Location:
Silba (island), Zadar archipelago (Dalmatia, Croatia) - distance: 30 nautical miles area/acreage : 15km 2 length: 8, 5 km , highest peak “Varh“ (80 m)Some facts:
1st inhabitance, 2nd century A.D. Silbljani (Silbenjani) – famous seamen, remarkable mariners, marvelous ships – Marselijane, Manzere ("manzere" ,ital. manzo – ox, and "kastere" ,ital. castrato – ram) once famous for local products: wool, grapes, sheep and goat cheese, fishery a Peronospora epidemic destroyed most of the island’s wineyards (19th cent.) successful resistance against the Italians (Mleci) naval tradition (ships: marsiljane, manzere/-as) and pirate attacks (17th cent.) The uprise of the steamships (Lloyd´s steamship company) made an end to the famous Silba naval tradition. St. Joseph : patron saint of the island In the 18th cent. Silba was called "Small Venice". TORETA – is the most well known symbol of Silba. It is a hexagonal tower with outer spiral stairs near the local post office (15 m high, used as a viewpoint). In the 19th cent. the Toreta was erected by captain Petar Marinić. Legend says that it was in memory of an unforgotten love, instead of her he married her daughter after 20 years of continuous sailing. The Silba King (Lord Mayor) was reelected every year, between the 26th of Dec and the 6th of Jan (1st to be chosen after the Silba inhabitans managed to buy the island from a wealthy local tadesman). mediterranean climate and vegetation – beautiful sand and pebble beaches – christal- clear sea water - the refreshing “Maestral” wind – 23°C average temperature – no hotel, but acceptable private accomodation – nice restaurants an “Konobas” – friendly inhabitans – main port > Žalić (ferry-connections from Zadar, see links)
The so called three “guardian towers” – the islands Premuda, Silba and Olib – protect the Zadar coast and archipelago since ancient past (2nd cent. A.D.). Inhabited primarily at first by the Romans, Silba is probably the most known of the three – famous for its naval tradition. The famous Silba Manzeras and their fearless captains endured many years of turkish, pirate and italian attacks as well as trade blossomed in that times. Still, things had to change – the Lloyd’s steamship company (18th cent.) forced many Silba mariners to leave tradition behind and join the newcomer. The Manzeras became s part of the mediterranean past, the beautiful captain’s houses remained abandoned on shore, since many of their inhabitans left for the Americas in search for a better life. Once famous for their grapes, olives and woll - the Peronospora eventually made a brutal end to this part of agricultural tradition too. What was to remain were beautiful, untouched natural beaches, prescious landscapes – rarely to be seen in such an unchanged form. In constant search for more “national gems”, almost restless, I discovered this beautiful Croatian island. I decided not to surrender to “exotic turist destinations” almost screaming at you from multicoloured pamphlets. There is still much more to discover in Croatia and I am only lucky to be able to enjoy it so easily. Alain de Botton (The Art of Travel, 2002 ) suggests, to try discover things one reckons, that one already knows rather than looking for the “unknown”. I followed his remark and I in the end was astonished by what I experienced! More I am not going to reveal.
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