One of the sights of Dubrovnik's Old Town is the majestic Baroque Cathedral of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, designed by the Roman architect Andrea Bufalini. The construction of the church was carried out by a number of architects invited from Italy. Some of them refused to work, being dissatisfied with the delay in their salaries. The construction of the church lasted from 1672 to 1731. The last architect to complete all work on the church was local master Ilja Kalčić.
Dubrovnik Cathedral is steeped in legends. The most colourful of them tells that on the site of the present church there used to be a temple, which was built by Richard the Lionheart himself. It seems that he landed on the local shores on his way back from the Third Crusade. That old church has not survived: it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1667. However, historians claim that King Richard the Lionheart had nothing to do with the ancient church. Fragments of the old church foundation date from an earlier period. Richard the Lionheart did not arrive here until several decades after the appearance of the church.
The Cathedral houses several valuable works of art. The altarpiece "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary", created by Titian himself, deserves special attention. It was purchased for the temple by the local Brotherhood of Lazarini. It consisted of wealthy citizens. In the western part of the nave you can see a sculpture of the Virgin Mary, which, as the locals believe, has the ability to cause rain. It was taken outside during droughts and carried through the city.
The sacristy of the cathedral displays a collection of church art. It is also where details of the relics of St Vlach are kept in the reliquary.
