Sopocani

a monastery in southern Serbia near Novi Pazar, a monument of medieval Serbian art. Sopoćani was founded by King Uroš I. Among the buildings still standing are the Church of the Holy Trinity (1264–65), which is a single-naved structure of the Raška school. The church is noted for its proportionality and compositional unity. Its open narthex and the tower of the western facade date to the late 13th century, and the side annexes, which are in the form of low aisles, date to the early 14th century. The church was partially destroyed in the late 14th century and again in the 17th century; it was restored in 1929 and in the period from 1948 to 1956. The nave is embellished with frescoes of outstanding quality (c. 1265), which are noted for calm grandeur, lyrical images, and pure and bright colors. The side annexes contain frescoes from the late 13th, early 14th, 16th, and 17th centuries.