Oosterdam European Adventure, Zadar, Croatia...

 We had a late arrival into Zadar and my plan was to sleep in but those plans were dashed due to scenic sailing along the Dalmatian coast starting at 7am. We arrived early into Zadar and met our guide, Irena. This was our first time to visit the Zadar area so we were excited to see a new area. We drove along the coastal road towards Šibenik stopping at Martinska to see Šibenik from the other side of the coast and Jadrija to see the lighthouse, beach and bath houses. Arriving in Šibenik, Irena made a stop for a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Šibenik was founded by Croats over a thousand years ago, making it the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic. Irena parked the car, and we started our walking tour of the Old Town of Šibenik …this is Irena’s hometown, so she knew the ins and outs of the alleyways and the town history.  We took a leisurely stroll in Šibenik Old Town’s medieval streets. The Old Town is small but has plenty of interesting streets that are filled with charming old stone buildings and pretty squares which have small boutiques, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, museums, old churches and monasteries. The highlight of Old Town was St James Cathedral, a UNESCO heritage site since 2000 which also served as the backdrop of the popular series, Game of Thrones. We could spot the Cathedral’s dome from a distance as it dominates Šibenik’s Old Town skyline. Built over 105 years from 1431-1536 in Gothic and Renaissance styles and considered one of the best examples of medieval architecture. There are a few unique things to note about the Cathedral such as its walls which were built entirely of stone with no mortar or other binding material. On the outside of the walls are 71 sculpted human heads of Šibenik’s residents during the period of the Cathedral’s construction. This was quite remarkable at the time as ordinary people were given recognition for an important development in the city. Due to a wedding and a baptism, the church was closed to visitors…disappointing! The church is located in a lovely setting, the city’s main square, the Square of the Republic of Croatia. Directly across from the church is Šibenik Town Hall, a two-story Venetian-styled building adorned with lovely details and adds a unique element to the medieval square. Before leaving Šibenik, we made a brief stop at the Barone Fortress for great views of the city and surrounding area. The drive back to Zadar was about 1.5 hours…we stopped the at a rest stop overlooking the city of Skradin…a worthwhile stopping point with an amazing view of the Kirka River into Skradin. Today, we uncovered another hidden gem in Croatia and had an absolutely great day with Irena.  Dubrovnik definitely has competition!!!