UNESCO Names New World Heritage Sites in Šibenik & Zadar

2 new sites in Croatia set for UNESCO World Heritage status (photo: Maestralno/planetware.com)

Two historic sites on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast have been named as UNESCO World Heritage Sites today.

One of the most famous sights in Šibenik – St. Nicholas Fortress – and Zadar’s fortified city walls and gates have now been confirmed as UNESCO protected World Heritage sites.

The decision was confirmed at the 41st meeting of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Poland today.

Once the largest city-fortress in the entire Republic of Venice, Zadar’s city defence walls allowed it keep more of its independence than most of its neighbouring cities, and meant that it was never captured by the Turks.

Built by Venetians, the city walls have had several entrances knocked through them at more secure points in Zadar’s history. Today only portions of the walls and eight gates remain.

Zadar’s “Kopnena vrata” (Landward Gate) (Photo credit: Maestralno under CC)

In Šibenik, St. Nicholas Fortress got its name from the Benedictine Monastery of St. Nicholas, which was on the island, but due to the construction of the fortress had to be demolished.

At the request of domestic Croat population of Šibenik, the Venetian captain Alojzije de Canal decided to build a fort on an island of Ljuljevac on 30 April 1525.

The fortress was designed and built by the famous Venetian architect and builder Hyeronimus di San Michaela. The imposing fortress prevented Turkish boats from reaching the port in the 16th century.

St. Nicholas Fortress in Šibenik,(photo credit: planetware.com)

The fortress is one of the most valuable and best-preserved examples of defense architecture in Dalmatia. The fortress is made of brick because this material was considered to be most resistant to cannonballs, while the foundations are made of stone.