Šibenik

For other places with the same name, seeŠibenik (disambiguation).

"Sebenico" redirects here. For other uses, seeSebenico (disambiguation).

Šibenik Sebenico
City
Grad Šibenik City of Šibenik
Top: Aerial view of Šibenik; Second row: St. Francis' Monastery, The Medieval Monastery Garden of St. Lawrence, Church of St. Barbara; Third row:Cathedral of St. James;Fourth row: Juraj Šižgorić City Library, Mandalina hotel resort; Bottom:St. Nicholas Fortress
Flag Seal
Šibenik Location of Šibenik within Croatia
Coordinates:43°44′N15°55′E
Country	Croatia
County	Šibenik-Knin
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
•Mayor	Željko Burić(HDZ)
• City Council	21 members •HDZ(10) •NLSP(4) •SDP–NL(4) •HS–HKS–Hrast–NHR(2) •Most–DP–Loza(1)
Area
•City	399.5 km2(154.2 sq mi)
• Urban	44.1 km2(17.0 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2021)
•City	42,599
• Density	110/km2(280/sq mi)
•Urban	31,115
• Urban density	710/km2(1,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code	HR-22 000
Area code	+385 22
License plate	ŠI
Climate	Csa
Website	sibenik.hr

Šibenik(Croatian:[ʃîbeniːk]) is a historic town inCroatia,located in centralDalmatia,where the riverKrkaflows into theAdriatic Sea.Šibenik is a political, educational, transport, industrial and tourist center ofŠibenik-Knin County,and is also thethird-largest townin the Dalmatian region. As of 2021, the town has 31,115 inhabitants, while the municipality has 42,599 inhabitants.

History

Etymology

There are multiple interpretations of how Šibenik was named. In his fifteenth century bookDe situ Illiriae et civitate Sibenici,Juraj Šižgorićdescribes the name and location of Šibenik. He attributes the name of the city to it being surrounded by a palisade made ofšibe(sticks, singular beingšiba).Another interpretation is associated with the forest through the Latintoponym"Sibinicum", which covered a narrower microregion within Šibenik on and around the area ofSt. Michael's Fortress.

Early history

Unlike other cities along the Adriatic coast, which were established by Greeks, Illyrians and Romans, Šibenik was founded bySlavs.It was mentioned for the first time under its present name in 1066 in a Charter of theCroatian KingPetar Krešimir IVand, 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 amongVenice,Byzantium,andHungary.It was conquered by theRepublic of Venicein 1116,who held it until 1124, when they briefly lost it to the Byzantine Empire,and then held it again until 1133 when it was retaken by theKingdom of Hungary.It would change hands among the aforementioned states several more times until 1180.

The city was given the status of a town in 1167 fromStephen III of Hungary.It received its owndiocesein 1298.

Under Venice and the Habsburgs

The city, like the rest ofDalmatia,initially resisted theVenetian Republic,but it was taken over after a three-year war in 1412.Under Venetian rule, Šibenik became in 1412 the seat of the maincustomsoffice and the seat of the salt consumers office with amonopolyon the salt trade inChioggiaand on the wholeAdriatic Sea.

In August 1417, Venetian authorities were concerned with the "Morlachsand other Slavs "from the hinterland, that were a threat to security in Šibenik.TheOttoman Empirestarted to threaten Šibenik (known asSebenico), as part of their struggle against Venice, at the end of the 15th century,but they never succeeded in conquering it. In the 16th century,St. Nicholas Fortresswas 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 byMartino Rota.

TheMorlachsstarted settling Šibenik during theCretan War (1645–69).

The fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797 broughtSebenicounder the authority of theHabsburg monarchy.

After theCongress of Viennauntil 1918, the town was (again) part of theAustrian monarchy(Austria side after thecompromise of 1867), head of the district of the same name, one of the 13BezirkshauptmannschafteninKingdom of Dalmatia.The Italian nameSebenicoonly was used until around 1871.

In 1872, at the time in theKingdom of Dalmatia,Ante Šupukbecame 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 providestreet lightspowered by the early ACJaruga Hydroelectric Power Plant.On 28 August 1895, Šibenik became the world's first city withalternating current-powered street lights.

