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Šibenik
City
Grad Šibenik City of Šibenik
Top: View of the city; Center left: Narrow streets of Šibenik; Center right: Šibenik Cathedral; Bottom: St. Michael Fortress
Flag Seal
Šibenik Location of Šibenik within Croatia
Coordinates: 43°44′N 15°55′E / 43.733°N 15.917°E / 43.733; 15.917
Country	Croatia
County	Šibenik-Knin
Government
• Mayor	Željko Burić (HDZ)
• City Council	25 members • HDZ (13) • SDP, HSS, HNS (5) • Ind. Stipe Petrina (3) • MOST (2) • HRAST, HKS (2)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• City	34,302
• Metro	46,332
Demonym(s)	Šibenčanin (male) Šibenčanka (female)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	HR-22 000
Area code(s)	+385 22
License plate	ŠI
Climate	Csa
Website	http://www.sibenik.hr/

Šibenik (Croatian pronunciation: [ʃîbeniːk] (listen); Italian: Sebenico) is a historic city in Croatia, located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Šibenik is a political, educational, transport, industrial and tourist center of Šibenik–Knin County and also the third-largest city in the historic region of Dalmatia. It is the oldest native Croatian town on the shores of the sea.

History

Etymology

There are multiple interpretations of how Šibenik was named. In his fifteenth century book De situ Illiriae et civitate Sibenici, Juraj Šižgorić describes the name and location of Šibenik. He attributes the name of the city to it being surrounded by a palisade made of šibe (sticks, singular being šiba).^[2] Another interpretation is associated with the forest through the latin toponym "Sibinicum," which covered a narrower microregion within Šibenik on and around the area of St. Michael's Fortress.^[3]

Early history

Unlike other cities along the Adriatic coast, which were established by Greeks, Illyrians and Romans, Šibenik was founded by Croats.^[4] Excavations of the castle of St. Michael, have since proven that the place was inhabited long before the actual arrival of the Croats. It was mentioned for the first time under its present name in 1066 in a Charter of the Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV^[4] and, for a period of time, it was a seat of this Croatian King. For that reason, Šibenik is also called "Krešimirov grad" (Krešimir's city).

Between the 11th and 12th centuries, Šibenik was tossed back and forth among Venice, Byzantium, and Hungary. It was conquered by the Republic of Venice in 1116,^[5] who held it until 1124, when they briefly lost it to the Byzantine Empire,^[6] and then held it again until 1133 when it was retaken by the Kingdom of Hungary.^[7] It would change hands among the aforementioned states several more times until 1180.

The city was given the status of a town in 1167 from Stephen III of Hungary.^[8] It received its own diocese in 1298.^[4]

In the 14th century, "Vlachs" were present in the hinterland of Šibenik.

Under Venice and the Habsburgs

The city, like the rest of Dalmatia, initially resisted the Venetian Republic, but it was taken over after a three-year war in 1412.^[4] Under Venetian rule, Šibenik became in 1412 the seat of the main customs office and the seat of the salt consumers office with a monopoly on the salt trade in Chioggia and on the whole Adriatic Sea.

In August 1417, Venetian authorities were concerned with the "Morlachs and other Slavs" from the hinterland, that were a threat to security in Šibenik.^[9] The Ottoman Empire started to threaten Šibenik (known as Sebenico), as part of their struggle against Venice, at the end of the 15th century,^[5] but they never succeeded in conquering it. In the 16th century, St. Nicholas Fortress was built and, by the 17th century, its fortifications were improved again by the fortresses of St. John (Tanaja) and Šubićevac (Barone).

Early 16th century map of Šibenik by Martino Rota.

The Morlachs started settling Šibenik during the Cretan War (1645–69).^[10]

The fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797 brought Sebenico under the authority of the Habsburg Monarchy.^[5]

After the Congress of Vienna until 1918, the town was (again) part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), head of the district of the same name, one of the 13 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Kingdom of Dalmatia.^[11] The Italian name only was used until around 1871.

In 1872, at the time in the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Ante Šupuk became the town's first Croat mayor elected under universal suffrage. He was instrumental in the process of the modernization of the city, and is particularly remembered for the 1895 project to provide street lights powered by the early AC Jaruga Hydroelectric Power Plant. On 28 August 1895, Šibenik became the world's first city with alternating current-powered street lights.^[12]

20th century

During World War I, the Austro-Hungarian navy used the port facilities here, and the light cruisers and destroyers which escaped the Allied force after the battle of Cape Rodoni (or Gargano) returned to safety here, where some battleships were based.^[13] After the war Šibenik was occupied by the Kingdom of Italy until 12 June 1921. As a result of the Treaty of Rapallo, the Italians gave up their claim to the city and it became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. During World War II it was occupied by Italy and Germany. Communist partisans liberated Šibenik on 3 November 1944.

Šibenik's Borgo di Terra (land-side borough) in 1907 - today's Poljana Maršala Tita. In the foreground the National Theatre and in the background the Fortress (Tvrđava sv. Mihovila/Castel vecchio).

After World War II it became a part of the SFR Yugoslavia until Croatia declared independence in 1991.

During the Croatian War of Independence (1991–95), Šibenik was heavily attacked by the Yugoslav National Army and Serbian paramilitary troops.^{[5][better source needed]} Although under-armed, the nascent Croatian army and the people of Šibenik managed to defend the city. The battle lasted for six days (16–22 September), often referred to as the "September battle". The bombings damaged numerous buildings and monuments, including the dome of the Cathedral of St. James and the 1870-built theatre building.

