Airport and transport – Šibenik (11 km); airports in Zadar (around 63 km) and Split (around 70 km); connection with Ancona (Italy).
History – First settlement in the prehistoric age; founded already in the Roman times as Arausa; an important merchant route pass through this area from Nadin to Zadar; first time mention in 15th century; named by the nearby drinking water springs.
Interesting to see: fortified walls (around 15th century); St. Cross’ church (15th century); on the nearby hill Okit refugees founded a settlement and on its top the chapel Lady of Mercy (17th century); parish church in the town centre (18th century).
Info – experts and tourist organizations considered it to be at the top of Croatia’s tourist offer (special for every generation, for its tourist facilities and offered entertainment); around 12,000 inhabitants; nearby are 2 national parks (River Krka and Kornati) and one nature park (Lake Vrana – the biggest lake in Croatia – 30 km2, rich with freshwater fish) and endless sandy, pebbly, rocky or concrete beaches (long coastal path that goes west all the way to Tribunj and south-east to Srima).
Happenings: rich cultural and artistic programme.
Where to go out: famous night clubs and discos, hundreds of restaurants and pubs.
For sailors:
City harbor (Orientation: tall hotel Punta (SW from where during the night burns the light of long range); the bell-tower of the local church and on the head of the breakwater is a lighthouse (with red light)): exposed to bora (very strong during the winter) and jugo (blows strongly and is followed by increasing sea level); shelter from all winds is in marina (NE from the city harbor). Shallow: 1 m E from the entrance in the harbor (marked with unenlightened isolated danger mark that during the night cover overshadowed sector of the port light). Bert: (vessels with draught of up to 3 m) can berth in quarter mooring along all the inner side of the harbor’s breakwater (on which head is the red port light); (during bora and jugo) from the outside of the mole on the part where is no breakwater. Anchor: (bigger vessels) between the port and the cape St. Luce on the island Prvić (depth is up to 20 m). Warning: anchorage is exposed to bora and jugo.
ACI Vodice: sheltered from all winds (with two breakwaters); entrance (a little bit) NE from the lighthouse. Warning-shallow: in front of the entrance (marked with unenlightened red and black mark with two balls on the top), recommendation: rounding from SW side. Warning: approach by night is difficult.
