Silba is a tranquil island with deep historical roots and serene charm. Silba’s car-free streets, history, architecture, and breathtaking nature offer a peaceful escape. The island, with its maritime past, is known for olive groves and holm oak forests. Viewed from the air, Silba resembles the number 8, with the settlement located in the narrowest part of the island.
Sailing into the island’s peaceful harbors, Mul and Žalić, the absence of automobiles immediately stands out. The island has been inhabited since the Illyrian and Roman times, and its name originates from the Latin word silva which means forest. Here, the past of naval significance and olive groves intertwined with maritime life lives on, even as tourism grows. Silba’s ancient streets, lined with aromatic oleanders, lead to a landscape where time feels slower, but the island’s spirit remains steadfast in its simplicity and beauty.
A Part of the Historic Channel Route
The Channel of Silba is the historical route from the northwest toward Zadar and further to the southeast, and, of course, the other way round. Kvarnerić can be entered either through the Kvarnerička Vrata, the passage between the Silba and Ilovik archipelagos, or from the direction of the open sea, between Premuda and the islet and lighthouse of Grujica. The eastern harbor of Silba is known as Mul. There is also a western harbor called Žalić, where ferries, fast catamarans, fishing vessels and excursion boats dock. Next to it, a smaller harbor accommodates small vessels.
Moorings Behind the Breakwater and Buoys
The locals moor their boats in the harbor of Mul, which also provides moorings for sailors. The Galeb Sport Fishing Society (ŠRD Galeb) headquarters also sit here, and the port authority office lies nearby. Around 15 moorings behind the breakwater serve sailors. Sailboats can moor along the waterfront and must moor fore-to the buoy and stern-to the quay, and small boats can also moor at the northern breakwater.
The little harbor stays protected by a high breakwater wall with riprap, from which the crystalline sea beckons you to take a swim. A little further south, a popular pebble beach, Sotorišće, awaits, so whoever ties up here can take a refreshing swim in the sea whenever they like.
Once a Naval Center
Silba is a small town, especially when compared to Premuda. It is located on a hill, more precisely at a isthmus, where the island is at its narrowest. As soon as you enter, you can clearly see that this place was once an important naval center. It features elegant captains’ and ship owners’ houses, surrounded by small fenced-in parks.
The churches house the tombs of their families. They also contain numerous votive artifacts. Silba has preserved much of this atmosphere today. Despite the tourists and builders who occupy it, Silba still holds on to its traditions. Its little streets lead down toward both the eastern and western harbors, and the air is filled with the intoxicating scent of numerous oleanders.
Silba’s Town Square
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands in the center, with its tall bell tower rising just a little further away. Toward the western harbor stands the Toreta, or Tower of Love. A symbol of love, longing, and the tense anticipation of a loved one’s return from the sea. When in Silba take time to visit the Gallery Marija Ujević-Galetović designed as a park in which the works of famous Croatian sculptor are placed in the open.
When it’s time to eat, you can choose between the taverns Alavija, Mul and Žalić.
Silba’s Maritime and Agricultural Legacy
For Silba, people say that it once had 250,000 olive trees, 6,000 sheep, and an incredible 420,000 grapevine trunks. Moreover, many of its inhabitants were sailors who owned the largest fleet of sailing vessels for exporting meat to Venice. Then, as now, people used the bay of Sveti Ante on the southern part of the island as a safe harbor, and today it also serves as a tourism mecca. Silba is famous for its holm oak (Quercus ilex) forests, the largest of which is around 200 years old and is a protected natural monument, but it isn’t the only one on the island.
The island inhabitants jealously safeguard the environment and nature, as impressively evidenced by the absence of automobiles on the island. The means of transport on Silba is the karić (a small cart with two or four wheels).
The Fragrance of Silba
If you find yourself on Silba, you will want to take something with you as a souvenir. Let it be something that will bring a summer smile to gloomy winter days. The best choices are the local herbs: sage, bay leaves, calendula, immortelle, rosemary, lavender, aloe vera, St. John’s wort, among others.
The biologist and phytoaromatherapist Marija (Mare) Kuljerić will fulfill your wishes in her garden and small laboratory. Following old recipes as well as her own creations, she prepares pomades, salves, and skin care creams from these herbs, without the usual preservatives. She macerates most of the herbs in olive oil. It is fitting that she named her business Miris Silbe (The Fragrance of Silba). She serves regular customers from Slovenia, Zagreb, as well as visitors to Silba.
On the square, you will find Smiljana Matulina Sindičić at her stand. She is a local painter offering various souvenirs, artwork, and a poetry collection about Silba.
Anchorage in Sveti Ante and Papranica Coves
On the southwestern coast of the island is a safe harbor of Sveti Ante. The coves of Sveti Ante in the west and Porat in the south provide Silba with optimal shelter. Both coves are under concession and have a total of around 40 anchored buoys. Owing to the beauty of the coves, the sandy beach in Porto and good shelter, they are popular with boaters.
There is another anchorage in Silba in the cove of Papranica, a mile north of Žalić, where several buoys are also anchored. The cove of Papranica is in walking distance of Silba. Part of the path is shaded by dense crowns of holm oak, while part is at the mercy of the sun. In the cove is the Votive Church of St. Anthony and not far from it, is an old guardhouse. Perhaps this is the best place to conclude your encounter with this beautiful place.
Must-Visit Places
Historical Landmarks
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Bell Tower
Toreta
Gallery Marija Ujević-Galetović
Votive Church of St. Anthony
Cultural Events
Silba Cultural Summer
Experiences Worth Having
Visiting the largest and the oldest holm oak tree
Walking a path from Silba to Papranica Cove
Wathcing the sunset from anywhere on the island
Restaurants and Taverns
Alavija
Mul
Žalić
Clubs and Bars
Cafe Bar Mik
