Landmark· Šibenik (mainland)· Croatia — Dalmatia
Šibenik Old Town & St James Cathedral
43° 44.1′ N · 15° 53.3′ E
Šibenik's stone old town climbs the hill above the waterfront in a maze of steps and lanes. At its heart is the Cathedral of St James, built of stone between 1431 and 1536 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Look for the frieze of carved human faces that runs around the outside of the apses.
Practical
Coordinate is the cathedral (OSM way 162544749) on Trg Republike Hrvatske, a couple of minutes up from the riva (waterfront). The cathedral is built from limestone blocks fitted without mortar; Juraj Dalmatinac and later Nikola Firentinac led the work. Allow half a day for the old town, the cathedral and one of the hill forts. From D-Marin Mandalina, take a taxi or the water taxi; there is no long-stay yacht quay in the old town worth relying on. Boats to St Nicholas Fortress leave from the same waterfront. Wear good shoes: the lanes are steep and polished.
Best for
A half-day ashore from Mandalina; the cathedral and old lanes
Season
All year; hot and crowded midday in Jul-Aug, go early
Nearby
- St Michael's Fortress (Šibenik)0.1 NM away
- Barone Fortress (Šibenik)0.3 NM away
- Šibenik City Market0.3 NM away
- D-Marin Mandalina (Šibenik)1 NM away
- St Nicholas Fortress & St Anthony's Channel1.7 NM away
- Zlarin Harbour3.2 NM away
- Faust Vrančić Memorial Centre (Prvić Luka)3.9 NM away
- Krapanj Harbour (Brodarica)4 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).