The Cathedral Bell Tower

The biggest investment project of all times on the Island of Rab was the construction of the Rab Cathedral bell tower, the most beautiful building of that kind on the eastern Adriatic coast. It was built some 50m west of the Cathedral. For a long time it was the second tallest building on the eastern Adriatic coast, towering over all the Istrian and Dalmatian bell towers and preserved ancient buildings with being 26 m high. It was built in Romanesque style in the 13th century. The Romanesque period architectural style features are evident in the architectural and sculptural ornaments with geometric, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs. The strong impression of harmony and moderation is made by the opening of monoforas, biforas, triforas and the large quadrifora on the top floor. Unfortunately, the builders of this bell tower are not known, but it can be concluded that it was erected by the local community headed by the influential Duke who could be the son of the Venetian Doge and the Bishop from Rab had his palace around the bell tower through which one entered into this monumental building. Since the bell tower was reconstructed several times, it is possible that the fragments used for identification could have been lost during such clumsily performed reconstructions.