Every year on 29th September, Šibenik celebrates Šibenik City Day (Dan grada Šibenika) together with the Feast of St Michael (blagdan svetog Mihovila), the city’s patron saint. We are of course taking a special interest in Šibenik, it being the destination for our 2027 Croatian Language and Culture Course.

St Michael has long been an important symbol of Šibenik. His image appears on historic buildings around the city, while St Michael’s Fortress (Tvrđava svetog Mihovila) stands on the rocky hill where medieval Šibenik first developed. The fortress overlooks the old town and the Adriatic and was once at the heart of the city’s defences. Today, it is one of Šibenik’s best-known landmarks and an atmospheric open-air venue for concerts and cultural events.

Šibenik holds a distinctive place in Croatian history. Unlike many towns along the Adriatic coast that originated as Greek or Roman settlements, Šibenik developed as an intrinsically Croatian city. Its name first appeared in the charter of King Petar Krešimir IV in 1066, so this year’s series of events has been labelled “Šibenik 960”, and this early connection with a Croatian king is an important part of the city’s identity and history.

This year’s celebrations include a week-long programme of events leading up to the day itself. On Saturday 26th September, musicians from Šibenska narodna glazba and visiting bands set off from Poljana Square, played as they marched along the city streets and gathered outside St James’ Cathedral before the main performance at Trg Republike Hrvatske at noon. That evening the final of the 27th Šibenik Klapa Evenings took place. On the day itself, the main religious celebrations feature a procession towards the old town centre, and a Mass by St James, Cathedral. Traditionally, on City Day there is free entry to St Michael’s, Barone and St John’s fortresses.

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If you can’t be there in person, the next best thing is to watch on the live webcams: sibenik – LiveCamCroatia, Explore Croatia

The main city square has been the subject of a major redevelopment and won the 2021 BIG SEE Architecture Award: Poljana Square, Šibenik – BIG SEE 

For more on St Michael and the Fortress named after him: Saint Michael in Šibenik

For more on Šibenik in general: Visit Šibenik – Official Tourist Information

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Useful Croatian Phrases For Šibenik City Day 
[Šibenik is pronounced She-ben-ick]

Danas je Dan grada Šibenika.
Today is Šibenik City Day.

Sretan Dan grada!
Happy City Day!

Sretan blagdan svetog Mihovila!
Happy Feast of St Michael!

Šibenik slavi svoga zaštitnika.
Šibenik is celebrating its patron saint.

Jeste li već bili u Šibeniku?
Have you been to Šibenik before?

Šibenik ima bogatu povijest.
Šibenik has a rich history.

Pogled s tvrđave je prekrasan.
The view from the fortress is beautiful.