Caričin grad (Empress’s Town) was built in a Byzantine province of Illyricum as an endowment of Emperor Justinian, Iustiniana Prima. It is situated at the foot of mountain Radan (south-east Serbia). The Empress’s Town was live and populated in 6th and early 7th centuries, when it was discontinued by the Slavic and Avar destructions.
Iustiniana Prima consists of the Upper, Middle and Lower Towns and they are surrounded by special walls and towers. The Upper Town is of irregular polygonal shape. The main structures there are the bishopric basilica with a baptistery, bishop’s palace and a basilica with a crypt. So far, 9 basilicas have been discovered, a great number of prominent public buildings, craftsmen’s workshops, water system and other structures, along with a multitude of archaeological material and objects. A monogram of the ktetor, the patron, Justinian, was found on a capital near the entrance to the middle nave aisle of the basilica.
Archaeological investigations and conservation works have been going on, on and off, up to the present day.