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when resorts proliferated along its breathtaking blue waters
While Dubrovnik and coastal cities like Split have long been the poster child for Croatian tourism, seasoned travelers are increasingly turning their attention to lesser-visited alternatives along the Adriatic coast
Šibenik
a charming coastal city with a rich history
genuine Croatian experience away from the overwhelming crowds
Here's why you should consider this unsung gem of Dalmatia for your next Adriatic adventure
Gorgeous Šibenik has a history that’s just as rich as Dubrovnik’s, with an old town that is undeniably more tranquil. Nestled in a sea inlet between Zadar and Split
the tiny city certainly shares similarities with Dubrovnik
Both were maritime trading hubs in the Middle Ages
Both were conquered by the Venetian Republic
and therefore contain a plethora of gorgeous Venetian-style architecture
Charming Šibenik has a population of 34,000 locals and lacks the intense crowds of its Dalmatian coastal counterpart cities
in addition to the idyllic beauty of its medieval architecture
there’s still the normalcy of everyday life here
with a lighter vibe in the air complementing the fresh sea breeze
What makes this cathedral particularly fascinating is its montage of architectural styles
with both Gothic and Renaissance features layered together
and the frieze of 71 carved heads that line the outer walls – caricatures of 15th-century locals in various expressions from hilarious to downright scary
The compact center houses 22 elegant churches, with the Church and Monastery of St Lawrence standing out for its serene garden. The city's narrow alleys and passageways all flow upward toward St Michael's Fortress
a majestic hilltop stronghold that was first recorded as a church in 1066 and has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries
Šibenik's surroundings offer some of Croatia's most magnificent natural attractions. Krka National Park
with its stunning waterfalls and the remnants of the historic hydroelectric plant
You'll also find estuaries to swim in and great pebble beaches to lounge on
including Banj beach overlooking the old town
and Olive Beach 15 minutes by car (or a quick boat ride from the Riva)
Unlike many other Dalmatian coastal communities
Šibenik was not established as a Greek or Roman settlement
it was strategically founded by Croatian king Petar Krešimir IV in the 11th century
who selected the site for its defensive position
While it shares similarities with neighboring cities as a maritime trading hub later conquered by the Venetian Republic
Šibenik maintains a distinctive cultural identity
This uniqueness extends to local traditions like the Šibenska kapa
a prominent feature of St Michael's Day celebrations on September 29
During this annual event honoring the city's patron saint
including the unmistakable orange cap with two rows of black embroidered decorations called bule
The Šibenik cap has been listed on the national intangible heritage list since 2008
The dinky island of Zlarin is a Šibenik local secret. Many Šibenikers have weekend apartments on the island (which is a wonderfully car-free zone) and whizz over on their own dinghies to get away from "city" life for the weekend. For the rest of us there are four Jadrolinija ferry services a day that pick up from Šibenik’s little dock and drop off at Zlarin’s marina
taking just 25 minutes to make the crossing
with crystalline waters in rustic little ports that dot the island’s coast
Boats will also ferry you to the Kornati Islands, a beautiful archipelago and another of Croatia's epic national parks
lunar-like landscape surrounded by crystal-clear waters
Šibenik's gastronomic scene is another compelling reason to visit. The city boasts some outstanding restaurants that showcase the best of Dalmatian cuisine. Pelegrini
offers a life-affirming tasting menu with modern twists on traditional dishes
attracting Croatia's jet set (soccer star Luka Modrić is known to visit when in town)
For more casual dining, Peperoncino Kitchen & Bar serves creative dishes like tuna gnocchi and cheese steak sandwiches on its charming terrace. And pizza lovers shouldn't miss Koka Pizza
a wonderful family-run restaurant often heralded as serving the best pizza in Croatia
Šibenik holds an impressive place in technological history
One of the world's first hydroelectric plants was built on the Krka River in 1895
the second of its kind following Nikola Tesla's at Niagara Falls
worked with his son to build this pioneering facility
making Šibenik the third city in the world with an alternating current street-lighting system
and the first with the complete system of production
This achievement is celebrated annually on August 28 with the Light is Life Festival
when the whole city is illuminated – from the fortresses to the seafront and sometimes even the small sailing boats in the bay
The spectacle includes light installations
creating a festive atmosphere that's worth planning your visit around
For a well-situated stay near the old town, choose the Bellevue Hotel, where it's worth paying extra for a sea-view room. Heritage Hotel Life Palace offers charm in a restored Renaissance palace right in the middle of the old town. For luxury seekers, Armerun Heritage Hotel & Residences is Šibenik's leading boutique hotel
Šibenik is at the heart of the Dalmatian coast so traveling between it and other Croatian highlights is easy. Šibenik is a 50-minute drive from Zadar airport and a 55-minute drive from Split airport, both of which have regular connections to the capital, Zagreb
Croatia's national bus operator, Arriva Croatia
runs direct routes between Zagreb and Šibenik's main bus station located right on the seafront; the journey takes about three hours and costs around €24 (US$27) each way
there's no need for transport as the bus station is just a few minutes' walk from the center
though be prepared for stairs: Šibenik's old town features many steep climbs that map apps might not fully represent
For those wanting to experience Dubrovnik, direct long-distance buses with Arriva Croatia and FlixBus connect Šibenik to Dubrovnik in about four and a half hours
Book tickets in advance during summer months as routes can fill up quickly
One-way fares typically range from €27–30 (US$31–34)
WARREN — The Rev. Fr. Simeon Bruce Sibenik, retired priest of the archeparchy and as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Warren, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, March 17, 2025.
The second son of the late Albert and Margaret Gidusko Sibenik, he was born June 7, 1950, in Trenton, New Jersey.
He served the Pennsylvania parishes of Holy Trinity, Wall; St. John, Hawk Run, and Dormition, Clarence; Holy Trinity, Sykesville and Nativity, Du Bois; Cathedral of St. John, Munhall; St. Mary, East Pittsburgh; SS. Peter and Paul, Punxsutawney; and St. Jude, Ernest.
On Oct. 10, 2015, he was appointed to SS. Peter and Paul, Warren, and St. Michael, Newton Falls, both in Ohio. St. Michael was closed in 2017 and Fr. Simeon continued as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul until his retirement from active ministry in the archeparchy on Aug. 1, 2022.
On the archeparchial level, Fr. Simeon was the director of religious education; consultor protopresbyter of the North Central Proto Presbyterate; and a member of the Presbyteral Council Tribunal and Seminary Board of Directors.
He is survived by his brother, Matthew, and his wife, Gloria Sibenik of Hamburg, New York; and by many cousins.
Visitation will be 2 to 6:50 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2025, at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 180 Belvedere Ave. NE, Warren, where the Parastas service will be celebrated by the Very Rev. Andrew J. Deskevich at 7 p.m.
The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2025, at SS. Peter and Paul Church, with Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla as main celebrant.
Interment will follow in SS. Peter and Paul Parish Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Peter Rossi and Son Memorial Chapel, 1884 North Road NE, Warren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, 180 Belvedere Ave. NE, Warren, OH 44483.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Fr. Simeon’s family.
