In the city of Šibenik, in the Dalmatian region of Croatia

 “What inspires me most to write is the act of traveling.”

-- Tea Obreht (born Tea Bajraktarević), author of The Tiger Wife
==================================================================
(in the Dalmatian region of Croatia) Dalmatia is one of the four historical regions of Croatia, alongside Croatia proper, Slavonia, and Istria. Dalmatia is a narrow belt of the east shore of the Adriatic Sea, stretching from the island of Rab in the north to the Bay of Kotor in the south. The Dalmatian Hinterland ranges in width from 50 km (~31 mi.) in the north, to just a few kilometers in the south; it is mostly covered by the Dinaric Alps. Seventy-nine islands run parallel to the coast, the largest being Brač, Pag, and Hvar. The largest city is Split, followed by Zadar and Šibenik.

+ Featured here is the city of Šibenik, which lies along the estuary of the Krka River not far from the river’s mouth on the Adriatic Sea. Although first documented in 1066, Šibenik was chartered in 1167 and until 1412 was fought over by Venice and others. After 1412, when Venice prevailed, Šibenik prospered despite unsuccessful assaults by the Turks. In 1797–1815 it became part of Napoleon I’s Illyrian Provinces, after which it was absorbed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, it was Italian and then became part of Yugoslavia.

+ Historically, the city has been known for its culture and scholarship. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Jakov, which combines Gothic and Renaissance elements, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. The City Gates, Loggia, and several Renaissance houses are well preserved. The medieval St. Anne’s Fortress overlooks the city from the north.

+ Šibenik is now a coastal shipping station linked by a rail line to Zagreb. Electricity from a hydroelectric station at Krka Falls, to the northeast, powers an electrochemical plant. Šibenik’s tourist trade is centred on the local beaches and the offshore islands of Prvić and Zlarin, resort areas without a local water supply.
+ Šibenik has a magnificent medieval heart, gleaming white against the placid waters of the bay. The stone labyrinth of steep backstreets and alleys is a joy to explore. (Šibenik is also an important access point for Krka National Park and the Kornati Islands.) Sometimes called the city of fortresses, which are a key symbol of Šibenik and a sign of the efforts of the domestic people to defend their city through various historical periods. There are four fortresses in the city, and all of them were built for the purpose of defence against Turkish invasion.

+ Depicted here is St. Michael's Fortress (formerly known as St. Anne's Fortress), a medieval fort in Šibenik, that is situated on a steep hill above the old historic center of the city. Its strategically favorable and dominant position made it the central part of Šibenik fortification system. Clamber up to the battlements of this large medieval fort for magnificent views (particularly impressive at sunset) over Šibenik, the Krk River, and the Adriatic islands.