In an August 1995 military operation, the Croatian Army defeated the Serb forces and reconquered the occupied areas,^[5] which allowed the region to recover from the war and continue to develop as the centre of Šibenik-Knin county. Since then, the damaged areas of the city have been fully restored.

Climate

Šibenik has a mediterranean climate (Csa), with mild, humid winters and hot, dry summers. January and February are the coldest months, July and August are the hottest months. In July the average maximum temperature is around 30 °C (86 °F). The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Csa" (Mediterranean Climate).^[14]

Main sights

St. James's Cathedral

The central church in Šibenik, the Cathedral of St. James, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Several successive architects built it completely in stone between 1431 and 1536,^[4] both in Gothic and in Renaissance style. The interlocking stone slabs of the Cathedral's roof were damaged when the city was shelled by Yugoslav forces in 1991. The damage has since been repaired.

Fortifications in Šibenik

St. Nicholas Fortress
Location	Šibenik, Croatia
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv
Designated	2017 (41 Session)
Part of	Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar
Reference no.	1533
Region	Europe and North America

In the city of Šibenik there are four fortresses, each of which has views of the city, sea and nearby islands. The fortresses are now tourist sightseeing destinations.

• 
  St. Nicholas Fortress (Croatian: Tvrđava Sv. Nikole) is a fortress located on the island called Ljuljevacat the entrance of Šibenik St. Anthony Channel across from the Jadrija beach lighthouse. It is included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as part of Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar in 2017.^[16]


• 
  St. Michael's Fortress in historic town centre


• St. John Fortress


• Barone Fortress

Natural heritage

• Roughly 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the city is the Krka National Park, similar to the more famous Plitvice Lakes National Park, renowned for its many waterfalls, flora, fauna, and historical and archaeological remains.


• The Kornati archipelago, west of Šibenik, consists of 150 islands in a sea area of about 320 km² (124 sq mi), making it the densest archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea.^[17]

Culture and events

The annual Šibenik International Children's Festival (Međunarodni Dječji Festival) takes place every summer which is renowned for many children's workshops, plays and other activities.
From 2011 to 2013 the Terraneo festival (music festival) was held in August on a yearly basis on a former military area in Šibenik, and since 2014 Šibenik (and other nearby towns) are the home of its spiritual successor Super Uho festival.
The composer Jakov Gotovac founded the city's "Philharmonia Society" in 1922. The composer Franz von Suppé was part of the city's cultural fabric, as he was a native of nearby Split.
Each summer, a lot of concerts and events take place in the city (especially on the St. Michael Fortress).
Also, starting in 2016 on a nearby island of Obonjan (6 kilometres (3.7 miles) southwest of the city) is held music, art, health and workshop festival.

Šibenik chanson festival is a musical event of a long tradition that takes place in Šibenik in the second half of month August.^[18]

View of southern Šibenik from St. Michael's fortress

Demographics

In the 2011 Croatian census, Šibenik's total city population is 46,332 which makes it the tenth-largest city in Croatia, with 34,302 in the urban settlement.^[1]
Of Šibenik's citizens, 94.02% were Croats.

The list of settlements is as follows:^[1]

Šibenik Bridge

Economy

Port

Šibenik is one of the best protected ports on the Croatian Adriatic and is situated on the estuary of the Krka River. The approach channel is navigable by ships up to 50,000 tonnes deadweight. The port itself has depths up to 40 m.^[19]

International relations

Šibenik is twinned with:

• 
  Civitanova Marche in Italy (since 2002)^[20]


• 
  San Benedetto del Tronto in Italy


• 
  Kreis Herford in Germany


• 
  Voiron in France^[21][22]


• 
  Vukovar in Croatia (since 2011)


• 
  Pineto in Italy (since 2016)


• 
  Razlog in Bulgaria (since 2016)


• 
  Veszprém in Hungary

Image gallery

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  Šibenik harbor
  

  
  

  
  


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  Sunrise in Šibenik
  

  
  

  
  


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  Central Square
  

  
  

  
  


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  Šibenik Cathedral
  

  
  

  
  


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  Cannons in Šibenik
  

  
  

  
  


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  The City "New Gate" (16th century)
  

  
  

  
  


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  Town Hall
  

  
  

  
  


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  Šibenik City Library
  

  
  

  
  


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  Šibenik City Guard" - a historical military unit
  

  
  

  
  


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  St. Michael's fortress
  

  
  

  
  


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  Šibenik sunset
  

  
  

  
  


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  View from Beach Banj, Šibenik to St. Anthony Channel
  

  
  

  
  


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  Fountain located in central park in Sibenik
  

  
  

  
  


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  Sibenik coast
  

  
  

  
  


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  View of beautiful Sibenik sea including beach Banj and Sibenik bridge
  

  
  

  
  


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  St. John's Church - Bell tower
  

  
  

  
  


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  Entrance to the church of St. Francis
  

  
  

  
  


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  Palace Pelegrini
  

  
  

  
  


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  Sunset over St. Anthony's Channel
  

  
  

  
  


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  Beach Banj's traditional New Year's Day swimming
  

  
  

  
  

See also

• List of people from Šibenik


• Jadrija


• Antun Vrančić High School

References

Further reading

• 
  Thomas Graham Jackson (1887), "Sebenico", Dalmatia, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  


• 
  R. Lambert Playfair (1892), "Sebenico", Handbook to the Mediterranean (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray
  


• 
   Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sebenico" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Šibenik.

• Official Šibenik City website


• Croatian Tourist Board


• Photo gallery of Šibenik

Media related to Šibenik at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 43°44′06″N 15°53′26″E / 43.73500°N 15.89056°E / 43.73500; 15.89056