View source for Silba

{{Short description|Island of Croatia}}
{{For|the Danish NGO of the same name|Support Initiative for Liberty and Democracy}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Silba
| image_name       = File:Sotorišće.jpg
| image_caption    = Sotorišće bay on Silba
| image_size       = 
| image_map        = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=1|zoom=8}}
| map_caption      = 
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = 
| location         = [[Adriatic Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{Wikidatacoord|Q13294|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = 
| area_km2         = 15
| highest_mount    = Varh
| elevation_m      = 80
| country          = Croatia
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| country_admin_divisions       = [[Zadar County|Zadar]]
| population       = 292
| population_as_of = 2011
| density_km2      = 20.46
| ethnic_groups    = 
}}
[[File:SilbaLandsat.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Satellite image]]
'''Silba''' ({{IPA|sh|sîlba|pron}}) is an island in [[Croatia]] with an area of 15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>,<ref name="Duplancic-Cala-Ujevic">{{cite journal |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/9636 |title=Coastline lengths and areas of islands in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea determined from the topographic maps at the scale of 1 : 25 000 |journal=Geoadria |location=[[Zadar]] |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=5–32 |date=June 2004 |last1=Duplančić Leder |first1=Tea |last2=Ujević |first2=Tin |last3=Čala |first3=Mendi |doi=10.15291/geoadria.127 |format=PDF |access-date=1 December 2019 |doi-access=free |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021090159/https://hrcak.srce.hr/9636 |url-status=live }}</ref> northern [[Dalmatia]], south-east of [[Lošinj]], between the islands of [[Premuda]] and [[Olib]]. It has a [[Mediterranean climate]] with 2570 hours a year of sunshine. Most summer days are hot, bright and clear with light westerly [[Mistral (wind)#Maestral or maestro in the Adriatic|maestral wind]] cooling the island in the afternoons.

Silba has an area {{convert|15|km²|0|abbr=out}} in the shape of number 8, with the village of Silba located at the narrowest point in the middle. It takes only around 10 minutes to walk the 600 m from the north-eastern harbour of Mul to the south-western harbour of Žalić.

Officially, Silba's population is 292,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv/censuses/census2011/results/censustabsxls.htm |title=Popis stanovništva 2011 |access-date=2014-02-27 |archive-date=2015-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430134222/http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv/censuses/census2011/results/censustabsxls.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> but it varies seasonally; from a few hundred, mainly pensioners, in the winter, to several thousand during summer months. Many have jobs and properties on the mainland. There is also an influx of tourists during the summer months as tourism is now the main economic activity on the island. The whole island is a pedestrian zone, no traffic is allowed with the exception of vehicles supplying the local businesses.

[[Zadar]] is Silba's mainland administrative center; it is part of the [[Zadar County]].

==Geography==
The island has numerous small beaches and coves. The main public beach Sotorišće, located close to the harbour of Mul, has very clear shallow waters with sandy bottom. On Žalić, there are a number of pebbly beaches and a pier. Ships carrying passenger and commercial traffic dock here.

There are a number of coves outside the village that can be reached by footpaths. On the southern side of the island, at walking distances of about 30–45 minutes, are:

* '''Vele Stene''', the only point on the island where the shores are steep and rocky.
* '''Port Sv. Ante''', favoured with yachtsmen because it is protected from major winds.
One can also view a small chapel on the side of the bay.
* '''Dobre Vode''', a beach with shallow sandy bottom.
* '''Nozdre''', a big cove with characteristic flat rock formations cut out by the sea.

[[File:Small bay on Silba island, Croatia (48670355096).jpg|thumb|left|Uvala Pernestica viewed from a [[wikt:zawn|zawn]] on its north shore. Characteristic of the north of Silba.]]
On the north side of the village is the highest point on Silba, Varh (86m). The northern shore is less accessible than the southern due to rocky shores, however, there is a path leading north out of the village to the small port of Papranica. Further on along the path, about an hours walk from the main village, is a cove Pernastica which is considered one of the nicest coves on the island. It faces westwards towards the sunset and has a long shallow sandy bottom.
[[File:Silba - Toreta.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Toreta|Toreta - iconic observation tower on the island of Silba]]

One of the symbols of Silba is the "Torretta Marinich", a hexagonal observation tower, 15 m high, with an external spiral staircase. It was built by the Podestà, Captain Pietro Marinich (1816-1897), in the garden of the family house built in 1872, then accompanied by the chapel consecrated in 1894. It is in the centre of the village right on Veli Put - Silba's High Street. The village has several cafés, four restaurants, a number of shops, post office and a local GP. From any point in the village it takes only around 10 min or less to walk to the nearest beach.

