The town whose symbol is the only Croatian territory never conquered
- by croatiaweek
- in Travel
Senj is a historic coastal town in Croatia, situated at the base of the Velebit mountain range along the Adriatic Sea.
Known for its medieval architecture, Senj has a history which dates back to Roman times.
The symbol of the town, the imposing Nehaj Fortress, is uniquely Croatian territory never conquered by anyone.
“No Venetian lion nor Ottoman horse tail ever flew over Nehaj, and only briefly did the Austrian sword rattle when we were allies. Venetians conquered all of Dalmatia except Dubrovnik and our Senj.
Built in 1551 using stones from demolished churches and monasteries with the Vatican and Pope Alexander’s permission, it was strategically vital for defending Christianity. Named Nehaj, meaning ‘no worry’, it was built to withstand any threat. Today, it attracts lightning strikes,” Professor Blaženka Ljubović told Večernji list.
Nehaj Fortress Senj (Photo credit: KorK/Public domain)
She also ads that while Christopher Columbus was discovering America, in Senj they were already printing books. One such book is the ‘Senjski misal’, thick as a Bible.
“Few know that the Baška tablet, which is a proven fact, was bought in Senj. Weighing 600 kilograms, it was engraved and decorated here, with letters added in Baška,” she also explains.
Baška tablet (Image: Neoneo13/Public domain)
The locals also share a common saying: the shortest Senj sentence has just five letters, “Si i pi,” which translates to “Sit, eat, and drink.”
Senj’s church also holds secrets unknown to most tourists. In the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Perović family crest from 1492, the oldest version of the Croatian state crest, features the first carved white field.
“Allied forces dropped two bombs on Senj Cathedral, and neither exploded! Saint Formosus, on the altar, protects us,” Ljubović concluded.
(Photo: Dans/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Senj has 78 beaches along 76 kilometres of coastline, with favourites among tourists including Škver, Banja, Điga, and Prva Draga.
(Photo credit: Teslaton/CC BY 3.0)
Senj is also one of the sunniest places in the country, and incredibly lively during the summer carnival from 8th to 10th August.
