Today is all about Šibenik. We are heading up the hill to check out the 3 fortresses right here in town. The 3 fortresses (plus a fourth found at the entrance to the harbour) worked in concert to repel any invaders.

Why do they always build fortresses at the very top?!

First up, St. Michael’s Fortress. It just happens to be the closest – a whole 7 minutes away from our hotel. Some say without this fortress there would be no Šibenik. This fortress got it’s name from the church that located within it’s walls. Basically built in the 1400s when the Venetians were in charge of the area. It’s most recent addition is the open air stage. You never know who’s going to show up!

Next, Barone Fortress, named after Baron Christoph Martin von Degenfeld who oversaw the construction of the fortress. In 1656 this fortress, as well as the next one we visit, St. John’s Fortress, was built in just under 2 months to repel the Ottomans. They finished them just in time since they Ottomans attacked later that same year. We both found the Augmented Reality experience here really well done to tell their story.

Finally, Saint John’s Fortress. Built upon the location of St. John’s medieval church from the 1400’s, After the first unsuccessful attack from the Ottomans in late 1656, they came back for more the next year and put the city under siege for a month. 7,000 defenders stood fast against 25,000 Ottoman attackers.

A lunch break where I crushed it at Crazy 8’s and split the Crib games (pretty impressive considering the hands I was getting).

Then we’re back into Old Town to see what’s what. Funny enough – Sundays in October and it’s mostly churches that are open in Croatia. You’ll have to take our word for it – felt a little awkward to wander into evening mass to take some pictures.

Finishing the day off with another beautiful sunset overlooking the water, and where I befriended one of the local restaurant cats.

There’s something about Šibenik that draws you into the town. It’s not like we haven’t seen churches, town walls, stone walkways before (everywhere we’ve been for the past weeks have all of these). Šibenik is somehow different, drawing us in and taking more pictures.