20th century

DuringWorld 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.After the war Šibenik was occupied by theKingdom of Italyuntil 12 June 1921. As a result of theTreaty of Rapallo,the Italians gave up their claim to the city and it became a part of theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.After the World War I, the exodus of theDalmatian Italiansfrom the city began.DuringWorld War II,Šibenik was annexed byItalyand was part of the ItalianGovernorate of Dalmatiafrom 1941 to 1943 being part of theprovince of Zara.Communist partisans liberated Šibenik on 3 November 1944.

Šibenik'sBorgo di Terra(land-side borough) in 1907 - today'sPoljana.In the foreground the National Theatre and in the background theFortress(Tvrđava sv. Mihovila/Castel vecchio).

After World War II it became a part of theSFR Yugoslaviauntil Croatia declared independence in 1991.

During theCroatian War of Independence(1991–95), Šibenik was heavily attacked by theYugoslav People's Armyand Serbian paramilitary troops.Although under-armed, the nascentCroatian armyand 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 theŠibenik Cathedralof St James and the 1870-built theatre building.

In an August 1995military operation,the Croatian Army defeated the Serb forces and reconquered the occupied areas,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 amediterranean 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). TheKöppen Climate Classificationsubtype for this climate is "Csa"(Mediterranean Climate).

Climate data for Šibenik
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	21.4 (70.5)	22.7 (72.9)	26.2 (79.2)	28.8 (83.8)	34.0 (93.2)	37.6 (99.7)	38.2 (100.8)	39.4 (102.9)	35.4 (95.7)	30.3 (86.5)	28.4 (83.1)	20.3 (68.5)	39.4 (102.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	6.8 (44.2)	7.4 (45.3)	10.0 (50.0)	13.6 (56.5)	18.4 (65.1)	22.2 (72.0)	25.0 (77.0)	24.6 (76.3)	20.6 (69.1)	16.3 (61.3)	11.7 (53.1)	8.2 (46.8)	15.4 (59.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−10.2 (13.6)	−11.0 (12.2)	−7.5 (18.5)	−0.5 (31.1)	2.3 (36.1)	8.3 (46.9)	11.6 (52.9)	10.2 (50.4)	6.9 (44.4)	2.1 (35.8)	−6.6 (20.1)	−8.9 (16.0)	−11.0 (12.2)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	74.1 (2.92)	60.1 (2.37)	62.0 (2.44)	62.7 (2.47)	49.0 (1.93)	53.0 (2.09)	29.7 (1.17)	44.9 (1.77)	75.5 (2.97)	82.7 (3.26)	112.4 (4.43)	95.2 (3.75)	801.3 (31.57)
Average rainy days	10	9	9	10	9	8	5	5	7	9	12	12	105
Average snowy days	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
Mean monthlysunshine hours	128.6	150.6	196.1	222.4	286.3	312.1	358.0	326.0	254.3	199.7	131.0	113.8	2,678.9
Source: National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (Croatia)

Main sights

Main article:Šibenik Cathedral

The central church in Šibenik, theŠibenik Cathedralof St James, is on theUNESCO World Heritage list.

Several successive architects built it completely in stone between 1431 and 1536,both inGothicand inRenaissancestyle. The interlocking stone slabs of the cathedral's roof were damaged when the city was shelled byYugoslavforces in 1991. The damage has since been repaired.

Fortifications in Šibenik

Cathedral of St. James
Location	Šibenik,Croatia
Built	1431-1536
Architectural style(s)	Renaissance
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv
Designated	2000(24thSession)
Reference no.	963
Region	Europe and North America

St. Nicholas Fortress
Location	Šibenik,Croatia
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv
Designated	2017(41Session)
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

Main article:St. Nicholas Fortress

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 ofLjuljevac,at the entrance to theSt. Anthony Channel,across from theJadrijabeach lighthouse. It is included inUNESCO'sWorld Heritage Sitelist as part ofVenetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries:Stato da Terra– westernStato da Marin 2017.
• St. Michael's Fortressin historic town centre
• St. John Fortress
• Barone Fortress

Natural heritage

• Roughly 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the city is theKrka National Park,similar to thePlitvice Lakes National Park,known for its many waterfalls, flora, fauna, and historical and archaeological remains.
• TheKornatiarchipelago, west of Šibenik, consists of 150 islands in a sea area of about 320 km²(124 sq mi), making it the densestarchipelagoin theMediterranean Sea.

