Press Info 2011-English

PRESS 2011
of the city, from Byzantines to the Venetians, Ottomans and Austria.
For four hundred long years it was an independent commune under
Venetian rule and during this time the most significant landmarks
were created. Today one of them is a symbol of the city and a
monument under the protection of UNESCO, the cathedral of St.
Jakov - a masterpiece of Juraj Dalmatinac from the 15 th century. It
was built during a period of 105 years solely from stone from the
islands of Brač, Rab and Korčula and represents the only building in
Europe built by a principle of sloted in stone plates with no connective
material between them. The Cathedral is unique among Renaissance
churches because of the facade in the shape of a trefoil and a series
of 71 realistic portraits on the apses.
The famous architect Juraj Dalmatinac also supervised the
construction of the well known Šibenik wells that are today the stage
for various cultural and entertainment events. Šibenik also boasts
the richness of religious buildings, as there were 24 churches and six
monasteries built in the tenth century. Today, only half are still in use,
while others have been converted into museums, galleries, art and
living spaces. On the central Square of the Republic of Croatia are
valuable historical buildings - the City Hall and the Rector’s Palace.
Among the important buildings in the heart of the city is the Šibenik
Theatre, built in 1870.
In the vicinity of Šibenik are Vodice, a town well known for its lively
tourist attractions, entertainment and friendly locals, who welcome
guests as dear friends. Although known as a destination for guests
looking for fun, the natural peace of the beaches in Vodice and quiet
coves provide each guest with a well-deserved vacation.
The Kornati archipelago spreads over an area of about 320 km² and
includes about 150 small and large islands and reefs, of which 89
are a part of the National Park Kornati. Here the sea is especially
blue, and the vertical cliffs dive headlong into its depths from a few
hundred meters. The charm of secluded bays leaves every lover of
the sea breathless. The archipelago was named after the largest
island Kornat. The center of life on this island used to be around the
field Tarac, dominated by the fortress Tureta, built in the 6 th century.
Located there is the Church of Our Lady of Tarac, the Queen of the Sea
built on the ruins of an early Christian church from the 16 th century.
Believers from the island of Murter each year, on the first Sunday in July,
have a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Tarac, and the covenant procession of
boats is one of the most beautiful religious events in Croatia. Although
the Kornati archipelago is not permanently inhabited, a few laborer’s
and fisherman’s houses are scattered around the picturesque bays
of Žut, Sita and Kornati and the islands reflect the presence of their
respective owners. Today, these houses are converted into restaurants
and accommodation for ‘Robinson’ tourism and have become a favorite
destination for boaters and tourists.
The National Park Krka, the realm of the wondrous karst beauty -
River Krka, which passes through canyons two thirds of its way to the
sea, represents the complete opposite to Kornati. On this green path
it spills over seven waterfalls one of which the last one is Skradinski
Buk. The park is inhabited by 222 species of birds which puts it among
the most valuable bird areas in Europe. It can be visited by boat, car
or on foot. Also unavoidable is the ethno-museum in one of the
old mills. In the area of the National Park Krka is the only falconry
center in Croatia, where during the tour you can see presentations
of hunting with falcons and demonstrations of falcon skills. The Krka
National Park hides in its bosom two distinct historical and cultural
pearls – the Orthodox Monastery of St. Archangel Krk and the
fairytale monastery Visovac where Franciscans have kept valuables,
old paintings and art, since 1400. The area around Krka is rich in ruins
of antique settlements and prehistoric sites, as well as the remains of
a Roman aqueduct, which is a protected monument.
Cultural and Natural Richness
Cultural and historical monuments still bear witness to the long
settlement and architectural capabilities of the population of the
region. In this area there are as many as 12 medieval fortresses, 230
monuments and 600 archaeological sites. Particularly interesting are
the ancient sites of Bribirska glavica, the Roman Skardona and four
fortifications of Šibenik - St. Mihovil, St.Ivan, Šubićevac and St. Nikola.
Also of great importance for tourism is the fortress of Knin, which was
occasionally the seat of Croatian kings.
Bribirska glavica was named the Croatian Troy with good reason
because of the mystical combination of nature and ancient structures.
Due to its strategic position for a full six thousand years it was the
central town of the entire region. All civilizations recognized the
importance of this old Liburnian settlement, the Roman municipality
of Varvaria, by which Bribir was named. The mythical Bribir was the
seat of the powerful Croatian feudal ruler Ban Pavao Šubic Bribir.
Primošten has the richest and most picturesque vineyards in the
entire region that speak of human diligence and struggle in this
sparse area. In 2009 they were introduced as the UNESCO candidate
for the list of protected world cultural heritage, and their image is
permanently placed in the main United Nations building in New
York, representing the sorrows of human labor through the centuries
and the struggle of people with Dalmatian stone. Produced from the
grapes from the vineyards of Primošten is the famous wine Babić,
one of the best Croatian red wines. Another gastronomic souvenir
of the Šibenik area is the Drniš ‘pršut’ (dried ham) whose quality is
recognized throughout the world. Among the Šibenik sights we can
set aside the Nature Park Vransko Lake, which is a unique swamp
terrain in our coastal areas. This area is of international importance
as a resting and feeding place for migratory birds. As many as 140
bird species from Central, Northern and Eastern Europe use this area
as part of their migration route.
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