Saint Vincenca is a Christian saint, who lived in the 3rd century in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

. As a young girl, she was tortured and then executed for her Christian beliefs, dying before the age of 17. She was later made a Christian martyr

Martyr

A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...

ed saint, and her relics are in the Croatian town of Blato, Korčula, where her Feast Day is celebrated on April 28 with festivals and Kumpanija sword dances.

History

After her death in the 3rd century, her body was buried in a cemetery in Via Portuense just outside of Rome. Over a thousand years later, in 1795, with the blessing of Pope Pius VI

Pope Pius VI

Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...

, her remains were transported to the small town of Blato on the island of Korcula in the Adriatic. There, her relics were placed inside the local church of Svi Sveti (All Saints). A classicist chapel for Vicenca was built within the church as well as a luxurious tomb. At the time the island was a part of the Republic of Venice

Republic of Venice

The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...

, though now it is in modern-day Croatia

Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...

. Since the move, she has been the patron saint

Patron saint

A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...

 of the town. Her Feast Day, St. Vincenca's Day, is on April 28, when local festivities are held in her name, such as sword dances by the local Chivalrous Society Kumpanija.