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1 = Školjić (Silba).jpg
| image2 = Pličina Škar (Silba).jpg
| footer = Islets and shallows of Silba. Školjić on the left, Škar on the right.
}}

{{multiple image|perrow = 3|total_width=300
| image1 = Uvala Lojišće.jpg
| image2 = Luka Papranica (Silba).jpg
| image3 = Bujusna uvala (Silba).jpg
| image4 = Čarpusina uvala (Silba).jpg
| image5 = Žalić (Silba).jpg
| image6 = Uvala Pocukmarak.jpg
| image7 = Uvala Ugljenica (Silba).jpg
| image8 = Anchorage at Sveti Ante bay on the Silba island in Croatia (48608698547).jpg
| image9 = Uvala Južni Porat (Silba).jpg
| image10 = Mavrova Uvala (Silba).jpg
| image11 = The south end of the Silba island with a view to the Olib island, Croatia (48608190778) (cropped).jpg
| image13 = Uvala Slatina (Silba).jpg
| image14 = Uvala Nozdre (Silba).jpg
| image15 = Kadetova Uvala (Silba).jpg
| image16 = Sotorišće (Silba).jpg
| image17 = Luka Silba.jpg
| image18 = Zaniska Uvala.jpg
| image19 = Draga (Silba).jpg
| footer = Bays of Silba. Clockwise from upper left: Uvala Lojišće, Luka Papranica, Bujusna Uvala, Čarpusina Uvala, Žalić, Uvala Pocukmarak, Uvala Ugljenica, Luka Sveti Ante, Uvala Južni Porat, Mavrova Uvala, Uvala Dobra Voda, Uvala Slatina, Uvala Nozdre, Kadetova Uvala, Sotorišće, Luka Silba, Zaniska Uvala, Draga.
}}

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1 = Rt Pocukamarak (Silba).jpg
| image2 = Mavrov Rt (Silba).jpg
| image3 = Rt Marta (Silba).jpg
| image4 = Rt Karf (Silba).jpg
| footer = Capes of Silba. Clockwise from upper left: Rt Pocukmara, Mavrov Rt, Rt Marta, Rt Karf.
}}

==Climate==
Since records began in 1981, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station was {{convert|37.1|C|F}}, on 8 August 2013.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-07-19 |author=DHMZ |title=Najviše izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja |url=https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn&param=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=najvise_temperature_zraka |website=Državni hidrometeorološki zavod}}</ref> The coldest temperature was {{convert|-7.5|C|F}}, on 4 February 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-01-21 |author=DHMZ |title=Najniže izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja |url=https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn&param=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=najnize_temperature_zraka |website=Državni hidrometeorološki zavod}}</ref>

==Important Bird Area==
The island is part of the northern [[Zadar Archipelago]], which has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports breeding populations of several species of fish-eating [[seabird]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url=https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/24001 |title=North part of Zadar Archipelago |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024 |website=BirdLife Data Zone |publisher=BirdLife International |access-date=27 August 2024 }}</ref>

==History==
The old name for this island is ''Selbo''. It's supposed to come from the Latin word "Silva", meaning "forest". The island Silba is mentioned in historical records in the 9th century. In 827, it belonged to the [[Zadar]] county. In 1073, in the last year of [[Peter Krešimir IV of Croatia|Petar Krešimir's]] reign, probably at the request of his sister Cika, the first nun of St. Maria in Zadar, the county donated the island to the monastery St. Maria, at the ceremony of sacrament of their church (some say this happened in 1027). Later, the island fell into the hands of the [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] authorities, which sold it to captain Fani Soppe for 12,350 [[ducats]].

It is not known how it later came into the ownership of Venetian family ''Morosini''. Silba was held by family ''Morosini'' until the first quarter of 19th century. As it was too far to govern and receive tax on yield in nature they agreed with inhabitants of Silba in 1770 to receive each year 2000 [[Venetian lira]] in rent. Silbans called this rent ''četvrtina'' (quarter), as it amounted to a quarter of the land's yields, which is what serfs elsewhere also gave to their masters.

In 1838, for 28,500 Austrian lira, family Morosini sold the island to Marko Ragusin from [[Losinj|Veli Lošinj]], who returned wealthy from United States.

As Silbans paid rent to previous owner in currency, they assumed they will do the same to the new landowner, but since he lived in Lošinj, near to Silba, he refused and demanded a quarter of land's yield in crop. A lawsuit ensued which lasted for 13 years when Ragusin finally decided to sell the island to these same inhabitants who bought it, each paying proportionally to the size of their plot, in total 5,025 [[thaler|bavarian thalers]]. On 19 March 1852 ownership of the island by inhabitants was registered. It became the island's main holiday, day of [[Saint Joseph]].