Copyright © 2025 Eastern Ohio Newspapers, Inc. | https://www.tribtoday.com | 240 Franklin Street SE, Warren, OH 44483 | 330-841-1600
Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match
The current head to head record for the teams are NK Varazdin 7 win(s)
Have conceded the most penalties this season (4)
NK Varazdin haven't lost to Sibenik in their last 9 meetings (5W, 4D).
Have scored 6 goals in their last 5 matches
Toni Kolega has created the most big chances for Sibenik (6)
Lovre Kulusic has the most shots on target per match for Sibenik (1.3)
02 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT?NK Varazdin vs Sibenik on Fri
02 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT ended in a 1–1 tie.InsightsHave scored 4 goals in their last 5 matches
NK Varazdin haven't lost to Sibenik in their last 9 meetings (5W
NK Varazdin is playing home against Sibenik at Stadion Anđelko Herjavec on Fri
New York State Senator Sean Ryan presented a New York State Senate Commendation Award to New York State Park Police Officer Nathan Sibenik in recognition of his heroic intervention to prevent a woman from drowning in the Niagara River
Officer Sibenik was alerted by parkgoers that a woman had entered the river’s rapids and needed help
Officer Sibenik jumped into the water and swam toward the woman
Drawing on his intensive emergency training as a member of the Park Police Swiftwater Rescue Team
he was able to reach the woman in time and bring her safely to shore
The woman was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment and care
“I am honored to be able to present Officer Sibenik with a small token of our community’s appreciation for his service and for the bravery he showed saving that woman’s life
His heroic actions are a testament to the preparedness of the State Park Police and the incredible work that first responders do in our community each and every day.”
Framed by sparkling blue sea and deep green pines
the less visited Adriatic islands of Zlarin and Prvić offer a mellow end of summer escape
This tale of two islands – and a city – was not the usual Croatian island-hopping experience
where the overlooked city of Šibenik is the jumping-off point to a very different side of the Adriatic
Views of the city became even more impressive the higher I climbed to each fortress
It was fear of the Ottoman Turks that led many Šibenčani to flee to the islands beyond St Anthony’s channel, which shelters the city from the Adriatic Sea. Nowadays, it’s a more carefree – and car-free – experience here in the Šibenik archipelago. After a night in the city, I took the 25-minute Jadrolinija ferry to Zlarin
one of the archipelago’s six inhabited islands and measuring all of 3 square miles
and cars have been banned for decades (apart from the fire brigade
a Zagreb film crew making a children’s movie)
and cars have been banned for decadesThere are no hotels either
just private flats and houses whose owners wait at the jetty in their golf carts to lift you and your luggage
It had a large terrace above the western side of the V-shaped bay and a tumbling garden overflowing with pomegranate
It didn’t take long to fall in love with the view of that vividly blue sea
terracotta rooftops and deep green of the Aleppo pines that cover most of the island
View image in fullscreenŠibenik city
with St James Cathedral near the waterfront
Photograph: Jerome Labouyrie/AlamyWhen I had briefly docked here a few months ago on a sailing trip
I felt I hadn’t seen enough of either Zlarin or its tinier neighbour
Something about these small island communities intrigued me
especially this pair with their unusual histories
natural beauty and the sort of mellow lifestyle I wanted to savour at the tail end of summer
served superior seafood in suitably rustic settings of chunky wooden tables and exposed stone walls
Along the harbour and tucked into lanes were attractive 19th-century stone houses, and it was in the 1820s home of the Croatian Coral Centre that I learned more about why Zlarin was more than just a pleasantly sleepy island
providing the means to build those lovely stone houses and turning tiny Zlarin into Croatia’s biggest coral producer
as the imaginative multimedia displays showed
it wasn’t environmental concerns that led to the end of Zlarin’s trade in the 1970s
had stumbled upon their own supply of coral near Sicily and business dried up
View image in fullscreenZlarin harbour
Photograph: Panther Media/AlamyTourism has stepped in since then
swelling the usual population of fewer than 300 people to nearly 10 times that in high season
it was time to take another 25-minute ferry north to Prvić
but there’s still room for countless olive
pomegranate and fig trees among the Aleppo pines and cypresses
When I had seen Prvić on that sailing trip
heavy rain couldn’t obscure the fact that both its villages were exceptionally pretty
More houses made of that pale Dalmatian stone
so people buzz about on mini-tractors and three-wheeled Piaggio Apes as well as golf carts and bikes
Our flat in Šepurine was in one of those picture-perfect
blue-shuttered houses overlooking the village square and fishing portOur flat in Šepurine was in one of those picture-perfect
blue-shuttered houses overlooking the village square and fishing port
The nearest of the island’s many pebbly beaches was four minutes away
and there were a healthy number of bars and restaurants
including the popular Konoba Bare next door
I could see why the Šibenik nobility built their summer homes here in the 16th century, including the family of Faust Vrančić
bishop and inventor who devised an early version of the parachute
There’s an interesting museum devoted to Vrančić in Prvić Luka
and on a walk in the paths behind Šepurine we could see the long-abandoned Vrančić summer home behind high fences
had returned to the family island after 20 years of working abroad
and serves food from as many local producers as possible
left his job as a pipe fitter in New York to open a studio to sell his own art crafted from wood
And then there were Goran and Lenka Franić
who took us squid fishing near the uninhabited island of Tijat
As the squid stubbornly refused to bite against the backdrop of a hypnotic sunset
bass player for one of Croatia’s biggest musical stars
moved back to his family’s island after his boss’s untimely death six years ago
and takes his guests out on his boat when he has time
over glasses of wine and plates of homegrown food
he and Lenka lent their beautiful voices to old Dalmatian songs of love and longing
a poignant soundtrack to an odyssey I didn’t want to end
The current head to head record for the teams are Slaven 6 win(s)
Haven't scored in their last 2 matches
Lovre Kulusic has the most shots on target per match for Sibenik (1)
11 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT?Slaven won 2–0 over Sibenik on Fri
11 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 5 goals in their last 5 matches
Slaven is playing home against Sibenik at Gradski Stadion on Fri
Lauren Simmonds
2024 – Šibenik is an incredibly beautiful Dalmatian city
and as the international hype finally spreads north from the likes of Dubrovnik and Split
the LA Times has spotlighted this coastal gem
As Morski writes
the Los Angeles Times/LA Times has clearly fallen head over heels in love with Šibenik
and we can’t say we blame them at all
The spotlight has always been hogged by more southern destinations
with the exception of Zadar which lies a little further north
so it was high time that the oldest city to be founded by Croats got some attention
And it did – as their glossy weekend feature
which once again announced the Croatian International Film Festival
which will be held in the City of Šibenik from August the 8th to the 11th this year
“It’s a fantastic thing that the Los Angeles Times has embraced this festival in such a way
They will also come to Šibenik during the festival
so it will be an additional opportunity to bring the beauty of Šibenik closer to the whole world,” said Ella Mische
which will be opened by famous Croatian actor Goran Višnjić
Daily tickets for festival events can be purchased through the well known Entrio system
and it will also be an opportunity to get to see some of the important people in the global film industry up close
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
2025 – A Šibenik man has invented a new form of speed camera detection device that is designed to replace the need for an app
“So far, I’ve paid speeding fines several times, whether I was caught on camera or stopped by the police. I try to drive appropriately, but sometimes you get carried away, think about something else and unknowingly commit a violation,” stated Šibenik resident Goran Grgurić. Milorad Kasper Mišković, who is often on the road with either a car and a motorcycle, agrees with him.
