Votive chapels of st. Roch in Brela

Brela preserve the memory of a turbulent past through its many sacred monuments. Among them, a special place belongs to the chapels dedicated to st. Roch, the patron saint against infectious diseases. They stand as lasting reminders of the local struggle against one of the worst calamities in the history of the Makarska littoral.

Memories of the "Makarska plague" (1815)
The year 1815 left a deep mark on the history of this region. It was then that the "Makarska plague" swept through the area—the last major wave of the disease, which significantly influenced local customs and the very landscape of the settlement:

Fire as a defense: Fearing the spread of infection, locals resorted to drastic measures. Historical records mention the burning of houses in Brela that were covered in straw, as fire was believed to be the most effective protection.
Heritage and traditions: The fight against the disease remains recorded in folk tales and scientific works, but also in the physical space itself—through isolated old cemeteries and these votive monuments.

Chapel of st. Roch in Donje Selo
Built in 1815 as a direct vow during the epidemic itself. It was originally located by the road near the old parish church of st. Stephen, but due to road expansion in the 1990s, it was carefully moved to its current location, closer to the church.

Chapel of st. Roch in Gornji Kričak
This chapel was built in 1816, immediately after the danger had passed. The locals erected it as a sign of gratitude for the end of the epidemic and the protection of their families.