Latin Church - Gornji Matejevac

Above the village of Gornji Matejevac, 7 kilometres from the city, on the hill called Metoh, there is the most beautiful sacral object in this area. It was built during the reign of the Byzantine tsar Manojle I Komnin (1143-1180) who often resided in Nis. It was renewed during the reign of Despot Stevan Lazarevic, at the beginning of 15th Century. The church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity but due to the colony of Dubrovnik merchants who used it in the 16th century, it is known among the people as the „Latin's“. Built as a unicameral building in the shape of a contracted, lengthened cross with a cupola and facade made of bricks and stones, it secured itself an important place in the history of Byzantine architecture in this area with its architectural shapes.