Silba, an island in Zadar area, is a hidden treasure of Croatia which inspires to visit by its unusual name. Who would say it’s in Croatia? Spreading at only 700 m at its tiniest part, Silba is a destination which lives a pure fantasy.
Beside the nickname „the door of Dalmatia“, Silba got its name by latin word for forest- silva. Being the second most wooded island is the rare fact to know about Silba. At the west, the channel of Silba surrounds the island and at the east the channel of Olib. The neighbourhood island Olib inspired the name.
If you’re visiting Zadar during the summer, don’t miss the chance to discover Silba.
Other Croatian islands worth visiting: Krk, an island full of history
Brač, island of olives and artistic stone;
See also: Amazing miniature island around the world- car-free, but inhabitated;
A bit of history of Silba
From the 9th century Silba belongs to the district of Zadar. Before taking the rule of the monastery St. Maria in Zadar during the 11th century, Silba holds the dominion of the Venetian Republic.
The real blooming starts mostly in the 15th and 16th century. Marko Ragusin from Veli Lošinj becomes the owner in the 19th century and afterward it comes to the hands of Silba people. Significant day in the history of Silba is March 19th 1852., celebrated today as the Day of St. Joseph. The news of buying the island inspired this significant change. At this day the locals were organizing the elections for king, whose power lasted 12 days.
Silba today
Nowadays, Silba counts around 1200 citizens and in winter mostly 300.
Two ports frame the entrance to this lovely island: Mul at the west and the newer one- Žalić. Mul as the main port unveils the story of Silba. It’s not allowed to use cars at Silba, not even bycicles at the period of high season. It’s only possible to have bycicles at the district parts. The postman’s moped passes sometimes. Trolley are used to transport the luggage and other things from the port.
Silba enjoys the reputation as an island of children because children can freely move on its paths. There are many producers of cheese and wine at Silba, even the natural cosmetics. Homemade art in all forms is also available almost at every corner in Silba. The creativity displays miracles thanks to the deep love for Silba. Silba is a wise inspiration for everyone, depicting a wide range of simple things that would satisfy every taste.
Attractions of Silba
Toreta is the symbol of Silba, the 15 metres high round tower with spiral stairs. Marinić tower or the Tower of love are other names. So close to the center and the main port Mul, Toreta deserves the charm. The beautiful sunset awaits you at Toreta, together with panorama of emotions. Some of them include the complete protection, readiness to embrace the world and feeling of being loved.
Toreta is not only the adorable views to the nearby islands, Olib and Premuda or even Lošinj. Conveying the incredible love story, Toreta describes the island.
The story of Toreta- the Tower of Love at Silba
It’s the story of captain Petar Marinić, who came back to his island after the years of sailing. In the meantime, he requested to build this tower in the 19th century. The main reason was that his adolescent love could see his boat coming back.
Unfortunately, Antonia Mauro forgot about this and married to another after so many years. Her daughter Domenika Rasol was the one that Petar Marinić married when she grew up. At the first sight upon arrival, Marinić recognized the resemblance of his old love.
This happy story stays at the tower’s panel. The tower was an ideal place for them to watch the open seas. Upon my arrival to Silba, remote and somehow full of peace, it was so fun to see this tower. Having the name of my father’s friend, Petar Marinić shows that life is sometimes full of similarities.
Other historical buildings at Silba
Other buildings on Silba that bring history and memory, but not usage are the old windmill and an old well. Amazing and similar object is the sculpure of sails from1997.
Interesting to know is that Silba covers even 6 churches, though in history there were even more. They are beautiful, but only one is really in process.
Events at Silba
Silba is indeed a rewarding place to visit. You can merge yourself into the net of wonderful colours of possibilities, serving to the local community and perceiving more. During my visit, it was enough just to dance on the main square at the concert. Listening to the lady we met on boat offered the pure amusement.
Silba Environment Art is an association that connects summertime with the constant activities. Not only in the summer, but the whole year through Silba brings people to cooperate. Since 2010. this art organization brings the world closer to local people or those willing to visit.
Cultural summer of Silba
Cultural summer of Silba is such an example, educating or making Silba a better place environmentally. Only enjoying art in all possible and desirable ways is fascinating. Such events open the eyes, asking a contribution to the world from all.
Cultural summer of Silba organizes concerts, artistic workshops and projections of films. The inspiration belongs to the Liburnia film festival in Opatija or Smaragd Eco Film Festival. The Festival of Mediterranean film in Split also deserves an honour.
