"A must visit between two National Parks. " a Sibenik Travel Page by JLBG

Šibenik is almost half distance (70 km) between Zadar and Split. While most other Dalmatian cities have been founded by the Illyrians, by the ancient Greeks or/and the ancient Romans, Šibenik was first mentioned under its present name in 1066 in a royal chart established by king Petar Krešimir IV. It was created between the 9th and the 10th century by the Croat princes and can thus be considered as the oldest native Croatian town of Dalmatia.

Unlike other main Dalmatian cities, Šibenik does not stand directly on the Adriatic shore. Its harbor stands deep in the mouth of the river Krka that has carved its bed in a dramatic karstic landscape made of deep gorges and breathtaking waterfalls. It is linked to the sea by a chanel.

Šibenik stands half way between two national Parks : River Krka National park and Kornati National park, two must see. Visit my Kornati Islands National Park Page.

Šibenik was ruled by the Croatian and the Hungaro-Croatian kings before the Venetian Republic took control for almost four centuries (1412-1797) after a three years siege. It was then called Sebenico. It was later included in the Illyrian provinces of Napoleon's Empire before it being ruled for a century (1815- 1918) by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Since then, it is a part of Croatia, first inside Yugoslavia, now as a fully independent state. The Turks several times threatened Šibenik but though several sieges, it never fell under Turk rule. Four Venetian fortresses control and protect the town : S. Anna fortress (a medieval fortress but rebuilt in the 16th-17th centuries), San Giovanni fortress (built in the 16th century), San Niccolù fortress (built in 1540-1547) and Subicevaċ fortress (built in the 16th century).

The whole old city of Šibenik must be visited but Cathedral of Sveti Jacov, now on the World Heritage list is an absolute must see.