Culture

The composerJakov Gotovacfounded the city's "Philharmonia Society" in 1922. The 19th century composerFranz von Suppéwas part of the city's cultural fabric, as he was a native of nearbySplit.

Each summer, a number of concerts and events take place in the city, many of them in the St. Michael Fortress. Also, starting in 2016 on a nearby island of Obonjan (6 kilometres (3.7 miles) southwest of the city), an annual music, art, health and workshop festival is being held.

The annual Šibenik International Children's Festival (Međunarodni Dječji Festival) takes place every summer and hosts 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. Šibenik hosts the Dalmatian Chanson Evenings festival (Večeri Dalmatinske Šansone), held in the second half of August.

View of southern Šibenik from St. Michael's fortress

Sports

As famous sports town, Šibenik is the hometown of many successful athletes:Aleksandar Petrović,Dražen Petrović,Perica Bukić,Ivica Žurić,Predrag Šarić,Dario Šarić,Vanda Baranović-Urukalo,Danira Nakić,Nik Slavica,Miro Bilan,Dražan Jerković,Petar Nadoveza,Krasnodar Rora,Dean Računica,Mladen Pralija,Ante Rukavina,Duje Ćaleta-Car,Mile Nakić,Franko Nakić,Siniša Belamarić,Renato Vrbičić,Ivica Tucak,Andrija Komadina,Miro Jurić,Antonio Petković,Neven Spahija,Antonija Sandrić,Mate Maleš,Stipe Bralić,Franco Jelovčić,Nives Radić, Karmela Makelja, and many others.

Basketball

The famous multi-purpose Baldekin Sports Hall was the home arena ofKK Šibenik,the famous basketball club which played in the final of theFIBA Korać Cuptwice, as well as in the final of the1982–83 Yugoslav league championship.The team was led by then 19-year-old Dražen Petrović.

The women's basketball club,ŽKK Šibenik,is among the most successful women's basketball clubs in Croatia, winning theYugoslav leaguetitle in 1991,Yugoslav Cuptitle twice,Croatian leaguetitle four times,Croatian Cupfour times,Adriatic leaguefive times, and theVojko Herksel Cupfour times.

The dissolved men's basketball club,Jolly Jadranska banka,played in the play-offs semifinals of the Croatian league championship twice, as well as in theKrešimir Ćosić Cupfinal game in the 2016–17 season.

The biggest success ofGKK Šibenka,a club founded in 2010 following the dissolution of the famous KK Šibenik, came in the2016–17 Croatian league championshipseason, when the club played theplay-offs semifinalsagainst powerhouseCibona Zagreb.Šibenka lost to Cibona in the semifinals.

Football

Šubićevac stadium,which is located in the neighbourhood of the same name, has been the home ground of theHNK Šibenikfootball club, which had played many years in theYugoslav Second League,and later many years in theCroatian First League.In the 2009–10 season, the club played in theCroatian Cupfinal, which they lost to powerhouseHajduk Split.As of 2021, the club again competes in the Croatian First League.

Water polo

The dissolved water polo club,VK Šibenik,is consideredto be one of the best men's clubs informer Yugoslavia,winning the second place in the 1986–87 domestic league season. It also played in theLEN Euro Cupfinal game of the 2006–07 season, but lost toSintez Kazan,as well as the club played in theLEN Champions Leaguein the2008–09 season,led both times by Ivica Tucak, today the head coach of the senior men'sCroatian national team.

Croatian water polo internationals, Perica Bukić and Renato Vrbičić, are Olympic medalists. They won gold medals at the1996 Summer OlympicsinAtlanta.Ivica Tucak has been the most successful coach of the senior men's Croatian national team ever.

