Šibenik

Šibenik, the oldest autochthonous Croatian town on the Adriatic is situated in the best protected natural port in the centre of the eastern coast of the Adriatic, the ancient Mare Adriaticum, on the mouth of beautiful river Krka, on the foundations of rich Croatian history, probably where some of the first Croatian settlers saw the blue sea, moody and beautiful, which protected and sheltered, fed and guarded them for centuries.
Today, Šibenik is the capital, cultural and educational, administrative and economic centre of the county of Šibenik and Knin with the population of 51 553 inhabitants (2001).
The history of Šibenik Šibenik was first mentioned in a document written by king Petar Krešimir IV who lived in the fortified citadel Sv. Mihovil. Venetians held Šibenik from 1116 - 24 and from 1125 - 33. Hungarian-Croatian king Stjepan IV granted it autonomy in 1167. After a short period of Byzantine rule to 1180, Croatian kings, Venetia, Bosnian king Stjepan Tvrtko and duke Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić alternately ruled the town. It was again under Venetian rule from 1412-1797. Since then to 1918, except for the period of French occupation, it is, together with the rest of Dalmatia, under Austrian rule. At the end of the First World War it was occupied by Italy but it was returned to the mother country under provisions of Rapal Agreement in 1920. Šibenik is the birthplace of humanist Josip Šižgorić (1420-1509), Antun Vrančić (1504-1573) and Faust Vrančić (1551-1617).
Communications The town of Šibenik has an extremely important position in transportation; good connections enable direct communications. The backbone is The Adriatic Highway with branching roads to Drniš (33 km) and Knin (55 km) and further on to the inland of Croatia. It is an important road and railway to Zagreb and Split.
Air traffic is conducted via airport "Split" in the town of Kaštela (45 km) and airport Zemunik (50 km from Šibenik).

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