In front of St. Blaise's Church
The monumental baroque Church of St Blaise (1715) in Dubrovnik is situated in the Luža square, the junction of the two main streets and meeting places - Placa (Main street) and Pred Dvorom (In front of the Rector's Palace). The Church was constructed (1706 – 1715) by Venetian architect and sculptor M. Gropelli. The legend has it that St Blaise saved the residents of Dubrovnik from a Venetian attack in 972. Before becoming the protector and patron saint of Dubrovnik St Blaise was a doctor. Presented as an old man with a grey beard and dressed as a bishop, he holds an iron comb, the sign of martyrdom, and a lit candle symbolising healing. He is considered the patron of wild animals and throat illness for saving a child from suffocating. He always holds a model of the City in his hand.