Inhabited since the ancient times, the settlement of Grebaštica is very rich with numerous remains of the Roman times on this area. The witnesses of that period of Grebaštica’s history are the building remains, as well as the stone cover of the Roman sarcophagus found in the local graveyard nearby the churches of St Mary and St Peter.
There are also remains of the chapel of the Holy Spirit found nearby the peninsula of Oštrica. The chapel dates back to the 17th century and it was used as an altar where the cattle was sacrified in honour to God every year in June.
The most important cultural sites of the area of Grebaštica are anyhow the medieval defensive wall located on the peninsula of Oštrica and the parish church of St Mary and St Peter. Both cultural sites are today protected by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia.
The defensive wall or often called “the Chinese wall” on the peninsula of Oštrica was built in 1497. The construction of the wall constructed for protection from the frequent Turkish attacks was financially supported by the Venetian doge Agostino Barbarigo. The wall extends from one side of the Oštrica peninsula to the other one and it is 6-9 m high and 60-80 cm wide.
Originally it was used as a shelter from Turkish invasions, afterwards as a quarantine for those sick of plague. During the 17th century the Turkish danger diminished, so the defensive wall as one of two defensive Venetian fortifications lost its importance. Later the inhabitants of Grebaštica used the wall as a shelter from the pirate attacks done by British ships passing, and the complete function the whole construction lost in the first half of the 19th century.
Today the wall is considered the main symbol of the settlement, and the peninsula of Grebaštica is, besides the fortification, known for the habitat of moufflons living there.
The parish church of St Mary and St Peter is a double sacral object functionally connected. The church of St Mary is the northern, and the St Peter church southern object. Both churches are made of stone.
The St Peter church is built in the 15th century by one of the first architects of the UNESCO cathedral of St James in Šibenik, Antonio Busato. In the 17th century the St Mary church was constructed next to the church of St Peter church in the place of the former church constructed in the 15th century that was probabily burned by Turks.
OVAJ PROJEKT SUFINANCIRAN JE SREDSTVIMA EUROPSKE UNIJE
Europski poljoprivredni fond za ruralni razvoj
Edukativna šumska staza “Oštrica”
Udio u sufinanciranom dijelu: …% EU, …% RH
Europski poljoprivredni fond za ruralni razvoj: Europa ulaže u ruralna područja
