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Sibenik is a royal
historical city and a main port on the northern Dalmatian coast. It is the
economical, cultural, and touristic center of the Sibenik-Knin County. It is
located in the Sibenik bay, which is a natural protected Adriatic port,
located where the river Krka (one of the most beautiful Croatian rivers)
flows into the Adriatic Sea. It is surrounded by the old fortifications of
Saint Anne, Saint John, and Subicevac. It is a harmonious combination of the
old and new, where the steep and narrow lanes with its stone facades in the
west mixes with the newer modern part of the city situated in the north and
southeast.
The surrounding area was first inhabited in the prehistoric age (Ilyric
Scardona-Skradin). Sibenik was mentioned for the first time in 1066 in a
Charter of the Croatian King, Petar Kresimir IV at the fortified Saint
Michael's citadel, today named Saint Ann. The town was ruled by the Eastern
Roman Empire, Hungarian-Croatian rulers, the Venetian Republic, the Bosnian
king Stjepan Tvrtko, France, Austria, and Italy.
The
town abounds in cultural and historical monuments. The most famous is Saint
Jacob's cathedral (Sveti Jakov) from the 15th century, which has been on the
UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. The cathedral is a unique monument of
European sacred architecture. The building of the church was initiated in
1431 and it was consecrated in 1555. The construction began in the Venetian
Gothic style, but it was completed in the Toscano Renaissance style. The
work was entrusted to various artists, but the biggest and the most
important part of it was finished by Juraj Dalmatinac (George the
Dalmatian). The cathedral was finished by Nikola Firentinac (Nicholas the
Florentine). The Cathedral was built entirely from stone. The stone was
brought from the island of Korcula, Susak, Brac, Rab and Krk. The cathedral
is an interesting example of a construction method that uses virtually no
stonemason's elements. The unique construction techniques used for the
vaulting and the dome of the Cathedral were built entirely from stone using
a carpentry method. A remarkable frieze decorated with 71 sculptured faces
of men, women, and children, situated on the exterior apse also illustrate
the successful art of Juraj Dalmatinac.
The Town Hall (built in 1532 – 1542) is situated in front of the Cathedral
in the same square. In the Church of Saint Barbara (15th century) we can
find a collection of Church Art, most notably by Blaž Jurjev Trogiranin and
Nikola Vladanov.
The
Saint Francis Church (14th century) with the Franciscan monastery is
situated on the south-east border of the city center. It is a Gothic church with Renaissance and Baroque altars and a rich
church
treasury.
The Ducal Palace became the Museum of the town of Sibenik, and now houses a
collection of archeological excavations, archives, and coins. The high
fortress that was once a part of the Duke's Palace and a prison nearby is
well preserved. There is also a city gate (sea gate).
The patron of Sibenik is Saint Michael, to whom the Saint Ann's
fortification is dedicated. It is the oldest fortification in Sibenik with a
beautiful view of Sibenik and its surroundings.
Sport and recreation lovers can find sports grounds of all kinds, including
beach volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts. There are also a few diving
clubs with diving schools, and the conditions are also suitable for sailing
and rowing. The bridge of Sibenik is one of the most attractive places in
the world for bungee jumping.
There are numerous restaurants and taverns with homemade specialties
(prosciutto ham, cheese, olives, lamb, sea food, wine).
Among
the numerous
cultural-entertaining events Sibenik has to offer are the International
Children's Festival (from the end of June to the beginning of July); the
Night of Sibenik (in late
June); the Dalmatian harmony-singing nights (in the second part of August),
the Summer Organist School (also the second part of August). Goran Visnjic,
Maksim Mrvica and a movie director Vinko
Bresan are all born in Sibenik.
The Riviera of Sibenik is also well known for its virginal nature. The coast
is extremely indented, with numerous bays and little ports, and 249 islands
and reefs, among which the Kornati archipelago must be pointed out. The Krka
and Kornati National Parks render Sibenik one attractive destination.