“I’ve paid fines so far and I’m sure I’ll pay more, even though we’ve got apps on our phones that can automatically recognise where a speed camera is located,” he said. It seems though, that this isn’t enough. That’s where Šibenik man Denis comes into the picture with his innovative speed camera detection device.
Unlike apps on smartphones that announce that we’re approaching a radar or speed camera, which need to be updated, the innovative device designed by Denis Periša is not software but hardware and connects to a satellite.
“In principle, it’s designed to replace the need for a phone and apps in this case. It has lights on it that turn on gradually as you approach a speed camera. It doesn’t need to be updated, it does all of that itself. It already has an automatic database,” revealed Periša, who designed and built everything on the device himself from the very beginning.
The small device can easily be placed in a car. The light and sound warning occurs at 400, 300, 200, 100 and 50 metres away from a speed camera. It also registers and warns the driver about stopping or parking in unauthorised places, as well as the speed along the entire chosen route of travel. All of this can be viewed later and drivers can be made aware of how fast they tend to drive even there’s no risk of cameras, police and fines.
“It is also used if a parent is going to give their teenager their car to drive. In that way, they can set the speed to warn them and later see how fast they drove and where they were going,” added Periša, noting that the device is not only intended to avoid fines but also to raise awareness of general self-control when behind the wheel.
This Croatian-made device is still in the experimental phase. When it is ready for the market, the young innovator estimates that it will cost between 60 and 100 euros. Considering that the lowest fine for speeding is 60 euros, it could be worth the purchase for many.
A wildfire rages in Sibenik, Croatia, Aug. 6, 2024. (Hrvoje Jelavic/PIXSELL via Xinhua)
A Canadair fire-fighting plane sprays water to extinguish a wildfire in Sibenik, Croatia, Aug. 6, 2024. (Hrvoje Jelavic/PIXSELL via Xinhua)
The current head to head record for the teams are Sibenik 2 win(s)
Lovre Kulusic has the most shots on target per match for Sibenik (1.1)
Have scored 2 goals in their last 5 matches
Marko Soldo is ranked 2 in big chances created in the competition (8)
06 Apr 2025 16:45:00 GMT?Sibenik won 4–1 over Osijek on Sun
06 Apr 2025 16:45:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 2 goals in their last 5 matches
Sibenik is playing home against Osijek at Stadion Šubićevac on Sun
a dynamic gastronomic culture and thrilling national park adventures on tap
discover why Šibenik is the rising star of Croatia’s coastal Dalmatia region
Away from the tourist hotspots of Split and Dubrovnik
the waterfront city of Šibenik offers a warm and welcoming insight into life on the Dalmatian coast.Photography by Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost
2023•9 min readThere’s no better window on life on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast than one looking out across Šibenik’s Old Town square in the shadow of the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St James
Order a coffee from the sunlit café opposite and absorb the scene
Away from the summer rush of Dubrovnik and Split
this is a lesser-known capital of Croatian culture
where centuries-old forts have become Game of Thrones backdrops
and where visitors are immersed in local history (there are some 600 archaeological sites
24 churches and 230 cultural monuments in the city and beyond)
hills unfold inland towards Croatia’s highest peak
while a handful of sun-soaked islands await just off the southern coast
This is the Croatian coastline at its finest
from pies to prosciuttoThe Mediterranean diet is one that many travellers think they already know
restaurants and bars that line the cobbled streets of Šibenik offer the opportunity to sample local specialties include sir iz mišine (sheep’s cheese matured in cloth) and soparnik (a savoury pie with figs and olives
Marry them with a tumbler of native red babić wine
or a thimble of nostril-tingling rakija brandy for the most delectable Dalmatian experience
Head further into the region’s hinterlands and you’ll find a further trilogy of culinary towns to discover — Drniš
Knin and Skradin — each with their own distinct draw
while Skradin is best sampled through its namesake cake — a celebratory fruit and nut recipe dating back to the 14th century
The UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St James sits in the heart of the old town of Šibenik.Photograph by Feng Wei
A historic central cityHead back in time and stroll stone-lined streetsAmbling at leisure from backstreet to flag-stoned square is the best way to explore the historic city of Šibenik
This is the Dalmatian coast at its most authentic
sea-view wine bars and dramatic maritime forts
but with drastically fewer crowds than the southern cities of Split or Dubrovnik
from the soft-cherry tiles of the rooftops and the white stone of the Town Hall to the honey-hued fort walls looming over the Old Town
(Why travellers should visit Zadar, Croatia in 2022)
Krapanj is one of many picturesque islands that are dotted along Šibenik's coastline.Photograph by xbrchx, Getty Images4. Rugged national parksHike, bike and swim through undisturbed landscapes
Leonard Zuta recorded an assist in the defeat of Sibenik on Saturday during the day in the Croatian championship
Zuta and Šibenik lost at home 3:1 against Osijek
It was the first assist in this edition in nine games for the 32-year-old defender
Kemal Ademi played for Osijek at the end of the match
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Annex of the former Radio Prishtina (first floor) George Bush pn
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Many sea arrivals in the Mediterranean are a slow glide over liquid silk as the sun’s yolk cracks over purple hills
and breezes tease you with hints of thyme and pine
Golden fortifications tilt over the ship’s railings
protecting some old town that slides into a handsome harbour
But on this morning off Sibenik in Croatia
my arrival on Azamara Pursuit is the most handsome of the lot
I abandon my breakfast in Windows Cafe – my latest indulgence
is a flaky-pastry bucnica stuffed with pumpkin
A window view of Sibenik on Croatia’s Dalmation Coast.Credit: iStock
Sibenik out-Mediterraneans the Mediterranean
St Nicholas Fort squats on one island like a set from Game of Thrones
Then the ship slips through a channel so narrow I could almost leap ashore
The blues are so liquid it’s hard to tell where sea ends and sky begins
And yet the harbour bobs only with yachts at anchor
The town hasn’t yet stirred but for a few old men at waterfront cafes
Sibenik is undisturbed by big-ship crowds and raucous jet setters
and previously been to Croatia by both land and sea
compared with Croatia’s congested tourist hotspots
then Dubrovnik welcomed – increasingly reluctantly – 345
Sibenik old town with St James Cathedral.Credit: iStock
Choose your destinations wisely and you can still find elbow room in the Mediterranean
Pick your cruise line and itinerary wisely too
Azamara has ships small enough to sail into petite places
Sail mega-ships and you get a party atmosphere
Nothing wrong with that: different strokes for different folks
or indeed for the same folks depending on their mood
favours tranquil small ships and an ethos that emphasises lingering stays in interesting destinations
No surprise that Azamara Pursuit has carried me somewhere new
Sibenik defies the common conviction that Mediterranean towns are overwhelmed by tourist stampedes
When I walk into town I discover some tourist shops and cafes
although they tend towards the discreet and upmarket