In the 18th century Silba had a fleet 38 three-masted sailing boats called ''Manzere'' of 220 [[Tonne|Mt]] and 60 two-masted sailing boats called ''Kastrere'' of 63 [[Tonne|Mt]]. The fleet was destroyed by the [[Illyrian provinces|French]] at the beginning of the 19th century. The economic benefits to the island from sailing boats led to general well-being on the island. An old local saying goes: ''Silba zlatom siva, i u njoj se raj uživa'', that is: "Silba shines with gold, on it heavenly enjoyment".

There used to be a custom of "village king" elections. The king would get elected on [[Saint Stephen's Day]] (26 December) and his rule would last until [[Three Kings]] (6 January). During his twelve-day rule, he would preside, crowned and surrounded by twelve councillors, over village gatherings and deal out justice. His task was to name the village head, the head and members of village guards, close the previous year's budget and plan the next year's. He would hand down verdicts regarding the complaints and disputes that had accumulated during the year. This custom died out in the first quarter of the 19th century. The king's crown still exists in the treasury of the parish church.<ref>Jurić, Ljubimir. Silba (1910) (reprint 1991: Društvo za zaštitu prirode Silba)</ref>

In 1943 Silba was the scene of a naval action during the [[Adriatic Campaign of World War II]].

==Further reading==
A bibliography of Silba was published in 2021.<ref>{{harvnb|Bošković|Novak Penga|2021}}; {{harvnb|Vejmelka|Tomić|Vigato|2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite journal |date=1985-12-01 |first=Aleksandra-Sanja |last=Lazarević |title=Tradicijska prehrana na otocima Silbi i Olibu (Pokušaj interdisciplinarnog pristupa) |pages=61-70 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/80266 |journal=Etnološka tribina |issn=0351-1944 |volume=15 |issue=8 |language=sh |trans-title=Traditional Food Consumption on the Islands of Silba and Olib: an Interdisciplinary Approach}}
* {{cite journal |date=1999-12-04 |first1=Berislav |last1=Šebečić |first2=Boris |last2=Šinkovec |first3=Mladen |last3=Trutin |title=Donjopaleogenski boksiti Vinišća, Ugljana, Silbe i Oliba |pages=17-26 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/13429 |journal=Rudarsko-geološko-naftni zbornik |issn=0353-4529 |volume=11 |issue=1 |language=sh |trans-title=Lower Paleogene Bauxites of Vinišće, Ugljan, Silba and Olib}}
* {{cite web |date=2010-04-30 |first=Ivica |last=Vigato |title=Stranci u silbenskim matičnim knjigama iz 17., 18. i prve polovice 19. stoljeća |language=sh |trans-title=Foreigners in Silba Registers in the 17th, 18th, and the first half of the 19th century |pages=223-265 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/51944 |journal=Folia onomastica Croatica |eissn=1848-7858 |issue=18}}
* {{cite thesis |date=2020-11-16 |orig-date=defended 2020-09-25 |first=Lovro Krešimir |last=Goričanec |publisher=[[Sveučilište u Zadru]] |title=Antička topografija otoka Silbe |url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:162:107865 |location=Zadar |language=sh |trans-title=The topography of Silba in Classical Antiquity}}
* {{cite journal |date=2021-12-21 |first1=Jadranka |last1=Vejmelka |first2=Marijana |last2=Tomić |first3=Ivica |last3=Vigato |title=Prikaz knjige Bibliografija radova o otoku Silbi autora Ivana Boškovića i Helene Novak Penge u izdanju naklade Bošković |pages=215-220 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/268144 |journal=Čakavska rič |eissn=1849-1081 |volume=44 |issue=1-2}}
* {{cite book |date=2021 |first1=Ivan |last1=Bošković |first2=Helena |last2=Bošković |publisher=Naklada Bošković |title=Bibliografija radova o otoku Silbi |isbn=978-953-263-656-7 |location=Split |series=Posebna izdanja |volume=29}}
===Name===
* {{cite journal |publication-date=1950-06-15 |date=1949 |first=Milan |last=Šenoa |title=Prilog poznavanju starih naziva naših otoka |pages=75-82 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/56375 |journal=Hrvatski geografski glasnik |issn=1331-5854 |issue=11–12 |language=sh |trans-title=A Contribution to Learning the Old Names of Our Islands}}
===Anthropology===