Due to its coastal indentedness nautical tourism is well developed. Today
there are 9 Marines on this area.
EXCURSIONS-DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT
SEEING:
KORNATI NATIONAL PARK:
The
Kornati are the densest archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. They are located in northern Dalmatia, between the islands Žirje, Dugi otok, and
Pasman. With 140 islands, islets and reefs in a sea area of about 320 km˛,
the Kornati have a land area of only 70 km˛. Due to its natural beauty,
indentedness, unique shape, and rich flora and fauna it was declared a
national park in 1980.
It was named after the biggest island Kornat. On Kornati there are preserved
traces of the past, the oldest of which are archaeological findings of ruins
from an Ilyric village, stone graves, and grave mounds. The land area of the
park is a private property. There is no water or springs on the island.
Although the vegetation is scarce, there are olive, fig and vine groves in
some places.
The most interesting natural phenomenon of the Kornati Islands are the
cliffs called "crowns" – cliffs (steep, sheer rock), on the western side of
the archipelago, on a series of islands called Donji Kornati facing open
sea. Underwater prolongations can reach depths of nearly 100 meters. The
longest "crown" above sea level is on the island Mana (1350 meters), the
highest is on the island Klobucar (82 meters). The deepest "crown" is on the
island Piskera (over 90 meters).
Between Kornati, Katina, and Dugi Otok are situated two straits (Mala and
Velika Proversa). Mala Proversa is a shallow spot dating from the Roman Age made to facilitate sailing. There
are some archeological findings (remains of buildings and viviarija – a fish
basin dating from 1st century). Magazinova skrila (Vela ploca) – 9100 m2, is
a big, smooth, and bare limestone plain. It is located at the
foot of the highest and most impressive peak of the Kornati, and is an
interesting place to see.
One of the most interesting cultural attractions is a complex mosaic of dry
stone walls – they were built in order to protect soil and pasture and to
enclose the sheep.
Due to its extreme indentedness, crystal blue waters, numerous bays, and
abundant sea ecosystem, Kornati is a top destination for nautical tourism.
There are two marines on Kornati, one on the island of Žut and the other on
Piskera.
KRKA NATIONAL PARK:
The
river Krka is one of the most beautiful phenomena in Croatia. With its seven
travertine waterfalls the Krka River is a wonderful natural phenomenon. The
Krka National Park encompasses an area of 109 square kilometers along the
Krka River: two kilometers downriver from Knin to Skradin (which city is
protected as a cultural monument) and to the lower part of the Cikola River.
There are two cultural monuments in the park: the Franciscan Monastery on
the island of Visovac and the "Krka" Monastery. The Franciscan Monastery
with its valuable library (incunabula, fables of Aesop) it is situated on
the island of Visovac, on a lake, between two most beautiful waterfalls –
the Rogaski slap and Skradinski buk. The island was inhabited by hermits of
Saint Augustus in the 14th century, they built a convent and a church
dedicated to Saint Paul. They left this area in the 15th century due to
invasions by the Turks, and in 1445 Franciscans inhabited the island. They
have been living there since, with a small interruption in the 17th century.
The Monastery has been expanded and redecorated by Franciscans according to
their needs. The new church was built by the end of the 15th and in the
beginning of the 16th century. The church and the monastery were built in
the beginning of the 18th century.
Skradinski Buk and
Roski slap are among the most beautiful waterfalls. Skradinski Buk is the longest and the prettiest waterfall on the Krka river. The
waterfall consists of cascades, islands and lakes. The water flows in
cascades over 17 barriers (the biggest fall being 45 meters). There are also some old mills (water-mills) in Skradinski Buk where cereals are still
ground by water-spun grindstones. Roski slap is 25 meters high and consists
of low cascades (chains), and numerous creeks and islets. By the left river bank there
are series of attractive mills, some of them are still in use today.
By the waterfalls you can rent motorized boats for an upstream tour all the
way to Roski slap – passing through the canyon, up to the Visovac Lake (with
a small island) and then to Roski slap.
Welcome to Sibenik!