I don’t have to battle my way along street-lengths of pizza joints
No queue deters me from popping into the Cathedral of St James
No fashionable flock of Instagrammers blocks my views
Sibenik feels like the Croatia I first encountered 20 years ago
Along the waterfront locals jog or walk their dogs
I clamber into an old town festooned not with football jerseys and novelty T-shirts but flapping washing and dog-eared election posters
St Michael’s Castle is now only a vast shell
but its ramparts have an angel’s outlook over Sibenik’s sheltered blue bay
It’s one of the best outlooks I’ve seen on this cruise between Barcelona and Venice
which is saying something considering it has brought me to the French Riviera and Amalfi coast
I’m not sure whether the military qualities of Sibenik’s forts match their wonderful outlooks
Hungarians and Ottomans all clattered into Sibenik and stayed a while
since a thousand years of architectural styles are squashed together around pretty squares
local families slurp ice cream in its cafe in Sunday-ironed shirts
I’m only one of five people in its medieval garden of lavender bushes and herb beds
As we sail away – all that blue gorgeousness in reverse – I feel mighty satisfied
Azamara Pursuit is satisfying too: a small-sized cruise ship on a mid-range budget
The ship is cosy without ever feeling crowded
No on-board razzmatazz and silliness distracts guests from the chief purpose of a good cruise
only a never-ending assortment of quality dishes
As the sun plunges into the pink Adriatic Sea
I tuck happily into an excellent white-bean soup followed by mushroom risotto in Tuscan restaurant Aqualina
relaxing and very pleasant.Credit: Michel Verdure
I wish we’d all get over Dubrovnik and Split
Azamara’s various ships visit other intriguing Croatian ports such as Zadar and Opatija
Zadar’s old town occupies a time-worn peninsula; sparkling sea semaphores down its Gothic streets
having flourished in the late-19th century as a seaside getaway for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy
Palace-hotels and pastel villas nestle on hillsides above promenades where stylish Croatians dine on tomato-stuffed swordfish
we’re hopscotching onwards to Koper in Slovenia
The whole of Slovenia measures annual visitor numbers in the modest millions
or a fifth of the tourists who cram into Venice
Only a fraction of those visit the nation’s tiddly Mediterranean coastline
Many are Italians fleeing the cramped beaches of Italy
Koper is a delightful place to spend a day.Credit: iStock
but it’s still a delightful place to spend a day
Much of its old-town architecture is Venetian
and a large Italian community gives it energetic
The historic core is encased in a working port
which gives Koper a lived-in appeal long lost in places such as Venice or Dubrovnik
The schools and grocery shops and backstreet bakeries haven’t been pushed out by garish souvenir stores
But places such as Sibenik and Koper offer an atmosphere they no longer have
you can sail away feeling satisfied that you’ve seen all you need to see
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Many sea arrivals in the Mediterranean are a slow glide over liquid silk as the sun\\u2019s yolk cracks over purple hills
Golden fortifications tilt over the ship\\u2019s railings
I abandon my breakfast in Windows Cafe \\u2013 my latest indulgence
cheese and eggs \\u2013 to race to the deck
The blues are so liquid it\\u2019s hard to tell where sea ends and sky begins
The town hasn\\u2019t yet stirred but for a few old men at waterfront cafes
I\\u2019ve cruised the Mediterranean many times
compared with Croatia\\u2019s congested tourist hotspots
then Dubrovnik welcomed \\u2013 increasingly reluctantly \\u2013 345
I don\\u2019t have to battle my way along street-lengths of pizza joints
St Michael\\u2019s Castle is now only a vast shell
but its ramparts have an angel\\u2019s outlook over Sibenik\\u2019s sheltered blue bay
It\\u2019s one of the best outlooks I\\u2019ve seen on this cruise between Barcelona and Venice
I\\u2019m not sure whether the military qualities of Sibenik\\u2019s forts match their wonderful outlooks
I\\u2019m only one of five people in its medieval garden of lavender bushes and herb beds
As we sail away \\u2013 all that blue gorgeousness in reverse \\u2013 I feel mighty satisfied
I wish we\\u2019d all get over Dubrovnik and Split
Azamara\\u2019s various ships visit other intriguing Croatian ports such as Zadar and Opatija
Zadar\\u2019s old town occupies a time-worn peninsula; sparkling sea semaphores down its Gothic streets
we\\u2019re hopscotching onwards to Koper in Slovenia
Only a fraction of those visit the nation\\u2019s tiddly Mediterranean coastline
but it\\u2019s still a delightful place to spend a day
The schools and grocery shops and backstreet bakeries haven\\u2019t been pushed out by garish souvenir stores
you can sail away feeling satisfied that you\\u2019ve seen all you need to see
Azamara has several Mediterranean cruises that visit Sibenik
Among them is a nine-night Croatia Intensive Voyage departing October 10
which sails round-trip from Venice (Chioggia) and costs an average $3860 a person
It also visits other smaller Croatian ports Zadar and Opatija.Azamara Pursuit will be in Australia from December 20
2024 when it arrives in Fremantle before sailing to Melbourne
and then departing from Sydney to Singapore in February 2025.See
Venture beyond Dubrovnik to discover the Adriatic Coast's hidden gems
From rugged mountains and powdery white beaches to roaring waterfalls
Situated along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea
the Balkan country is home to more than 1,000 islands and islets of which just 47 are inhabited
A record 21.3 million tourists flocked to Croatia last year, with many heading straight for the bustling hubs of Dubrovnik or Split
But hop on a ferry and there is so much more to discover
Whether you're looking for non-stop parties or breathtaking national parks
Croatia's islands offer something for every type of traveller
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Hvar is the sunniest island in Croatia but it's also the "trendiest", said Conde Nast Traveller
Hvar Town "sprawls around a sheltered harbour packed with yachts" and a "vast paved piazza" with a beautiful baroque cathedral
Days are easy to while away wandering along the "palm-lined seafront promenade and up to the hilltop castle" and strolling through the cobbled streets
stopping for a bite to eat at the "rustic-chic seafood restaurants"
Those venturing beyond the town will discover a network of lavender fields and vineyards; be sure to sample the local produce at the Tomić winery
The tiny island of Zlarin is "three square miles of laid-back loveliness", said The Times
It's well worth taking the 30-minute ferry from Šibenik to get there: there are no cars allowed
Fill your days taking lazy walks through "olive groves
orchards of figs and almonds and cyprus-studded slopes" or hike to the island's highest point
to take in the sweeping views of the Šibenik archipelago and the "hovering Velebit Mountains"
Consider renting paddleboards for a "leisurely exploration of the island's hidden coves"
where you can enjoy Michelin-starred meals on a terrace overlooking olive groves and vineyards
Pag is also famed for its hard sheep's milk cheese; stop by at Gligora Dairy for tastings of the "local delicacy"
a geological formation that some have claimed is a UFO landing site
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Irenie Forshaw is a features writer at The Week
She began her career in journalism at Leeds University
before working at The Guardian and The New Statesman Group
Irenie then became a senior writer at Elite Traveler
but this fountain in Croatia proves that the process can be manipulated by humans
In front of Šibenik's Church of Our Lady there is a simple fountain
