The Cathedral of St. James

The Cathedral of St. James is a UNESCO-listed cathedral in the historic centre of Šibenik, Croatia. Built between 1431 and 1536, it is one of the most important Renaissance monuments on the Dalmatian coast and is especially known for its stone construction, sculpted exterior and distinctive dome. The cathedral combines Gothic and Renaissance elements, and its exterior includes the famous frieze of carved human heads around the apses. Its location in the old city, surrounded by stone streets and historic squares, makes it one of Šibenik’s most recognisable landmarks.

The Cathedral of St. James appears in Game of Thrones, where Šibenik is used to represent parts of Braavos in season 5. The cathedral and the square around it are most closely associated with the Braavos material connected to the Iron Bank and the House of Black and White storyline. Other Šibenik locations used in the series include the city’s old-town streets, waterfront views and St. John’s Fortress, but the Cathedral of St. James should be kept as its own location when the cathedral façade, square or immediate surroundings are visible.

In Game of Thrones (2015), the Cathedral of St. James appears in season 5, episode 9, “The Dance of Dragons”. Šibenik represents Braavos, and the cathedral is used as part of the city connected to the Iron Bank. The location appears as a backdrop in the Braavos scenes, using the cathedral’s monumental stone architecture to give the fictional city a grand and historic identity. The real Šibenik landmark is not presented as a church in the series, but becomes part of Braavos’ civic and financial world. Its stone façade and surrounding square help separate the Braavos scenes from the King’s Landing material filmed elsewhere in Croatia.

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