Dazlina: Gradina Stražbenica and Church History

Dazlina can be understood through two historical perspectives: the prehistoric fortified settlement of Gradina Stražbenica and the place’s church history. For planning your trip, these topics can be arranged into two historical periods. The archaeological site represents prehistory; the parish history dates back to the early 13th century.

Gradina Stražbenica: prehistoric hilltop settlement

Gradina Stražbenica is located on the summit of the hill of the same name, at an elevation of 163.2 metres, west of Vedro Polje and the hamlet of Matešići in Dazlina. It is a prehistoric fortified hilltop settlement covering about 0.6 hectares. An elliptical dry-stone wall, approximately 300 metres long, encloses the settlement area. The area measurement describes the extent of the site; the wall length offers a second measure of its fortifications. Surface finds include prehistoric pottery fragments dating to the Bronze Age and/or Iron Age. The terrain, enclosure and pottery thus offer three distinct ways of looking at this site: its location, its construction and its finds.

Parish history and the Church of St Elias

At the beginning of the 13th century, Dazlina is mentioned as a place with its own parish. Until 1522, Dazlina belonged to the Diocese of Skradin; thereafter, it belonged to the Diocese of Šibenik. The Church of St Elias in Dazlina is listed among the landscape monuments that deserve particular attention. Glagolitic was used in church services there.

An account from 2020 describes the feasts of St Elias and St Martin as important parish celebrations and links them to Masses held in churches on the mainland. For the celebration of St Elias, it mentions sung readings outside the church before Mass.

In the wider travel destination of Općina Tisno

In Tisno, the Church of the Holy Spirit was built in 1548 and renovated in the Baroque style in 1640. The Church of St Roch is located on the coast of Tisno, in the area called Rat; it was built around 1651 and measures 13 m × 8.6 m. The history of the bridge is also clearly dated: the old bridge of Tisno was built at the beginning of the 18th century and was replaced by a movable bridge in 1968. The construction, later renovation and bridge replacement were distinct historical events.

The archaeological site at Ivinj is also located within the wider travel destination of Općina Tisno. It includes a three-aisled basilica from the mid-5th century and an early Christian baptistery with a hexagonal basin. Nine hundred graves dating to the 15th century were found next to the basilica. Walls of a Roman villa rustica dating to the 2nd or 3rd century were also discovered at the Church of St Martin in Ivinj. For historical comparison, Gradina Stražbenica in Dazlina represents a prehistoric fortified settlement, while Ivinj brings together evidence from several periods.

Discover more destinations: Betina, Jezera, Tisno and Ivinj.

Go to the wider travel overview: Općina Tisno.