It has no sculptures or flashy water features
the fountain has been populated by a group of animals
It seems to have started when local businessman Siniša Burić decided to release a few pet terrapins and fish on the fountain during a public ceremony
He hoped the animals would bring additional foot traffic to this part of the city and offer older or unwanted domesticated freshwater species somewhere to live
there is a mix of the most common freshwater species in the pet trade
and there was a white snake at one point too
Koi represent the most visible fish in the fountain's water
but several smaller ones can be found as well
The occasional amphibian like a frog or toad is likely part of the native population just showing up to enjoy the company
around and on the tufa accumulation at the center of the fountain
making it conducive to the growth of this material
Pictures from the early 2010s show what seems to be a much smaller structure
which has become a veritable boulder by the 2020s
the tufa seems to have grown alongside the animal population
which apparently might be established enough that some of the turtles now reproduce and hatch here
The fountain's population seems to be a favorite topic of Šibenik's residents
Local news will report on the tragedies that have befallen them
acid was poured in the fountain causing 15 turtles to either die or go blind
when a local site informed that a turtle had managed the increasingly difficult climb to reach almost the top of the tufa boulder
When cold spells hit the city and temperatures reach below freezing
Šibenik's media will also report on the turtles' welfare
While the fountain represents a better alternative for unwanted pets to live out their lives than
releasing them in the wild or being flushed down the toilet
it is still strongly recommended not to keep adding to its population
The groundskeepers and residents do try their best to ensure the animals are well looked after but they cannot protect them from all possible dangers
The growth of the tufa also represents a risk for the turtles
as they do need to spend some time on relatively dry land and the climb becomes steeper
photos of the fountain throughout the years seem to show it might have been reduced in size before
it is possible that it could look smaller when you visit
This whimsical fountain pays tribute to Toronto's four-legged friends
This divisive system of turtle tunnels was built to save animals stranded after a highway split a lake in half
An iconic fountain dedicated to the Roman goddess Flora stands in the heart of Mumbai
See every month of the year personified at this opulent Turinese fountain
A warning against "the demon drink" adorns the northwest entrance of Glasgow Green
A memorial to the Indian victims of the devastating 1923 earthquake
The engineer of the Imperial Canal of Aragon installed this fountain to show skeptics he had achieved his aim
What if the Fountain of Youth was actually found in Delaware
One historic coastal town believes it to be true
2024 – The widely read Conde Nast Traveler has highlighted two Croatian destinations that are “less crowded in summer” – Šibenik and Kornati
even though 20 million tourists visited its beautiful medieval cities and extraordinary coastline in 2018 alone
And sometimes it seems as if all 20 million flock there in August
during which the most popular cities are packed to level at which they seem like they could burst,” writes Conde Nast Traveler
“A one-day sailing trip around Kornati will bring you scenes of an uninhabited idyllic landscape left to vineyards
so here – you will get some much-needed freshness.”
The respected Conde Nast Traveler then points out that the Kornati Islands are in the immediate vicinity of the ancient Dalmatian city known as King Krešimir’s town
“A large historical city with a lovely labyrinth of stone as white as chalk”
seeing it placed as a desirable destination on a list that also includes the likes of Bodrum
We’d be among the first to agree with Conde Nast Traveler that beautiful Šibenik is worth a visit. Here are our ideas should you find yourself there this summer (or at any other time!)
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The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik (1431-1535)
bears witness to the considerable exchanges in the field of monumental arts between Northern Italy
Dalmatia and Tuscany in the 15th and 16th centuries
The three architects who succeeded one another in the construction of the Cathedral - Francesco di Giacomo
Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus and Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino - developed a structure built entirely from stone and using unique construction techniques for the vaulting and the dome of the Cathedral
The form and the decorative elements of the Cathedral
such as a remarkable frieze decorated with 71 sculptured faces of men
also illustrate the successful fusion of Gothic and Renaissance art
La cathédrale Saint-Jacques (1431 - 1535) à Šibenik
témoigne des échanges considérables qui se sont déroulés entre l'Italie du Nord
la Dalmatie et la Toscane du XVe au XVIe siècle dans les domaine des arts monumentaux
Les trois architectes qui se sont succédés sur le chantier de la cathédrale – Francesco di Giacomo
Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus et Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino – ont développé une structure bâtie entièrement en pierre et des techniques de constructions uniques
notamment pour les voûtes et la coupole de l'édifice
La forme et les éléments décoratifs de la cathédrale
telle cette remarquable frise ornée de soixante et onze portraits sculptés de femmes
illustrent également la fusion réussie de l'art gothique et de la Renaissance
تشكّل كاتدرائيّة القديس يعقوب (1431-1535) في مدينة سيبنيك القائمة على الساحل الدالماتي شهادةً على حلقات التبادل المهمّة التي جرت بين إيطاليا الشماليّة ودالماتيا وتوسكانا بين القرنين الخامس والسادس عشر في حقل فنّ التحف
وتعاقب على العمل في الكاتدرائية المهندسون فرانشيسكو دي جياكونو وجورجيوس ماتاي دالماتيكوس ونيكولو دي جيوفاني فيورنتينو وقد أعدّوا هيكليّةً مبنيّةً بالكامل من الصخر ومن تقنيّات البناء الفريدة من نوعها، خصوصاً بالنسبة إلى قناطر المبنى وقبّته
ويُشكّل شكل الكاتدرائيّة وزينتها، على غرار ذاك الإفريز المزيّن بأحد وسبعين رسماً منحوتاً من نساء ورجال وأطفال، الاندماج الناجح بين الطراز القوطي والنهضة
西贝尼克的圣詹姆斯大教堂(1431年至1535年)位于达尔马提亚海岸(Dalmatian coast),见证了15和16世纪意大利北部、达尔马提亚与托斯卡纳之间建筑艺术领域的大规模交流。弗兰切斯科迪·贾科莫(Francesco di Giacomo)、佐治鸠斯·马赛·达尔马提库斯(Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus)和尼科络·帝·乔万尼·菲奥伦提诺(Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino)三位建筑师相继负责大教堂的建设工作。他们发明了一种结构,完全由岩石构成,并采用了独特的建筑技巧修建大教堂的拱顶和圆顶。大教堂的形式和装饰要素,例如由71个形态各异的男人、女人、孩子脸装饰的教堂中眉,展现了哥特艺术与文艺复兴艺术的成功融合。
в области монументального искусства между Северной Италией
сменявшие друг друга в строительстве собора
применяя уникальную строительную технологию при сооружении сводов и купола
такие как замечательный фриз с 71 скульптурным изображением лиц мужчин
также иллюстрируют успешное слияние стиля готики с искусством Возрождения
atestigua los importantes intercambios en el ámbito de las artes monumentales que se dieron entre el norte de Italia
la Toscana y Dalmacia desde el siglo XVI hasta el XVII
Los tres arquitectos que se sucedieron en la dirección de las obras –Francesco di Giacomo
Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus y Niccolo Giovanni Fiorentino– levantaron una estructura edificada con piedra en su totalidad y elaboraron técnicas arquitectónicas excepcionales para levantar las bóvedas y la cúpula
La forma de esta catedral y su ornamentación –por ejemplo
el hermoso friso con 75 figuras esculpidas de hombres
mujeres y niños– ejemplifican una lograda fusión del arte gótico y el renacentista
Šibenik is a town founded on the Dalmatian Coast in the 10th Century
From 1412 it was under the control of Venice
