Paying a visit to the incredible Krka National Park is already a good enough reason (along with the lush landscapes, gorgeous coastline, towering peaks, endless vineyards, and hundreds of islands) to book a vacation rental in Šibenik-Knin County and delve into the immense natural beauty of the region.
This stunning national park is composed of impressive waterfalls, lakes, rivers, forests, hills, and mountains with hiking paths, trails, and boardwalks winding through it all. Rich colours also characterise this lovely landscape with deep green foliage that turns an array of golden hues in autumn, aquamarine water, the white of the frothing falls, and the occasional terracotta of a traditional roof. The result is a landscape that can seem unreal and is as pretty as a painting.
Then, in the midst of this already lovely scenery, one comes upon another picture-perfect sight: right in the middle of the Visovac Lake is the pretty little Visovac Island, topped by a charming monastery by the same name.
Visovac is a small (an oval that measures only about 170 meters by 120 meters), singular island at the centre of a rich blue lake, with the green of the forest-covered mountains and hills around the lake mimicked by the ring of trees around the island. The monastery, meanwhile, is an elegant stone building with terracotta roof and a bell tower. As in the national park at large, the gorgeous colours at play add to the striking nature of this scenery.
Established in the 14th century by Augustinian monks, Visovac began with a small monastery and church that was dedicated to the Apostle Paul and was then later enlarged by Franciscan monks who came to the island in the 15th century. The current iteration that can be seen on the island today, however, actually dates to the 18th century instead.
In addition to being surrounded by immense natural beauty and boasting elegant architecture, Visovac also has an impressive collection of religious paintings and other art, manuscripts, and rare books including one of just three copies of an illustrated copy of Aesop’s Fables dating to the 15th century, a 17th-century sword once owned by a legendary Croatian military leader, and more.
Visiting the island is possible on guided tours or by simply taking the boat from Skradinski buk and Roški slap, which runs from April to October. On Sundays, the Monastery runs vessels for free to and from the island at different points during the day. These boat rides take just over five minutes to reach the island or return.
A visit to the monastery is certainly an intriguing excursion with some surprises but even just taking in the sight of the monastery and the island from the shore while exploring the beautiful Krka National Park is quite the experience. The Krka National Park as a whole is a true natural wonder, something that abounds in the lush and lovely Šibenik-Knin region.
Book a villa in Šibenik-Knin and come for incredible food, wine, pretty historic towns, and the unbelievable natural beauty of the area. For those who have been thinking about a vacation in Croatia, it is a great option with both the types of stunning beaches and coastal areas for which many people know Croatia as well as the lush scenery that those who know Croatia well realise is also on offer.