korčula’s spiritual and intellectual past.Paintings of saints and vivid biblical scenes share space with Byzantine and Venetian-style icons, reflecting centuries of cultural exchange.Embroidered vestments once worn by bishops and priests drape in quiet splendor, their threads catching the light.Small sculptures and carved stone pieces add weight and texture to the collection, underscoring the island’s enduring craftsmanship and deep ties to the Venetian Republic and the wider Mediterranean world.The items on display show the handiwork of local artisans, along with touches of foreign trade and cultural exchange-a carved wooden bowl beside silk dyed in colors from far-off markets.The Bishop’s Treasury usually keeps the same hours as St. Mark’s Cathedral, though times can shift with the seasons.There’s a small entrance fee, often covered if you buy a combo ticket for other sights in Korčula’s Old Town.Some walking tours pause here, adding stories that bring the exhibits to life-a flicker of candlelight on gilded pages, for instance.Housed in a historic building, the museum can be tricky to navigate for visitors with limited mobility.Step inside, and you’ll find a rich collection of religious and cultural treasures that deepen your sense of Korčula’s past.If you’re wandering through St. Mark’s Cathedral, the treasury makes the visit even richer, with gleaming gold chalices and centuries of history tucked behind its glass cases.