The Cathedral of St James stands by the sea in a small square which was once the heart of the ancient town
the Cathedral is a monument that documents the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture
It is distinctive in the type of construction adopted
but most of all in the nature of its construction
The Cathedral bears witness to the considerable exchanges in the field of monumental arts between Northern Italy
three architects who succeeded one another
Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus and Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino
developed a structure built entirely from stone and using unique construction techniques for the vaulting and the dome
The Cathedral was finally consecrated in 1555 after completion of the west front
The Cathedral takes the form of a basilica with three aisles
The dome surmounts a transept which does not project beyond the north and south walls of the basilica
The rectangular sacristy is raised on pillars under which there is a passage to the baptistery located between the southern apse and the episcopal palace
The interior of the Cathedral is striking because of the height of the nave and the richly decorated stonework
Although the Cathedral was built in three phases
the styles of which can be distinguished on both interior and exterior
from the footings of the walls through the vaulting to the dome itself
is no doubt largely responsible for conveying such unity
Unity of structural and decorative elements of the Cathedral also illustrates the successful fusion of Gothic art and that of the Renaissance
Criterion (i): The structural characteristics of the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik make it a unique and outstanding building in which Gothic and Renaissance forms have been successfully blended
Criterion (ii): The Cathedral of St James is the fruitful outcome of considerable interchanges of influences between the three culturally different regions of Northern Italy
These interchanges created the conditions for unique and outstanding solutions to the technical and structural problems of constructing the Cathedral’s vaulting and dome
Criterion (iv): The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik is a unique testimony to the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance period in church architecture
Šibenik Cathedral is among the few buildings of its kind that has not been altered over the course of time but has preserved its original form
the styles of which can be distinguished in both interior and exterior
the whole has a clear unity which is primarily enabled by the use of quality stone as a single structural and decorative material
All elements necessary to express the values of the Cathedral are included within the boundaries of the inscribed area and the buffer zone
Most important threats to the property are of natural origin
The Cathedral of St James is completely preserved in its original state
Thanks to the fidelity to the initial model and respect during restoration for the characteristics of the cultural context to which the building belongs
this property satisfies the test of authenticity to a degree rarely attained by constructions in stone
which is the property of the Diocese of Šibenik
Like the historic center of Šibenik itself
it is subject to the provisions of several acts and regulations governing its protection
Management is carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Media (Directorate of Heritage Protection) and the Office of Works of the Diocese of Šibenik with advisory support by the interinstitutional supervisory expert commission
Measures for the protection of the Cathedral of St James are implemented by the Šibenik Conservation Department
the local representative of the Ministry of Culture and Media
The Cathedral of St James and the historic center of Šibenik are protected by a specific policy based on four indicators: the significance and authenticity of the heritage property
control over risk factors such as visitor numbers
and in compliance with the most stringent international standards of conservation
Restoration work on the Cathedral in 1992 after war damage was carried out with the fullest respect for the techniques employed in the past
This has played an important role in keeping the original stone quarry in operation and in providing training for young workers on the restoration project
conservation and restoration works has been implemented by the Croatian Conservation Institute
Priority is given to various treatment of the stone surface of the cathedral walls and inventory
as well as restoration of movable heritage
Deterioration of microclimatic conditions and the formation of condensation inside the cathedral was solved by introducing remotely controlled windows in the upper zone enabling efficient ventilation
Funding for restoration works is regularly provided by the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Diocese
An Interpretation Centre of the Cathedral established in 2019 in the restored nearby palace provides detailed presentation of the history and construction of this unique building
Total Croatia News
The project was approved and financed based on the Public Call for Proposals for Cultural Promotion
and International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia
implemented and organized by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and diplomatic and consular missions
The Society for the Preservation of Šibenik Heritage Juraj Dalmatinac (http://www.jurajdalmatinac.com/) was founded on June 9
as a non-governmental and non-political organization with the aim of caring for the heritage and promotion of Šibenik
but also from other parts of Croatia and the world
and the evening was enhanced by the klapa Astoria
the Society and the Museum presented themselves at the Croatian Center of St
Nikola Tavelić after Sunday Mass in the Croatian Church of St
The exhibition brought together parishioners
including many people from Šibenik who live in NY
and the musical atmosphere was again provided by the klapa Astoria
members of the Society and representatives of the Museum also visited the UN headquarters
from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the UN
introduced them to the work of the UN bodies
The Society and the Museum thank everyone who contributed to this beautiful promotion of Šibenik in the world
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section
has revealed that it took over the operations at the Port of Sibenik in Croatia in the first week of February
Yilport plans to turn the Port of Sibenik into a multi-purpose terminal
and increase storage capacity at the terminal
the terminal will be dredged from -10 meters to -13 meters of the draft to allow access for larger vessels up to Panamax size
Yilport will install the third mobile harbor crane after container operations start at the terminal
the second phase of the proposed business plan includes startup investments for RoRo and liquid cargo services
Yilport Holding targets €50 million of investments in three phases to develop a productive and efficient multi-purpose terminal
The Port of Sibenik is located 350 kilometers from Zagreb
and 3 kilometers away from the highway connecting Zagreb to the Adriatic Sea
The terminal has direct railway connection to Zagreb
The port currently serves Croatian and Bosnian bulk cargo and general cargo clients by rail and road network connections
The port currently has three berths at -10 meters quay depth
and handles general cargo ships up to 50,000 tons
the port offers warehouses with conveyor systems and handles 2,000 TEU container vessels
the Port of Sibenik will diversify the overall service portfolio with its strategic location
connecting to other ports in the Mediterranean region
The takeover is part of Yildrim Group’s acquisition of Petrokemija d.d.
