Šibenik

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Šibenik
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settlement_type = Town
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image_caption = Šibenik with the Cathedral of St. James


flag_size = 160px
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seal_size = 85px
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pushpin_map_caption = Location of Šibenik within Croatia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Croatia
subdivision_type1 = County
subdivision_name1 = Šibenik-Knin County
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Nedjeljka Klarić (CDU)
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population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes = [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=-98]
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population_total = 51,553
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timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=43 |latm=44 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=15 |longm=55 |longs= |longEW=E
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postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 22000
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website = [http://www.sibenik.hr sibenik.hr]
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Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, population 51,553 (2001). It is located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Located at coord|43|44|06|N|15|53|26|E|, Šibenik is a political, educational, transport, industrial and tourist center of Šibenik-Knin county.

History

Šibenik was mentioned for the first time under its present name in 1066 in a Charter of the Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. For a period of time, it was a seat of the Croatian King. For that reason, Šibenik is also called "Krešimirov grad" (Krešimir's city). Šibenik is the oldest native Croatian town on the eastern shores of the Adriatic.

Šibenik was given the status of a town and its own diocese in 1298. Excavations of the castle of Saint Michael have since proven that the place was inhabited long before the actual arrival of the Croats. The city, like the rest of Dalmatia, resisted the Venetians up to 1412. The Ottoman Empire started to threaten Šibenik at the end of the 15th century, but they never succeeded in conquering it. In the 16th century, the fortress of St. Nicholas was built and, by the 17th century, its fortifications were improved again by the fortresses of St. John (Tanaja) and Šubićevac (Barone).

The fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797 brought Šibenik under the authority of the Habsburg Monarchy. After World War I, Šibenik became a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, while during World War II it was occupied by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. After WWII it became a part of the SFR Yugoslavia until Croatia declared independence in 1991. During the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995), Šibenik was heavily attacked by the Yugoslav National Army and Serbian paramilitary troops. Although under-armed, the nascent Croatian army and the people of Šibenik managed to defend the city. The battle lasted for six days (September 16-22) is often referred to as the "September battle".The bombings damaged numerous buildings and monuments, including the dome of the cathedral and the 1870-built theatre building.

In an August 1995 military operation, the Croatian army defeated Serbian forces and freed the occupied areas, which created the basic conditions for its post-war recovery and allowed the region to continue to develop as the centre of Šibenik-Knin county. Architecturally, the damaged parts of the city have been fully reconstructed.

Main sights

The central church in Šibenik, the Cathedral of St. James, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Several successive architects built it completely in stone in the 15th and 16th centuries, both in Gothic and in Renaissance style. The interlocking stone slabs of the Cathedral's roof were damaged when the city was shelled by Serbian forces in 1991. The damage has since been repaired.

Culture and events

The annual Šibenik International Children's Festival ("Međunarodni Dječji Festival") takes place every summer.

The composer Jakov Gotovac founded the city's "Philharmonia Society" in 1922. The composer Franz von Suppé was part of the city's cultural fabric, as he was a native of nearby Split.

Population

Šibenik's town population is estimated to be 37,124 as of 2007. [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=-98] In the 2001 census, population of the town was 37,060 while the population of the municipality was 51,553. The majority of its citizens are Croats, with 94.02% (2001 census).

Twin towns

*flagicon|ITA Civitanova Marche, Italy
*flagicon|ITA San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy

Notable people

*St. Nikola Tavelić, first Croatian saint
*Faust Vrančić (Fausto Veranzio), inventor
*Antun Vrančić, writer
*Martin Rota, engraver
*Natale Bonifazio, woodcarver
*Juraj Dalmatinac, architect and sculptor
*Roberto Ferruzzi, painter
*Krešimir Baranović, composer and conducter
*Ester Mazzoleni, opera singer
*Mišo Kovač, singer
*Arsen Dedić, musician
*Niccolò Tommaseo, Italian linguist and journalist
*Roberto de Visiani, botanist
*Angelo Antonio Frari, famous physician, epidemiologist, historian of medicine, and protomedicus of Venice
*Dražen Petrović, basketball player
*Ivo Brešan writer
*Goran Višnjić, actor, best known for his role on "ER").
*Branko Grgić, former president of Hajduk Split
*Perica Bukić, former water polo player and politician
*Maksim Mrvica, pianist
*Ante Rukavina, football player
*Gordon Schildenfeld, football player
*Anthony Maglica, inventor
*Danira Govic, actress
*Kike Govic, Plumber, best known in the village of Jadrtovac

External links

* [http://www.sibenik.hr/ Official Šibenik City Council website]
* [http://www.crotouristica.com/en/Sibenik.adeo CroTouristica.com - Šibenik tourist info]
* [http://www.dobra-pa.hr/gallery_hrv/gal_sibenik.htm Šibenik Foto Gallery]
* [http://www.lemaxc.hr/sibenik/ Šibenik on-line]
* [http://www.nill.cz/index.php?set=sib Historic centre of Šibenik at night - Foto Gallery]