Demographics

Historical population
of Šibenik

Year	Pop.	±%
1961	44,440	—
1971	47,122	+6.0%
1981	51,445	+9.2%
1991	55,842	+8.5%
2001	51,553	−7.7%
2011	46,332	−10.1%
2021	42,599	−8.1%
Source: Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001, DZS, Zagreb, 2005

In the 2021 Croatian census, Šibenik's total city population is 42,599 which makes it the eleventh-largest city in Croatia, with 31,115 in the urban settlement.

Of Šibenik's citizens, 94.19% were ethnicCroats.

The list of settlements is as follows:

• Boraja,population 221
• Brnjica,population 57
• Brodarica,population 2,611
• Čvrljevo,population 51
• Danilo,population 319
• Danilo Biranj,population 416
• Danilo Kraljice,population 87
• Donje Polje,population 188
• Dubrava kod Šibenika,population 1,117
• Goriš,population 127
• Gradina,population 258
• Grebaštica,population 890
• Jadrtovac,population 171
• Kaprije,population 186
• Konjevrate,population 179
• Krapanj,population 166
• Lepenica,population 62
• Lozovac,population 318
• Mravnica,population 29
• Perković,population 103
• Podine,population 20
• Radonić,population 93
• Raslina,population 553
• Sitno Donje,population 457
• Slivno,population 95
• Šibenik, population 31,115
• Vrpolje,population 731
• Vrsno,population 58
• Zaton,population 929
• Zlarin,population 293
• Žaborić,population 552
• Žirje,population 147

City of Šibenik:Population trends 1857–2021

population	15269	17245	17908	19572	23528	28514	31735	34952	33343	37161	44440	47122	51445	55842	51553	46332	42599
	1857	1869	1880	1890	1900	1910	1921	1931	1948	1953	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011	2021

Sources:Croatian Bureau of Statistics publications

Economy

Port

Šibenik is one of the best protected ports on the Croatian Adriatic and is situated on the estuary of theKrka River.The approach channel is navigable by ships up to 50,000 tonnesdeadweight.The port itself has depths up to 40 m.

Transportation

Šibenik has a railway station which is a terminus of the localPerković- Šibenik railway, a branch ofM604 railwayconnectingZagrebandSplitviaKnin.The train services are operated byCroatian Railways.

Bus station Šibenik is connected by daily bus lines with the surrounding towns such asVodice,Pirovac,Biograd na Moru.There are good connections to major cities across Croatia:Rijeka,Crikvenica,Zagreb,Osijek,Zadar,Split,Makarska,Dubrovnik.

International relations

Šibenik istwinnedwith:

• Civitanova Marche(since 2002)
• San Benedetto del Tronto
• Kreis Herford
• Voiron
• Vukovar(since 2011)
• Pineto(since 2016)
• Razlog(since 2016)
• Veszprém

Image gallery

• 
  Šibenik harbor
• 
  Sunrise in Šibenik
• 
  Square of the Republic of Croatia
• 
  Šibenik Cathedral
• 
  Cannons in Šibenik
• 
  The City "New Gate" (16th century)
• 
  Town Hall
• 
  Šibenik City Library
• 
  Šibenik City Guard, a historical military unit
• 
  St. Michael's Fortress
• 
  Šibenik sunset
• 
  View fromBanj beachtoSt. Anthony Channel
• 
  Fountain located in the Robert Visiani Park
• 
  Šibenik coast
• 
  Šibenik sea includingBanj beachandŠibenik Bridge
• 
  St. John's Church bell tower
• 
  Entrance to the church of St. Francis
• 
  Pellegrini Palace
• 
  Sunset overSt. Anthony's Channel
• 
  Banj beach's traditional New Year's Day swimming

See also

• List of people from Šibenik
• Jadrija
• Antun Vrančić High School
• Šibenik railway station
• Stato da Màr

Further reading

• Thomas Graham Jackson(1887),"Sebenico",Dalmatia,Oxford: Clarendon Press,OL23292286M
• R. Lambert Playfair (1892),"Sebenico",Handbook to the Mediterranean(3rd ed.), London: J. Murray,OL16538259M
• Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Sebenico".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

External links

• Official Šibenik City website
• Croatian Tourist Board
• Photo gallery of ŠibenikArchived27 January 2018 at theWayback Machine