The port used to operate as the main fertilizer-handling port in the country
wood products and aluminium are the most handled products at the port
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The performance of new and existing jack-ups
Away from the crowded streets of Croatia’s usual tourist haunts
the fashion-conscious city of Šibenik – where electricity first flowed – has a thriving festival scene
dazzling Dalmatian vistas and a good line in complaining
and then the sound of church bells crashing in
not many other cities can sing this chorus like Šibenik
The bells ring every half hour – it’s as though the city were talking to you
That’s the city’s sound from September through to May
until the noise of tourists on the streets takes over
View image in fullscreenThe small city of 46,000 people is home to 24 churches. Photograph: Jure ŽivkovićIn my opinion, St James Cathedral is the most important architectural monument of the 15th and 16th centuries in Croatia
This impressive structure was built on the site of an old Romanic church next to the sea
taking 105 years to build out of nothing more than stone blocks without bonding compounds
the cathedral looks exactly the same on the outside as it does within
During the Croatian war of independence in the early 1990s, the cathedral was bombed, causing severe damage to the dome
This unfortunate event was also an opportunity to make a detailed analysis of the unique architectural technique used for its construction
The cathedral is also decorated with 71 sculptures of men
women and children – the first time in Europe that everyday people were put in context of a sacral object
The Fog Sellers are an experimental band recognised for their innovative tunes
The trio plays a combination of electronic and jazz sounds – which could be classified as “lounge music” – and their instruments create an unexpected sound
If you want a local to help you find a street by its name
folks use street names that are passed down from generation to generation
But that shouldn’t deter you from walking through many of the little stone-covered streets that have been walked upon for almost a millennium
You should also find a spot to hear klapa music performed live – it will give you goosebumps
This type of folk singing has been inscribed in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list
This is definitely a city where fashion takes a very high place – perhaps even a little too high
While locals tend to be fairly open-minded
it won’t stop them spending two hours people-watching on the Riviera and sniping about their dress sense
It’s more likely that you’ll forget the house keys than your shades
View image in fullscreenAzimut, former home to Šibenik’s water supply, is now a cultural centre. Photograph: Sanja Lydia KulušićAzimut is a cultural centre that provides a window into the Dalmatian festival scene
while bringing people together and helping artists in their creative processes
It’s situated right below St Jacobs Cathedral in what looks like an enormous medieval vault
The space used to be the source of the city’s water supply and if you look up at the roof
Not all of Šibenik’s locals celebrate this creative hub
When it first opened three years ago and young people flocked to its gigs
the town bishop (who lives next door) banned the fun due to inappropriate noise levels
and Azimut was forced to close its main stage
Most people think the first place to transmit electricity was Buffalo, New York (via Niagra Falls). In fact, the title should go to little Šibenik, where the first electricity flowed through wires more than 120 years ago
The genius behind this modern innovation was Nikola Tesla
spiritual Croatian after whom Tesla electric cars are named
was more than just a power plant: it was an entire electroenergetic system with a complete cycle of producing
transmitting and distributing alternative current using wooden power lines to Šibenik
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ŠibenikIn’s photos show the unwavering natural beauty of this city and its surroundings
and visitors are often the main talking point when it comes to our economic survival
Peer through the window display of the famous Deni’s design store: the white atom-like sculptures are the work of Danijel Hrg
who began designing jewellery 20 years ago and in the past 12 years has consistently surprised locals with his public sculptures in Šibenik’s streets and squares
The people of Šibenik are the very best in the world at grumblingThe people of Šibenik are the very best in the world at grumbling
everything that has to be done is preceded by a complaint
there’s another round of grumbling about how it was done
The best phrase if you want to join in is “ajme meni”
grumbling is enjoyable – and if this article was not spiced with a decent amount of it
View image in fullscreenMarina in her Croatian home city. Photograph: Nino ŠolićMarina Petkovic works for the City of Šibenik. You can follow her on Instagram here
Krka National Park
OFF Jazz & Blues Festival
Taste the Mediterranean
Supertoon: International Animation Festival
International Children’s Festival
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Vallis Solaris gave consent to the City of Šibenik to send their agreement for a vote in the local assembly
Croatia
Vladimir Spasić
0
Vallis Solaris gave consent to the City of Šibenik to send their agreement for a vote in the local assembly. It would initiate the procedure for the purchase of land and pave the way for the largest investment in the nearby Podi industrial zone and entire Croatia, Šibenski Portal reported
The company has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Croatia
The investmen could expand to the production of hydrogen
Back in February 2019
the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds said the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Fraunhofer ISE)
and the government intend to sign an MoU on cooperation for the establishment of a fully integrated photovoltaic manufacturing line in the country
the project was estimated at EUR 5 billion
The local news outlet now said the investment in the photovoltaic industry value chain is worth EUR 1 billion
The facility would manufacture polysilicon
after which it could expand to the production of hydrogen
The manufacturing project will attract investments in solar and wind power plants
It would all require a large amount of electricity from renewable sources
implying the need for solar parks and wind farms
He is also one of the initiators of the project and one of the founders of Fraunhofer ISE
The investment in the industrial part of the project should reach EUR 1 billion within eight years
and the full capacity should be achieved in ten years
Vallis Solaris would buy the currently available 50 to 60 hectares in the Podi industrial zone
The project includes the creation of five thousand 5,000 in phases within eight years
Wittver explained that the company would launch cooperation with the Polytechnic of Šibenik and the universities in Zagreb and Split to obtain a skilled workforce
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05 May 2025 - The delegations from the two countries met on the sidelines of the 10th summit meeting of the Three Seas Initiative
Bosnia and Herzegovina
05 May 2025 - The Trebinje 3 photovoltaic plant would have an installed capacity of 53.63 MW and an estimated annual production of 85.5 GWh
Region/EU
05 May 2025 - VDE Renewables found that SolarEdge’s advanced safety capabilities minimize photovoltaic system risks and effectively prevent fire hazards
Romania
02 May 2025 - The project is located in Constanța county
recognized for its superior yields in green energy production
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Sophie L Walker reports from Šibenik, Croatia at the inaugural edition of SHIP Festival – an event dedicated to discovering new European and Croatian music.
St. Michael’s Fortress stands ancient and immovable, surveying the Dalmatian coast and shouldered by the medieval city of Šibenik below. Its silhouette is one of the first sights to greet a traveller approaching the Old Town; it is both birthplace of and witness to a city eternally changing.
It is only right that the inaugural year of SHIP Festival is tied to a structure that so deeply defines their identity. While Šibenik’s tangle of winding streets, hidden monastic gardens and ornate churches echo its Venetian past and Catholic character, St. Michael’s Fortress stands impervious to influence. Surviving failed Ottoman sieges, and even under Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, it is testament to a Croatia’s abiding spirit.
There is a welcome irony to be found in the fact that a fortress built to defend Šibenik is the centrepiece of a festival with an ambition to invite the world to its doorstep. SHIP Festival is a three-day celebration of Croatian and European music by night; a conference that sprawls across the city by day. With a smorgasbord of prominent local and international speakers, their conversations aim to share resources and wisdom in a notoriously gate-kept industry.
Central to the mission of SHIP Festival is dispelling tired preconceptions of what European music is capable of, underlining that it is far more than a passing novelty or an easily-disregarded niche. Its line up froths with talent across a dazzling spectrum of sounds from Croatian jazz-rock to Macedonian synthwave and Serbian pop music – and that’s only the beginning.
Friday night on the Deck welcomes Austrian duo Aze who weave soft-dying RnB with pop’s nocturnal side. Bathed in red light, they whirl slowly around the stage as if they were dreaming in their bedrooms – deeply interior and sensual at once. They translate the private agony of impulsively checking your phone on “Call Me Back” and the conflicts that tie your heart in knots: “I could leave you alone / But what do I do on my own?”
The days are packed with music conferences between the waterfront art space House of Arsen and the cosy indoor area of Azimut. While there are conversations which promote an in-depth look under the hood of the music industry including of ‘How to Book A DIY Tour’ and the significance of music export in Europe, there are also far more candid discussions around stress management and protecting your mental health in a line of work with a high emotional toll.
