St Nicholas Fortress Sibenik

The Fortress of St Nicholas stands on the island of Ljuljevica at the mouth of the channel of St Anthony, the narrow sea approach to Šibenik, and it was built to stop any enemy fleet reaching the city. It is a Venetian fortress of the mid-16th century, a round, low, artillery-proof platform in the sea, designed by the fortress builder Michele Sanmicheli, and it is the most striking of Šibenik’s fortifications.

The fortress was manned into the modern era and then left, before being restored and opened to visitors. In 2017 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Venetian Works of Defence”, a transnational listing of 16th-century Venetian fortifications, alongside Šibenik’s three landward fortresses.

Because it sits in the channel, the usual visit is by boat from Šibenik’s waterfront, which is also the best way to see its round form. The terrace gives views back along the channel and out to the open sea, and the interior holds a small exhibition on the fortress’s history.

For photographers, the round platform against the water is the image, best from the deck on the approach or from the Šibenik side at sunset. Check boat times before you go; access is by organised trip rather than a casual drop-in.

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