The St Anthony Channel in Šibenik

The St Anthony Channel, also known as «the Šibenik Channel», is part of a wider area «Channel – Port», a significant landscape protected in 1974. It is more than 2000 metres long and between 140 and 220 metres wide. It serves as the door of Šibenik to the open sea and as the entrance to the town. The channel represents the place where the river Krka symbolically ends but at the same time it is the place where the river flows into the Adriatic Sea. It can be seen from all parts of Šibenik and while being situated near the city and relatively easily accessible, it has been isolated and unknown for historical reasons.

Alongside its natural beauty that can be seen at a glance and a breathtaking panoramic view of Šibenik, the Šibenik archipelago and St Nicholas Fortress, the channel protects numerous cultural and natural values.

At the entrance to the channel you can see the ruins of some old towers built in the 16th century, next to which there used to be an iron chain which prevented enemy ships from entering the Šibenik port. While following the steep cliffs towards the exit of the channel, you encounter an attractive undersea tunnel which was built by the Yugoslav Army. The tunnel was dug into the bedrock and it is several hundred metres long. In its immediate vicinity there is an old pier and a cave in which there was a small church dedicated to St Anthony. Towards the exit of the channel the steep cliffs are replaced with some beautiful coves inviting you for a swim and relaxation. On the eastern side of the channel, just in front of the cove and Škar Beach, the Yugoslav Army built a military complex comprised of barracks, warehouses, jetties and related infrastructure. These objects are abandoned but they have tremendous potential.

At the exit of the channel towards the open sea there is a pearl among Venetian fortifications – St Nicholas Fortress. This fortress, almost completely surrounded by the sea and largely preserved in its original form, is one of the most attractive fortifications in the Adriatic.

The natural value of the channel is associated with its geomorphological features and typical Mediterranean vegetation. Most of the vegetation has been destroyed by numerous fires over the past several decades, so its restoration is one of the project activities.