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Fancy seeing Croatia without the crowds? Swerve excessively popular Dubrovnik and Split and plump for lesser-visited Sibenik, where you’ll find a perfect slice of laid-back Dalmatian coast, suggests Mike MacEacheran
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While Dubrovnik and Split – Croatia’s de facto capitals – have had to adjust more than any others because of best-in-travel listings
Sibenik to the north has been able to avoid any stain on the city
Unesco-worthy cathedral and pedestrianised Old Town seem almost unique
sit on steps and – more or less – master fjaka
the Dalmatian art of aspiring to do nothing
And that’s not mentioning the slow-motion pace of life in its cradle of islands beyond glimmering Sibenik Bay and St Anthony Channel
it is as if the protected port city has absorbed energy over the centuries from its many overlords and invaders – Venetians and Greeks
Hungarians and Ottomans – and now decided it’s overdue time to sit back and relax
Sibenik was founded by Croats more than one thousand years ago
making it the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic
that its people have earned their right to fjaka more than most
Read more on Croatia travel:
Begin at the triple nave Cathedral of St James
which bears witness to the cross-Adriatic exchange of architectural ideas between Italy and Croatia in the 15th and 16th centuries
Sibenik is the only city in the country with two Unesco marvels to shout about and the cathedral is its first; a holy house
but also an art and sculpture lesson writ in stone
strolling from polished street to pedestrianised sunlit square is the only way to truly appreciate all the architectural pomp
climb past Gothic-Renaissance monuments to sea-view wine bars to art-filled stone churches as pretty as you’ll find anywhere
High points come thick and fast the higher through the Old Town’s inner streets you ascend. Among these is the medieval St Michael’s Fortress
as if straight from the water like an Atlantis reborn
From its battlements, the view towards the Krka River and the tight channel where it flows into the Adriatic is similar to that offered by the one to the rear: simply sublime. Behind are the equally marvellous St John’s Fortress and Barone Fortress
which afford higher perches from which to digest the city
Further out at sea is yet another stronghold: St Nicholas’ Fortress and the city’s second Unesco sight
Anchored off the coast in St Anthony Channel and arrowhead in shape
it’s a defensive tour de force originally built to scare off Ottoman invaders
That’s the easy sell of an island-hopping safari to the lesser-visited Sibenik Archipelago
For a memorable lunch or dinner, hop off the local ferry or drop anchor on a private charter at Zlarin for tuna and calamari cooked with flair and imagination at the wonderful Konoba Aldura
a traditional taverna in arms’ reach of nets
Heading inland doesn’t mean wasting precious moments on the coast. Almost-secluded Krka National Park is one of Croatia’s finest – with the swelling summer crowds to prove it – and time here is well spent hiking through a wonderland of aquamarine waterfalls
Come at the right time – straight after the park opens around 8am in summer
9am in winter – and it feels a world away from the coach tour crush
It’s a fine strip of golden sand with old-fashioned taverna and bar
but also rewards with a terrific perspective of Sibenik’s higgeldy-piggeldy Old Town almost falling over itself into the water
Amerun Heritage Hotels & Residences is for historical stone rooms with loggia views glimpsing the sardine-tight streets behind and shimmering blue out front
it’s the most atmospheric boutique hotel in the Old Town
with two best-in-class restaurants (Buta and Bronzin) to try
Doubles from £112, B&B; armerun.com
Sometimes you need more space and only a villa will do (preferably one with a pool too)
These fit into the surrounding landscapes with minimal disruption – which can’t be said of many of the brutalist resort hotels between Split and Zadar – and there are hundreds available
Novasol offers a selection of handpicked villas across the Sibenik region and
are superior to any hotel you might have in mind
From £239pp for a seven-night stay; novasol.com
For gourmands, there’s only one address: Pelegrini. The city’s first Michelin-starred restaurant is located on a cobblestoned stairway off Cathedral of St James square
and burrows into a series of historic buildings and unseen courtyards
The six-course tasting menu is mind-bending
but you might doubt your senses when looking at the price: it’s not cheap at €530 with wine pairings for two
After dark, St Michael’s Fortress has another face to it
The fort is maintained with a sense of purpose for cultural events and turns open-air auditorium in summer
when orchestras and pop stars like Bryan Ferry
Roisin Murphy and The National strut the stage under the stars
Ten per cent will do – though tipping is not expected in Croatia
Around 2hr 30m from London and 3hr 15m from Edinburgh to Split
with flights taking 2hr 25m from London and 2hr 20m from Birmingham
bars and streets strip away when taking the stairs and steep alleys to the ramparts of St Michael’s Fortress
Not for the first time in the Adriatic, ice cream is on the menu. Despite the terrible name, nationwide chain aRoma gelato experience is a scoop shop of immense pedigree (spot the out-the-door queues on hot days)
playing its part properly with a terrific selection of cone toppers
For further information about Sibenik and travel to Croatia, visit croatia.hr and sibenik-tourism.hr
Read more of our best Croatia hotel reviews
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Fewer crowds await in the coastal city of Sibenik
shop and stay in Croatia’s untouched coastal city","description":"Fancy seeing Croatia without the crowds
Swerve excessively popular Dubrovnik and Split and plump for lesser-visited Sibenik
where you’ll find a perfect slice of laid-back Dalmatian coast
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Croatia plans to install its first waste incineration facility within the Bikarac waste management center
1
as it envisages the production of solid fuel from waste
Waste management center (CGO) Bikarac is one of 11 that Croatia plans to build as part of its waste management system
CGO Bikarac will produce solid fuel from waste
New Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Damir Habijan visited CGO Bikarac together with Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund Mirko Budiš and Šibenik’s Mayor Željko Burić
The ministry noted that CGO Bikarac was put into operation in 2021 and that its capacity is 20,000 tons per year
Like other centers in the coastal region of Dalmatia
and the City of Šibenik has submitted a request for cofinancing project documentation for a power plant
and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund will cover eligible costs
Habijan: It is the first example of circular waste management in Croatia
The plant for the thermal treatment of waste will be built within CGO Bikarac
so all the produced energy can be distributed to consumers in the Podi industrial zone
Damir Habijan said one of his first decisions as a minister was about a power plant in CGO Bikarac
The preparation of the project documentation
The power plant will be the first example of circular waste management in Croatia as waste will become a source of energy that can be used in the Podi industrial zone
According to the website of the City of Šibenik
the project is for a power plant for the thermal treatment of fuel from waste and dried sludge
Habijan said CGO Bikarac could become an example for all the local authorities in Croatia
arguing that its management has shown the biggest progress in circular waste management
Burić: Šibenik has solved the problem which annoys the most cities in Croatia
CGO Bikarac serves the territories of Šibenik
Skradin and 15 smaller municipalities or a total of 110,000 residents
Šibenik’s Mayor Željko Burić said the waste-to-energy project is another major investment that would make Šibenik one of the cities that solved the waste issue
The city already solved the problem that most Croatian cities and towns are struggling with as it surpassed all others by far in the circular management of waste
Waste-to-energy facilities are rare in Southeastern Europe. For example, Slovenia has one, and Serbia’s first combined heat and power plant of the kind started operations in February 2023
However, there are many plans for such systems. The project in Sofia is an example that an investment is uncertain even when financing is secured
A few days ago, local authorities in Kraljevo, Trstenik, and Vrnjačka Banja in Serbia announced they are considering different waste-to-energy solutions for their waste management system
There is also an idea to install waste incinerators in Niš and near Prahovo in Serbia
In mid-2022, Slovenia said it would build three facilities, immediately prompting backlash, so the next government decided to reduce their number
There are plans for incinerators in Sarajevo as well, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The projects in Sisak in Croatia and Brčko in BiH have been stopped
28 April 2025 - Private businesses from the EU
and the Western Balkans are invited to express interest in investing in the region
Turkey
21 April 2025 - Existing geothermal wells alone can enable Turkey to become one of the world's major producers of lithium
18 April 2025 - The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina has developed a register of air-polluting emissions and an information system to track pollutants
Serbia
16 April 2025 - Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović started her third term while new Minister of Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov is the cabinet's youngest member