The knitting workshop enjoys extreme popularity. Learning how to sing while playing is an attractive workshop.
The ecological activities at Silba
Garbage Epic Art collects the garbage from beaches and brings it into new usable shape, including the musical instruments. Recycling thus makes Silba a place of gratitude and wonderfull solutions.
SOS Silba Off Season takes projects to bring value of the island and help the local citizens.
Silba deserves the title of an eco-island. Not only sport happenings confirm that, but also the food offer. The touristic offer improves with this fact. Certainly, having no cars on the island goes in favour of having the ecological way of living. Taking into account all pluses and minuses, sounds like a good tale to live on a place like this. Where you can freely walk and enjoy every corner of a beautiful island and still be in the center of happenings is a fantastic plan. It is the fact and speciality of Silba that gastronomic offer comes directly from this small island.
Artistic inspiration of Silba
It’s possible to explore your artistic spirit and share your works through residential stays of artists, since 2012. Happening not only in the summer, it includes all forms of art, particularly music and film. Exploring is the essence of creation, together with nature and mediterranean spirit.
Silba is a place where art flows like sea around it. For years it is an inspirational spring for artists, yet the legendary Branimir Štulić wrote here many of Azra songs.
The importance of island life- example of Silba
Islands have to be considered with special care. Silba is thus the part of the Movement of the islands, the project that takes sustainability the main chain together with the common solutions. Solutions are not always the same but the problems are.
Being on island as such is a great opportunity to discover yourself and Silba is a place where magic comes alone. It is a place where occasional meditational retreats come to happen. It is the silence that captures.
Beaches at Silba
It is amazing to have a swim at one side of an island in the morning and then in the afternoon enjoying the colours of the opposite side. To take a jump where the boat comes is exciting as it is to watch the ships. Yet in the evening on the main beach Šotorišće on the south side you can relax with the dancing rhythm of the local bar. It is a beautiful beach partly made of concrete and partly of stone. Even the ice cream at the local pastry which is only 5 minutes away is something you have to take because of that fact.
It is even more amazing that Silba has 16 registrated beaches. Do you still wonder is it worth visiting such place where you can enjoy heavenly peace at so many beaches reachable by foot?
Where to stay and how to come
The accomodation at Silba is mostly at apartmans and rooms, such as this-Silba Otium– which is perfect for the groups;
To Silba it is possible to come either from Zadar with katamaran or ferry, either from Mali Lošinj. There is a line once a day:
Final thoughts
Sometimes where foreigners ask where to go in Croatia that is not so crowded and still rich in history, Silba is the place. It is a place to rest in the perfect sense. Some of my greatest holidays were here and I still want to explore it more. It is so easy to make friends here or it seems so, to be lost in the middle. The most I am amazed with handmade art, with paintings that appear at the corners of such a small island. Silba is so domestic and wonderfull, full of life and peace. Silba is a place to discover in and out, and not just in summer. It is a spring of wisdom and hope.
A little piece of paradise, rich in history sounds like my kinda place. Thank you
While Silba had a lot to offer and would be near perfect outside of high season we found it too crowded this August. It had a lot of different events which were great but the crowds were just as busy as anywhere else in Croatia outside of the main 5 tourist hotspots. The beaches near the ports were very crowded as was the bars (we unsuccessfully tried 4 different times to get a seat at the main bar). The main high season gripe was they need to get their act together on the recycling. We just got back from there and the week, the 10 or so recycling areas for cardboard, plastic, metal and glass dotted across the middle section of the island were hugely overflowing, so much so I went out one morning to find a lot of bottles had blown into the ocean. I took them out and put them back onto the massive piles but I am sure the same thing would be there the next day. A local said they collect twice a week but the week we were there nothing was collected and it looked really bad as some people had just dumped their general rubbish onto the piles. They don’t seem to be bothered about using plastic bags and single use bottles as they were everywhere, to make this a real eco island they need to cut down on the plastics. It also has a big mosquito problem so come prepared, the other islands were not this bad and much cleaner even with the cars I found. The no car rule is great but we saw two people on electric scooters (the standing type) zooming around, they need to ban those. The had a lot of music around which was great and the water was really nice for swimming. The bars and restaurants in the middle of the island were the best for getting a seat and had the least amount of mozzies. I would highly recommend the island outside of July and August
Thanks for the detailed feedback..