ŠIBENIK

Šibenik is a town which successfully combines famous history and natural beauties. During your sightseeing visit the famous St. Jakov cathedral, the most important Renaissance building in Croatia.

Nature has given Šibenik, a town mentioned by kings, many islands and islets bathed in the blue of the sea and a fascinating landscape of National Park Krka. Šibenik is a town of tradition, beautiful nature and hospitability where you will always have something to do. Recently renovated hotels offer pleasant accommodation, and company is easy to find in restaurants, taverns or discotheques and cafes. If you wish for a change, visit the Krka Waterfalls and Franciscan convent situated on the islet of Visovac. You can feel the power of nature watching the roaming waters of Skradinski buk, largest waterfall crushing in a whirl of foam.

 

 

General information
Number of residents: 37 000 u 2006
Geographical position: North Dalmatia
Climate: Mediterranean
Average summer temperature: 27° C
Average winter temperature: 5° C

History
Šibenik's history begins in the year 1066 with a charter by king Petar Krešimir IV. After the reign of Croatian and Croatian-Hungarian rulers, Šibenik falls under Venetian rule in the 15th century for the following 400 years. During that time Šibenik built its most significant cultural-historical monument, a famous St. Jakov cathedral in the 15th and the 16th century. In the year 1797 Šibenik becomes a part of Habsburg monarchy until 1918.
During World War II, Šibenik was occupied until 1944. At the beginning of Civil war Šibenik defended itself in 1991.

Fun and night life
Let's start from the beginning: your visit to Šibenik should definitely include International children's festival held on the main square at the end of June and beginning of July. It is the time when not just the main square but the whole town lives for children and the festival, so it is fair to say that all squares, streets, and steps become one big stage.
Second, in the second half of August there are vocal singing groups evenings that keep the tradition of a Capella singing in the whole Šibenik region. Organ lovers also meet in August for an interesting event.
September is the time for Renaissance. There is a Renaissance fair that brings us back to distant past.
Finally, you can have a good time going out to one of many bars, or dance in one of the discotheques. You don't have to stay in town, go to one of the nearby discotheques where you will surely have a good time.

How to get there?
By car: Zagreb-Šibenik 316 km highway Split-Šibenik 50 km highway
By plane: www.croatiaairlines.hr (air port Zadar or Split)
By train: www.hznet.hr
By bus: www.akz.hr
By boat: www.jadrolinija.hr (international and domestic lines)

Beaches
There aren't many beaches in Šibenik. Usually people visit one of the nearby islands where the beaches are rocky or pebbled. There are tourist facilities in and around Šibenik with beaches mostly in the form of concrete terraces so that the guests can be completely comfortable. Near Šibenik in a place called Žaboriæ, you can find sandy sea grounds. Of course there are many pebbled beaches as well as rocky ones around smaller towns near Šibenik.
There are pebbled beaches in Žaborići and in Primošten

What to see?
As already mentioned, the Renaissance left a significant trace on the face of Šibenik, and St. Jakov cathedral is one of the most significant buildings, which we definitely recommend you to visit. The fact that it was being built for a hundred years tells how much effort and skill is invested in the building of this beautiful cathedral. In the year 2000 the cathedral was reckognized by UNESCO as world heritage site.

Duke's palace is situated very near the cathedral and today it is a home to archeological, ethnographic and cultural-historical museum. The palace itself was once a part of the town's defense system in the 13th and 14th century. Today it is well-preserved, once a home of town's duke who was the highest representative of government in Šibenik. You can the heraldry of St. Mihovil, the town's patron saint. The functioning of museum is made possible by adaptation of over 2500 m2. In museums you can get to know the history of Krešimir's town in more detail.

Šibenik's Town hall is one of the most beautiful town halls in Croatia, and it is a common theme on post cards since this interesting architectural solution of the Renaissance period is one of the highest achievements of urbanism in the region. Unknown architect constructed it in the Renaissance period between 1533 to 1546. Considering the fact that it was finished only ten years after the cathedral, it formed a beautiful Renaissance square that is also worth visiting.

Wells are also built very near the cathedral. Built in the 15th century they were main sources for potable water for citizens. Today the wells have a completely different purpose; they stage a multimedial attraction where you can meet the life and sights of Šibenik. source: Adriatica.net

Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say about hotels in Sibenik

Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say about hotels in Croatia