Discover Ostrovica

Ostrovica offers points of interest for a trip shaped by history, the local landscape and natural scenery. If you are looking for a hotel in Ostrovica, the following topics can help you get to know the destination: from a prehistoric settlement on Gradina to the Mačkov kamen viewpoint. You can also distinguish these from the broader cultural context of the Municipality of Lišane Ostrovičke.

Historical traces in Ostrovica

On the Gradina in Ostrovica, the remains of a prehistoric Liburnian settlement can be found on a plateau. Another architectural landmark is the rural settlement complex with the ensemble of buildings at Kvarcina Castle. Bačkulići also has remains of traditional buildings. Together, these places point to different aspects of local history: the prehistoric settlement on the plateau and the rural complex with its traditional buildings.

The Church of St Luke is an Orthodox church with a cemetery. The Church of St Anthony served as a military chapel; soldiers’ graves, including those of foreigners, were found around it. This connects the site with a specific chapter of military history. On 13 June, the Feast of St Anthony of Padua was celebrated at the Church of St Anthony in 2020 and 2024. If a future feast date matters for your trip, check the date in advance.

Fortress and views at Mačkov kamen

The medieval Ostrovica Fortress stood on Mačkov kamen. Its strategic position made it possible to control routes linking the areas of Zadar and Nin with Knin and Skradin. Some branches of the Croatian noble Šubić family ruled the fortress for the longest time. This historical context also makes Mačkov kamen interesting to travellers curious about the region’s former power structures and routes.

Mačkov kamen is also a point on a hiking trail and a viewpoint. From there, you can see Ravni kotari, Lake Vrana, the Šibenik archipelago, and Ostrovica and Lišane. The fortress’s historical significance thus sits alongside the present-day views of the landscape. If you plan a specific hike, check local access conditions in advance.

Landscape and culture in the wider destination of the Municipality of Lišane Ostrovičke

One local landscape feature is the Otres stream, which flows through the field. Traditional songs and dances are also kept alive in the wider destination of the Municipality of Lišane Ostrovičke. These include the “Lišanska misa”, a religious folk-singing tradition related to the secular singing of the area around Lišane. These cultural traditions belong to the wider destination.

During the Kukulešće, men and women hold hands and dance in a circle. They place their feet firmly on the ground and jump to the rhythm played by the cvitare musician. Cvitare are harmonica-like instruments that were played in Lišane during circle dances. Diple and svirale, or dvojnice, are also traditional instruments of the wider destination: diple are played with six fingers and made from specially treated goat or sheep skin. Svirale, or dvojnice, are wooden shepherds’ instruments with two pipes; the right one plays the melody and the left one provides the accompaniment.

Another historical landmark in the Municipality of Lišane Ostrovičke is the parish church of St Nicholas Tavelić in Lišane Ostrovičke. It was built between 1975 and 1977 as a votive shrine, to plans by architect Vinko Galić, and consecrated in 1978. The construction period and consecration give this church its own distinct timeframe within the region’s cultural history.

Getting oriented for your trip

The Zadar–Benkovac–Kistanje–Knin road and the Zadar–Knin railway line run through the Municipality of Lišane Ostrovičke. The “Pirovac” motorway junction on the Adriatic Motorway is 15 kilometres from the municipality. This information provides an overview at municipal level; check train services and road conditions for your specific journey.

Whether you are primarily interested in the fortress, the views or cultural history when planning your trip, you can give each topic a different focus without confusing them with one another.

Discover more destinations: Mali Iz.

Go to the wider travel overview: Zadar County.