Tuesday, June 24, 2003

If you wish is to find a spot on Earth where you can escape the everyday chaos and spend some time in surroundings so different from your everyday's, to feel the sea in a proper way, then you need to visit the island of Kaprije. This island, 12 miles away from the county center Sibenik and near two national parks, Krka and Kornati, offers unforgettable summer bathing, crystal clear breath-taking sea, a break in a heavy shade of a Mediterranean pine walk near the sea with that shuffling sound of pebbles and protruding smell of grilled fish. The island of Kaprije is situated in the central part of the Sibenik archipelago with the surface of 9.67km2. It was named after the Mediterranean plant kapara. In the 14th and the 15th ct. the island belonged to the families of the noblemen from Sibenik. During the Turkish invasions in this region in the 16th and the 17th ct., the refugees from the mainland inhabited Kaprije. After the retreat of the Turks, they have partly left the island. That's period when St Peter's church was built. The place is surrounded by the hills among wich the highest is Velika glavica 132m above the sea level. The island vegetation comprises grass and bushes and very rare pine forests. At the foot of those hills there are some smaller fields where mainly olives and grapes are cultivated. Besides the agriculture the inhabitants are also known as skilled fishermen and seamen and lately also, as hospitable hosts. Naturally sheltered from all the winds, on its northeastern side, the port ok Kaprije enables safe berthing to the numerous yachts and to the yachtsmen offers relaxation and good local specialities. As it is well connected with sibenik, besides the seamen, kaprije attracts many visitors and tourists by its beauty, its sea rich in all kinds of fish and its hidden coves. Residents of the island of Kaprije hosted the most unusual guests last week. More then twenty dolphins occupied Kaprije's cove! Those dear animals didn't mind human' company at all so soon many people were swimming near them. Tourists from the nearby yachts hurried to testify this rear occasion, this life-time opportunity... to swim with beautiful dolphins...