The church of St. Nicholas on Prirovac hill

Perched on a ridge dominating the landscape, the 14th-century church of st. Nicholas is more than just a sacred building—it is the key to understanding the ancient past of Brela. This high-category monument blends Gothic architecture, mysterious legends, and the remains of lost settlements.

Architecture and the mystic necropolis
Built as a single-nave structure with characteristic Gothic vaults and a rectangular apse, the church was thoroughly restored in 1998. Its peaceful surroundings hide a medieval necropolis with 19 tombstones (stećci), silent witnesses of time that lend a unique sense of serenity to the hill.

In the footsteps of ancient Berulia
Just below the church, the ruins of ancient houses can be seen. Most historians believe this to be the site of Berulia, a settlement mentioned by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus as far back as the 10th century.

Legends and curiosities
The "infinite" flock of sheep: In the nearby area of Kopačine, the picokare (nuns of the Third Order of St. Francis) once lived. According to folk tradition, their flock of sheep was so vast that it stretched continuously from their dwelling all the way to the peaks of Biokovo Mountain.

The turkish tower: Southeast of the church stands a fascinating two-story fortification with loopholes. It was built by walling up natural mountain cliffs during the Candian War (17th century), serving as a secure refuge from Ottoman incursions.

The bishop's wrath: The church was first mentioned in 1597 under dramatic circumstances, when Bishop Nikola Ugrinović placed Brela under an interdict, temporarily forbidding all masses, sacraments, and funerals in the area.

The secret of the consecration date
While the consecration of the church was long attributed to Bishop Ugrinović, details within the interior suggest another possibility.

Two consecration crosses on the walls mark the day of dedication as May 26th, though the exact year remains unknown. However, as May 26th is the feast of St. Philip Neri—the patron of the Oratorians whose congregation was founded by the Bishop of Makarska, Nikola Bijanković—it is highly probable that he performed the reconsecration of St. Nicholas in Gornja Brela. This was likely part of his broader spiritual renewal of the Biokovo region, a place he held dear to his heart. It is also possible that the new consecration was performed by Bijanković’s successor (and nephew), Stjepan Blašković.