One of the first things that visitors see when entering Šibenik by road is the silhouette of St Michael’s Fortress, which crowns the pyramidal hill above Šibenik’s Old Town. Its importance to the Croatian state is illustrated by the number of times that 11th-century Croatian kings brought their court here – Petar Krešimir IV in 1066, Zvonimir in 1078, and Stjepan II in 1080. It was during Krešimir’s visit that Šibenik was first mentioned in official documents, which explains why the city is sometimes known to this day as “Krešimir’s Town”.
Its floor plan has the shape of an irregular rectangle. There are two square towers on its eastern side whereas two polygonal towers sit along its northern front. Throughout history, the fortress had been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, and it experienced its greatest suffering in 1663 and 1752. Archaeological investigations inside the monumental complex have found numerous remains of material culture dating from prehistoric times to the late Middle Ages.
Running downhill from the fortress towards the seafront are a crenellated set of double walls built in the 15th century to provide access to the sea.
Centuries on and despite its majestic yet turbulent past, St. Michael’s Fortress stands proud as a true landmark of the city, an unavoidable destination of cultural tourism and of utter national significance. Nowadays and after extensive reconstruction, the fortress serves a different purpose; it has become a summer stage for various cultural and in particular musical events thanks to its natural beauty and location.
Also, the two underground cisterns from the 15th century have been turned into time machines that take you through the centuries of Šibenik. Witness the most important events from the creation of the city until today, thanks to 3D mapping technology. Be sure to check their website and social media for updated working hours.