Chapel of St. Blaise

The Chapel of St. Blaise is one of the oldest religious buildings on the island of Vis, and was first mentioned in the 12th century as the property of the Benedictines from Biševo, who at that time also managed the Church of St. Sylvester. It was built in the pre-Romanesque and Romanesque style, and throughout history it has been renovated and expanded several times, especially in the 14th and 16th centuries. This chapel is a typical example of coastal churches – simple, built of stone and covered with stone slabs. On the facade there is a small bell tower on a distaff, which is still in use today. Although the exact date of its construction is unknown, a record from the second half of the 17th century states that the pavement at that time was already dilapidated, which indicates a much older origin, probably from the 16th century. The chapel is dedicated to St. Blaise, the patron saint of the throat. On his feast day, February 3, a mass and traditional throat blessing ceremony are held there – the only day of the year when the church holds a liturgy. The rest of the year, the chapel is mostly closed, but it remains an important place of devotion and local tradition. A hiking trail leads to the Chapel of St. Blaise, which branches off from trail number 15. From the pass where the chapel is located, the path continues towards the valley and the gravel road, and then towards the village of Dragodid or west towards the vineyards and the abandoned barracks. The trail ends in Barjaška Bay, where the remains of military infrastructure can be found, including the destroyed cannon nests on Cape Barjaci. The Chapel of St. Blaise thus represents not only the spiritual and cultural heritage of Vis, but also an important point on the island's hiking routes, connecting natural beauty, historical layers and religious tradition.