Church of St. Philip and James: Vukovar's Baroque Jewel

💗On the banks of the Danube in Vukovar, the Church of St. Philip and James stands like a timeworn pearl, radiating the final splendor of Baroque art. 💗Built in the 18th century, this church was once Vukovar's most magnificent religious structure, its iconic twin-tower facade shimmering in harmony with the Danube's waves - affectionately called "Vukovar Cathedral" by locals. 💧The 1991 war nearly destroyed this architectural gem, collapsing its roof, damaging frescoes, and leaving the remaining tower walls riddled with thousands of bullet holes. 🌈After 20 years of meticulous restoration, the church reopened in 2013. 💧Today, sunlight streams through new stained glass, illuminating the fully reconstructed Baroque gilded altar, while a deliberately preserved bullet-riddled wall serves as the centerpiece of the "Memory Corridor."⭐ 🌈Most moving is the "Rosary Fresco" discovered in the church basement - a charcoal drawing of the Virgin Mary made by an elderly monk during artillery fire, now immortalized as a commemorative relief. #VukovarReborn #BalkanBaroque #WarAndRenewal