November the 27th, 2025 – Šibenik is an incredibly popular tourist destination, but it’s also the only large Croatian coastal city actually founded by the Croats, and not the Romans or the Illyrians.
As Putni kofer writes, at almost every step you take anywhere along the Croatian coast, you can feel the spirit of ancient times flooding through into the modern day. Very many coastal cities grew on the foundations of Roman, Greek or Illyrian settlements and were shaped under the influence of tumultuous times, numerous governments, traders and conquerors. However, amidst this mixed and fascinating historical background, there is one Croatian coastal city that stands out from all the others. In written sources, it is never mentioned as being the physical heritage of some ancient colony, but instead as a place that was shaped by the ancient Croatian people themselves, with their own rhythm and strength, on their own land.
Šibenik is a Croatian coastal city that was not founded by the Romans or Illyrians, but by the Croats. This fact alone makes it entirely unique among all the larger cities along the Adriatic coast. In its ancient stone, fortresses and steep streets, you can still feel the very much undead soul of the Middle Ages, the period in which it was established as a Croatian fortress and in which it was first recorded in a grant from a king.
it all began in 1066…
Šibenik was first mentioned way back on December the 25th, 1066, in a document written by King Petar Krešimir IV. This makes it not only historically important but also symbolically powerful. The Christmas date of this very first mention and the signature of the then Croatian ruler have remained deeply imprinted in the identity of the people of Šibenik, and the city still proudly bears the name “Krešimir’s City”.
Unlike most Dalmatian cities, Šibenik became a popular coastal Croatian city that developed independently as a fortress founded by the Croats above a naturally protected bay. For this reason, it is ranked among the oldest native Croatian cities on the Adriatic.
croatia’s eternal city
Over the centuries, Šibenik developed layer by layer, from a modest medieval fortress to a stunning Renaissance city with strong defence systems. In the eras of powerful builders, skilled craftsmen and experienced sailors, it grew into an important port, a vibrant trading centre and a place with beautiful architecture which still weaves the fascinating story about the development of the entire Croatian coast to this very day.
Its walls reveal various historical periods, from the old town to Venetian fortifications, Renaissance palaces and monumental buildings that in their time exceeded the capabilities of the rest of the world of that time.
a cathedral built entirely of stone…
Two extremely valuable UNESCO monuments occupy a special place in Šibenik’s rich heritage, which best reveals how advanced and ambitious this city was in its golden ages. The first among them is the Cathedral of St. James (Sv Jakov), a miraculous work by Juraj Dalmatinac (Giorgio da Sebenico) that captivates all those who gaze upon it with its beauty even today.
The Cathedral of St. James was built entirely of stone, without a single piece of wood used, and represents the pinnacle of architectural skill and one of the most recognisable symbols of the Croatian Renaissance. Its harmonious lines, carefully designed details and unique construction method have made it unique not only on the Adriatic, but also in the whole European cultural space.
a city of fortresses
The second jewel is the Fortress of St. Nicholas (Sv Nikola), a bold and powerful fortress that guards the entrance to the Port of Šibenik itself. Its distinctive triangular form and exceptionally well-thought-out architectural solutions testify to the importance of Šibenik as a strategic and naval centre during the Renaissance period. This imposing fortress was designed to withstand even the most advanced military threats of the time, and today, it stands as a fascinating reminder of a time when this marvellous city was way ahead of its time.
