Grgur Ninski Statue, Split

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I knew that the highlight in this place was the door, announced as the most beautiful, but... darkness didn't help.

At least, the statue of the bishop Ninsky made by Mestrovic (I couldn't see it but made my homework) was a silhouette against the sky.

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He was the Bishop man that started the use of Croat language in religious teaching, and countered the desire of the Roman aristocrats and the Pope in 926. Gregory Nin continued religious ceremony n Croatian through his life, instead of use of Latin, and in today times became a symbol of pride for the people. They come to rub his toe for good luck, or make a secret wish to come true. The Italians still have a bit of distaste for him, and moved the statue out from inside the wall during the occupation in WWII. The sculpture was made by Ivan Mestrovic in 1929 to commemorate the 1000th year since Nin's use of cultural language in religion. It stands about 20 feet high, and is in the park on the north side of the walls. WE also went to Nin, where there is a similar replica statue.

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This is a huge statute of Gregory of Nin located outside the Palace's Golden Gate and is a tribute to the Bishop who battled the Pope over the right to celebrate mass in Croatian language during the 10th century.
The statute was sculptored by Ivan Mestrovic in 1929 and he is recognised as Croatia's premier modern sculptor. His works are characterised by long fingers and can be seen throughout Croatia. The Mestrovic Gallery is the finest art museum in Split and is located at Setaliste Ivana Mestrovica 46 and bus number 12 runs fro Trg Republike.

This is a bronze statue of Grgur Ninski who was a bishop of Nin in 10th century.The statue can be found just outside of Golden Gate and it was made by Ivan Mestrovic , famous Croatian sculptor.Grgur Ninski was honoured by Croatians because he fought for Croatian people's right to use ther own language in liturgic service instead of Latin.It is a well known local custom to rub his toe and make a wish every time you walk past. Believe it or not , just do it , you never know........your wish may come true

You mush make a wish and touch the toe from this Saint - legend says he makes all the wishes come true! It is a bronze statue but you can see that toe toe was rubbed so many times you can almost see your own reflection! The most famous Croatian sculptor, Ivan Mestrovic is the author of this statue.
Bishop Grgur Ninski was a great fighter for the independence of Nin bishopy and a fighter for Glagolic service. Gregory of Nin in English, was thus a Croatian religious leader from the 10th century AD.

Looking out from the protection of the Golden Gate(under renovation and not visible to toursits) in a park with the belfry of Arnir, stands Mestrovics' dynamic statue of Bishop Gregory who stared at us and commanded "SPLIT!" We were rain soaked and flustered and our senior tour group quickly were herded back S and W to the Iron Gate. In Narodni trg under the awning of a cafe (Cafe Central? )(closed at 1130AM?)we voted to immediately go on to Dubrovnic. As further punishment the tour leaders could find no restaurant enroute. However we received manna in the form of two crates of mandarines bought from a roadside stand

North of the palace is the huge statue of Grgur Ninski (Bishop Gregory of Nin). He was a 10th century bishop who fought to use the Croatian language in church services and church books. It was built by Ivan Mestrovic in 1929.

WT2: Old Town Walking Tour

The monumental sculpture of the bishop that reads the Bible facing the northern walls of the Diocletian’s palace presents Grgur, the bishop of Nin. The sculpture was made by Ivan Mestrovic in 1929 and originally stood in the center of Peristyle untill 1954.
Grgur Ninski was 10th century bishop that strongly opposed the Pope and official circles of the Church and introduced the Croatian language in the religious services after the Great Assembly in 926. Until that time, services were held only in Latin, not being understandable to the majority of the population. Not only that this was important for Croatian language and culture but it also made the religion stronger within the Croatian nation.
The sculpture of Grgur Ninski is so popular that you’ll find smaller versions of it in squares in Nin and Varazdin as well. None of them is as monumental and big in scale as the original from Split.
The bronze on Grgur’s toe is worn down since the local legend says it that you have to touch his toe each time you pass by if you want good luck and if you want your wishes to come true.
This is not the place to test your Destiny, trust me :-) Just go there and touch his toe!