Šorići, Church of St. Mary Magdalene

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is situated along a field path, approximately two kilometres south of the hamlet of Šorići in the Rovinj area. Typologically, it belongs to the group of Romanesque single-nave churches with a projecting semi-circular apse.

In the sanctuary, Gothic wall paintings from the first half of the fourteenth century have been preserved. The conch of the apse is adorned with a depiction of Christ Enthroned, surrounded by the zoomorphic symbols of the four Evangelists, while the lower zone features a row of apostles. The triumphal arch is painted with the scene of the Annunciation, beneath which are two saintly figures. In the southern part of the lower zone of the triumphal arch, the titular saint, St. Mary Magdalene, can be identified.

On the southern and northern walls, three scenes have been preserved on each side; however, due to significant damage, their iconography is only partially legible. The author of the frescoes is unknown, but their stylistic features point to a North Italian painting circle in which the Giottoesque manner persisted over a longer period.

The wall paintings were first documented by Branko Fučić in 1964 in his dissertation Srednjovjekovno zidno slikarstvo u Istri.

Iconographic Program:

Eastern wall: 1 Christ Enthroned and the symbols of the four Evangelists, 2 Apostles, 3 – 4 Annunciation, 5 Saint Mary Magdalene, 6 Saint. Southern wall: 7 Saint Leonard and three saints, 8 Two saints, 9 Saint George slaying the dragon. Northern wall: 10 – 12 Saints.