St. Michael's Fortress

St. Michael's Fortress, locally known as Tvrđava svetog Mihovila, lies in the town of Šibenik, in the county of Šibenik-Knin in Croatia.

St. Michael’s Fortress is located in the heart of the old town of Šibenik, Croatia, on a 70-meter-high hill overlooking the sea. It is the city's oldest fortress and played a key role in its early development.

The site of St. Michael's Fortress, a 70-meter-high hill overlooking the town and the sea, has been used since prehistoric times. Pottery fragments, Roman artifacts, and early medieval remains have been found on the hill. Šibenik was likely first mentioned in a charter from 1066, written here.

In 1116, the fortress, then under Byzantine control, was strong enough to be described, probably admiringly, as “unconquerable” by the Venetian duke, who nonetheless destroyed it during a campaign.

The current structure was developed in the late Middle Ages. By the 15th century, St. Michael’s served as Šibenik’s main stronghold. A long defensive wall connected the fortress to the sea. Under Venetian rule, access to the fortress was tightly controlled, and women were prohibited except for the castellan’s wife. The fortress housed a garrison, an armory, and a church dedicated to St. Michael.

In the 1540s, the Venetians feared an Ottoman seaborne attack on the town. They then built the island fortress of St. Nicholas' Fortress at the entrance to the narrow St. Anthony Channel in front of the town. It is easily visible from St. Michael's.

St. Michael’s Fortress lost its military importance in the 17th century. During the Cretan War between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, the Venetians built two new forts in 1646, St. John's Fortress and Barone Fortress, to better defend the town. In 1663, a lightning strike caused a massive explosion in the gunpowder magazine, killing over 40 people and damaging much of the western side and the church. Another explosion occurred in 1752. The damage was never fully repaired.

Parts of the old castle were restored in the 19th century, and a signal station was added in 1911. Archaeological excavations took place in the 20th century. The site was fully revitalized in 2014.

Today, St. Michael's Fortress is open to visitors and serves as a cultural venue, hosting concerts and exhibitions. From the walls, visitors enjoy stunning panoramic views of Šibenik and the Adriatic. When I visited, a rock band was rehearsing for a concert later that evening, making for a very enjoyable visit. The town itself is also well worth visiting.

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