* {{cite journal |date=2018-12-29 |first1=Vlatko |last1=Mićković |first2=Ivan |last2=Karlak |first3=Jelenko |last3=Lazić |first4=Zoran |last4=Lončar |first5=Marina |last5=Domijan |first6=Goran |last6=Sirovatka |title=Harmonic Structure of Selected Ergonomic Anthropometric Sizes |pages=281-286 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/218715 |journal=Collegium antropologicum |eissn=1848-9486 |volume=42 |issue=4}}
===Archaeology===
* {{cite journal |date=2011-10-04 |first=Zdenko |last=Brusić |title=Ranosrednjovjekovni nalazi iz hrvatskog podmorja |pages=243-255 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/73174 |journal=Archaeologia Adriatica |eissn=1848-9281 |volume=4 |language=sh |trans-title=Early Medieval Finds from the Croatian Undersea World}}
===Economy===
* {{cite journal |date=1983-12-01 |first=Mladen |last=Tomljenović |title=Ribolov na Silbi |pages=45-48 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/80138 |journal=Etnološka tribina |issn=0351-1944 |volume=11-12 |issue=4-5 |language=sh |trans-title=Fishing on Silba}}
===Geology===
* {{cite map |date=1909 |first=Lukas |last=Waagen |section=6253: Selve |url=https://opac.geologie.ac.at/ais312/dokumente/gk6253.pdf |title=Geologische Spezialkarte der im Reichsrate vertretenen Königreiche und Länder der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie 1:75.000 |location=[[Vienna]] |language=de}}
* {{cite book |date=1914 |first=Lukas |last=Waagen |title=Erläuterungen zur Geologischen Karte der im Reichsrate vertretenen Königreiche und Länder der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie: SW-Gruppen Nr. 114 und 117a, Selve und Zapuntello (Zone 28, Kol. XI, und Zone 29, Kol. XI in Spezialkarte der Österr.-ung. Monarchie im Maßtab 1 : 75.000) |url=https://opac.geologie.ac.at/ais312/dokumente/6253_Selve_Zapuntello.pdf |location=[[Vienna]] |language=de}}
* {{cite journal |date=1927 |first=Otakar |last=Matoušek |title=The Dalmatian Island Silba and its Geology |pages= |journal=Věstník České akademie věd a umění |issn=1802-5765 |volume=27}}
* {{cite journal |date=2013-02-28 |first1=Alan |last1=Moro |first2=Vlasta |last2=Ćosović |title=Upper Turonian–Santonian slope limestones of the Islands of Premuda, Ist and Silba (Adriatic Coast, Croatia) |pages=1-13 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/124252 |doi=10.4154/GC.2013.01 |doi-access=free |journal=Geologia Croatica |eissn=1333-4875 |volume=66 |issue=1}}
===Parish===
* {{cite journal |date=2025-01-27 |first=Oliver |last=Modrić |title=Prijenos i zbrinjavanje gradiva župnih arhiva u Arhiv Zadarske nadbiskupije |pages=109-124 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/327026 |doi=10.58565/vda.5.1.5 |doi-access=free |journal=Vjesnik dalmatinskih arhiva |eissn=2806-8459 |volume=5 |language=sh |trans-title=Transfer and storage of materials of the parish archives to the Archives of the Archdiocese of Zadar}}

===Ornithology===
* {{cite book |date=2013 |first1=Jasmina |last1=Mužinić |first2=Jenő J. |last2=Purger |publisher=[[Sveučilište u Zadru]] |chapter=Ptice otoka Silbe i obližnjih Grebena |pages=120-131 |chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259641323 |title=Otok Silba, prirodno i kulturno blago |isbn=978-953-331-028-2 |location=Zadar |language=sh |trans-chapter=Birds of island Silba and nearby Grebeni}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Silba}}
* [http://www.tzsilba.hr/en/ Silba Tourist Office]
* [http://www.silba.net/ Silba Tourist Office - old site]
* [http://www.silba.org/ Silba Online]
* [http://silba.aventin.hr/ Silba - information & photos (in Croatian, English, German, Italian, French and Spanish)]
* [https://www.hawlina.com/teksti/bibliografija_silbe.htm Bibliography of Silba] by Peter Hawlina
* [https://silbenske.blogspot.com/2013/06/bibliografija-silbe.html Bibliography of Silba]

{{Islands of Croatia}}
{{Inhabited Islands of Croatia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islands of Croatia]]
[[Category:Islands of the Adriatic Sea]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Croatia]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Adriatic islands]]
[[Category:Landforms of Zadar County]]
[[Category:Car-free islands of Europe]]