Croatia

I had been here in 2009 and was fascinated by the view. So I tried to take a photo from the same spot three years later.

...where the road ends.

Sv. Martina, the church dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, is surrounded by a graveyard. The single nave church with three apses may have erected within the 10th century (some scholars say 6th). It got severely damaged, when it got shelled twice by the Serbian artillery during the Croatian War of Independence in the first half of the 1990s. Meanwhile the church is rebuilt.

Sv. Martina, the church dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, is surrounded by a graveyard. The single nave church with three apses may have erected within the 10th century (some scholars say 6th). It got severely damaged, when it got shelled twice by the Serbian artillery during the Croatian War of Independence in the first half of the 1990s. Meanwhile the church is rebuilt. Excavated next to the church are the foundations of a octogonal baptisterium. This may be indeed date back to the 6th century. The location seems unusual. The baptisterium maybe older than the church. In most places I saw so far the baptisterium was located west of the church, as only baptised persons could enter the church through the (western) portals. Still today baptismal fonts are placed mostly in the western part of a church.

I do not know exactly, where this chapel is located, nor do I know the name. I had passed through Benkovac a center hostilities between Croats and Serbs during the 1990s-War. It was part of the "Republic of Serbian Krajina", before it was reconquered by Croation troops in 1995. There were still many ruins ... When I found this chapel, I stopped and finding out that it was fenced in, I just climbed over the fence . The chapel locked. I took many photos, walked around - and then climbed back over the fence. When I turned back I saw two signs "Keep Out! Landmines!. A smaller one read "Mines" and had "skull and crossed bones". I was shocked. I was so horrified, that I left immidiately, and forgot to take any notes. I just had to flee...

Biograd na Moru is a hotspot for yachties.. The yacht-harbour, seen from the window of my room...

The Soline Bay

During the summer months, the beaches around Biograd for sure will be crowded. It will be loud, kids will play soccer and there will be the strange smell from suntan oil. In October there were no tourist here. In the early evening the scenery seemed to be a symbol of emptiness.

Just after the sunset, the street lights are switched on in Tkon, a village on the island of Pašman, opposite Biograd na Moru.

Night has fallen over Biograd na Moru, now a small town with a population of about 5000. Once this town was the royal capital of Croatia. Norman Princess Felicia of Sicily, the eldest daughter of Count Roger I of Sicily, disembarked here to marry the Hungarian King (and ex-Bishop) Coloman I (aka "Coloman the Bookish"), who became King of Croata, when in 1102 he was crowned here by Biograd Bishop Bono.

It may well be, that the word "vegetarian" does not really exist in Croatian language. This is a multi course dinner for two guests, served on a silver platter. I needed two Slivovitz after that.

"Art nouveau" had even reached the small villages in Dalmatia..

Sibenik has a long history and was given the status of a town in 1167 from Stephen III of Hungary. From 1412 to 1797 Sibenik was part Republic of Venice. In 1895 the first power plant, planned by Nikola Tesla, started operation, making Sibenik to one of the first towns in Croatia, which were illuminated by electricity. The erection of the "Katedrala sv. Jakova" began in 1431, when the older Romanesque cathedral was transformed. It was completed in 1536 and is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The first master, who worked here, was Zadar born Giorgio da Sebenico (aka "Juraj Dalmatinac"), born in Zadar. The work was completed by Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (aka "Nicolas of Florence").

The Cathedral of Saint James (Katedrala svetog Jakova). Built between 1431 and 1555.

Sibenik has a long history and was given the status of a town in 1167 from Stephen III of Hungary. From 1412 to 1797 Sibenik was part Republic of Venice. In 1895 the first power plant, planned by Nikola Tesla, started operation, making Sibenik to one of the first towns in Croatia, which were illuminated by electricity. The erection of the "Katedrala sv. Jakova" began in 1431, when the older Romanesque cathedral was transformed. It was completed in 1536 and is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The first master, who worked here, was Zadar born Giorgio da Sebenico (aka "Juraj Dalmatinac"), born in Zadar. The work was completed by Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (aka "Nicolas of Florence"). The cathedral has a fantastic dome over the crossing. In 1991, during the shelling of Sibenik, the dome was severely damaged. Meanwhile it is repaired to the old beauty. Nikola Tesla would probably have loved the streetlamp, clearly a symbol of progress.

Sibenik has a long history and was given the status of a town in 1167 from Stephen III of Hungary. From 1412 to 1797 Sibenik was part Republic of Venice. In 1895 the first power plant, planned by Nikola Tesla, started operation, making Sibenik to one of the first towns in Croatia, which were illuminated by electricity. The erection of the "Katedrala sv. Jakova" began in 1431, when the older Romanesque cathedral was transformed. It was completed in 1536 and is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The first master, who worked here, was Zadar born Giorgio da Sebenico (aka "Juraj Dalmatinac"), born in Zadar. The work was completed by Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (aka "Nicolas of Florence"). A frieze of individual portraits lines the wall of the apse.

Sibenik has a long history and was given the status of a town in 1167 from Stephen III of Hungary. From 1412 to 1797 Sibenik was part Republic of Venice. In 1895 the first power plant, planned by Nikola Tesla, started operation, making Sibenik to one of the first towns in Croatia, which were illuminated by electricity. The erection of the "Katedrala sv. Jakova" began in 1431, when the older Romanesque cathedral was transformed. It was completed in 1536 and is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The first master, who worked here, was Zadar born Giorgio da Sebenico (aka "Juraj Dalmatinac"), born in Zadar. The work was completed by Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (aka "Nicolas of Florence"). The northern portal is called the "Lion Gate", as Adam and Eve are standing on two lions. This is very similar to the portal of the Trogir Cathedral and probably refers to this. The portal is a work of Giorgio da Sebenico, who actually even sign his work in Sibenik. The signature is not near the portal ... I did not find it. Yes! Eve has a navel!