Only five cities around the globe have two UNESCO World Heritage monuments. Sibenik is one of them. The United Nations grants this special status to sites with significant cultural, historical or scientific importance. Places such as the Great Barrier Reef, Acropolis, Taj Mahal, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Westminster Abbey, and our own country’s Grand Canyon and Yosemite are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The fact that the small town of Sibenik has two spots on the list of world treasures is extraordinary.
Sibenik is also the oldest town in Croatia. Tossed back and forth between the Venetian Republic, the Byzantine Empire, and the Austrian-Hungarian Dynasty, the town is a medieval treasure trove for architecture. It’s no wonder that Game of Thrones chose Sibenik for filming as its labyrinth alleyways make for picture-perfect Hollywood sets of Gothic, Byzantine and Renaissance splendor.
The St. Nicolas Fortress is one of the coveted UNESCO sites. Located on a small island protecting the entrance to Sibenik’s bay, this fortress is one of the best preserved on the Dalmatian coastline. The Venetians built St. Nicolas in the 16th century to fend off maritime attacks by the Turks. Shaped like an arrow, with a seemingly impenetrable exterior protected by 32 cannons, the fortress was designed to send a “don’t mess with me” vibe.
The Cathedral of St. James is the other UNESCO gem. The church was initially conceived to be a simple one, however, several successive Italian architects over a period spanning more than 100 years turned the building into something far from simplistic. The end result was a perfect fusion of Gothic and Renaissance.
Wine-Knows will visit Sibenik on this September’s private yacht tour of
the Croatian coastline. There are still
one or two spaces left on the September 2-9 week (the week of 9-16 is old out
with a waiting list).
https://www.wineknowstravel.com/croatia-itinerary/
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