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Sibenik

The Cathedral of St. James is without doubt the most important building in the largest city of the Šibenik-Knin county. It took 105 years to complete the building, and much of the work was carried out under the watchful eye of the famous Dalmatian architect, Juraj the Dalmatian.

He contributed to this unique monument of sacral architecture, built in the Gothic and Renaissance styles with more than seventy sculpted heads carved on the exterior of the cathedral. It is the most significant architectural achievement of the 15th and 16th centuries in Croatia, and has been listed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites since 2000.

Cathedral of St. James, Sibenik

It is the only cathedral in Europe built entirely of stone without any mortar binding or wooden structural elements.

Šibenik has its own theatre which has operated in its magnificent building since 1870, and today it is the second oldest theatre in Croatia. St Michael’s Fortress dates back to the original settlement of Šibenik, and it is an important feature on any cultural itinerary for tourists in the Šibenik region. It was built 60 metres above sea level, and possesses a fine summer stage with over a thousand seats. You can learn about the medicinal and culinary herbs of the Mediterranean at the Medieval Mediterranean Garden inside the Franciscan monastery of St Lawrence, in association with the Šibenik Private High School. Admire the wild thyme and the beautiful hues of its leaves, in red, purple, grey, pale and dark green, and also discover how capers first arrived in the region.

 

Have you ever wondered how the falcon is such a skilled hunter? Discover exactly how, and uncover other mysteries about the life of this predator in the Falconry centre, located in Šibenik’s Dubrava, a pine forest only 8 kilometres from the city centre.

 

Šibenik is well-known for its International Children’s Festival, which for decades has been held there from late June to early July. Established more recently, the Terraneo music festival brings in the big names of the world music scene. There is one more big event with an international character: The Medieval Fair is held in late September for the feast of St Michael, the patron saint of the city. It revives the atmosphere of the glorious past of Šibenik.

 

Among the towns in the surrounding area, Drniš deserves a special mention: It is 20 minutes drive away into the heart of the Dalmatian hinterland. There, among other things, they process and dry the well-known and award-winning Drniš prosciutto ham.

Knin fortress

And 55 kilometres away from Šibenik is the town of Knin, located on the border between Lika, Bosnia and Dalmatia.