Šibenik
Šibenik 
What to see
The Fortress of St. Michael
The Fortress of St. Michael is located at a height of 70m above the sea behind the old city. It was built in the period from the 15th to 17th century out of hewn white stone. Through archeological research, remains of a culture from the prehistoric Iron Age have been found, which proves that the fortress was built by Croats on a site that was once know as a post of the ancient Illyrians. There are two entrances to the fortress: one is located at the wall towards the old cemetery and the other on the north side.
The Fortress of St. Nicholas
The Fortress of St. Nicholas is located at the entrance to the St. Anthony Channel and was built in the middle of the 16th century as defence against Turkish attacks from the sea. It was built according to the designs of the Venetian military builder Michiele Sammichella. The Fortress of St. Nicholas (having a triangle shape) is one of the strongest forts on our coast.
The Fortress of St. John
The Fortress of St. John is located on a hill 115m high on the northern side of the historic core of the city. It was built in 1646 according to the design of the Venetian military engineer Antonio Leni. A year later, in 1647, there was heavy fighting against the army of the Turkish Pasha Tekeli who wanted to take the fortress in order to rule the city.
The Šubićevac Fortress
The Šubićevac Fortress is located southeast of the fortress of St. John at a somewhat lower height. Since it was built the same year as the Fortress of St. John, it significantly contributed to repelling the Turkish attack on Šibenik.
The Walls, Towers and City Gates
The starting point of the old city walls was the Fortress of St. Michael. In 1864, a part of the wall that surrounded the city from the north and the south was removed. Today, only the following remain: the part of the northern side of the wall by Gorica, part of the wall through the park towards the shore, a small section of the wall near Poljana, and the remains of a bulwark from the 17th century behind the Hotel Krka. The best preserved section is the double city wall which slopes from the Fortress of St. Michael towards the shore (Kvartir) and ends with a great Gothic gate. The western wall in Dolac with a city gate, which slopes from the fortress to the sea, was built in the 15th century so that Dolac could be protected from Turkish attacks.
Sacral Monuments
St. Jacob's Cathedral in Šibenik
St. Jacob’s, the Cathedral of Šibenik, which took over a century to build is a testimony to the persistence, sacrifice and belief of generations of inhabitants of Šibenik.
In many respects, it is unique not only in Croatian architecture, but in European building as well: it is entirely built of stone, no other material being used; it is unique in terms of its structure of stone slabs and ribs without any binding material; it is also unique among Renaissance churches because of its trefoil front facade; finally, it is unique because of the harmony of its architecture and row of 71 sculptures around the apses. Documents preserved from the time of the construction of the cathedral show that the entire community contributed to its building, including a large number of local stone masons, builders and artisans. The most important among them was Juraj Matejev Dalmatinac, who came from Zadar and who the town of Šibenik commissioned in 1441 to take over the job of chief architect of the cathedral of Šibenik. The Cathedral, nearby Renaissance town hall, other churches, palaces, and the Prince’s Palace, which currently houses the County Museum, probably constitute the most beautiful town square in Croatian urban heritage.
During the winter, the Cathedral is open every day from 08:30-12:00 and 16:00-20:00. In summer, it is open the whole day from 08:30-20:00.
Entrance: 10.00 kuna
Mass: every day at 09:30, 11:00 and 18:00.
The Four Wells
In the Middle Ages, because of the numerous sieges and droughts, the inhabitants of Šibenik decided to build a public water supply system. A contract to build the four wells water supply system was signed on 10 January 1446 between the municipality of Šibenik and master craftsman Jakov Coterro.
Supervision of the construction of the water supply system was entrusted to Juraj Dalmatinac, the famous architect, builder and sculptor. Today, this historic site has been restored and is a fitting location for numerous events. The terrace where the wells are located has been paved with red bricks in the shape of fish bones just as it used to be.
Churches and Monasteries
There aren't many towns like Šibenik that can boast so many sacral buildings. Šibenik is a town with 24 churches, of which 12 are still places of worship. Six churches today have other functions: St. Barbara's is the Museum of Sacral Art; St. Gregory's houses a permanent collection of the works of Juraj Dalmatinac; St. Krševan's is a gallery; St. Catherine's is a residential building; All Saints was the first museum back in 1925; and St. Michael's, until 1995, was the studio of the carpenter Ante Belamarić. Besides 24 churches, during the course of ten centuries the inhabitants of Šibenik have built 6 religious retreats (3 monasteries and 3 convents).
The Medieval Mediterranean Garden of St. Lawrence's Monastery
The Medieval Mediterranean Garden of St Lawrence's Monastery (MMG) in Šibenik was restored and opened on 6th November 2007 after being forgotten about for a hundred years. The MMG is an integral part of the St Lawrence Monastery and an integral part of the programmes that the Šibenik Private Grammar School has developed.
The MMG restoration project was completed by the renowned landscape architect, Dragutin Kiš, who received the Millennium Award for Flora in Japan in 2000.
This particular type of garden is rather rare. It is the only one of its kind in Croatia, and there are very few in this part of Europe.
The MMG follows an established medieval design: a cross design for a pathway, a small centrally located water feature, with low-growing varieties framed by box tree and beautiful spectacular old varieties of aromatic roses. There are four sections filled with medicinal plants and herbs. A special place has been assigned for an assortment of thyme in a wonderful array of red, purple, silver, light and dark green foliage. The sensational combination of colours is a true work of art. Another notable attraction in the garden are the capers. Legend has it that Juraj Dalmatinac brought the first capers to Šibenik. They have been planted in the gaps and cracks in the stone walls as a homage to the great builder. This simple medieval plant helps tie together the main features of this region: stone; flora; Juraj Dalmatinac. Similarly, Robert Visiani Šibenčanin was born in Šibenik. He was one of the most famous European botanists of the 12th Century and a professor at the famous University of Padua.
From its inception, the project to restore the MMG was fueled by the objective to have the site open to the public. With this in mind, we created a number of educational programmes for schools and for organised tours. The MMG is situated within the St. Lawrence Monastery complex, which means that during your visit, you can also see Our Lady's Grotto, the Church of St Lawrence and the Monastery. You can also pop into the cafe, restaurant and souvenir shop.
During the winter, until Easter, the Garden is open from 09:00 to 16:00. In the summer, it is open from 08:00 to 23:00.Organised tours of the garden with a facilitator and materials are available for 15 kn.
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