The cultural and historical heritage of Sukošan

It is not know the exact period of settlement of Sukošan located only 10 km south of Zadar. But its unique geographical position in a protected bay called „Zlatna luka“ (Portus aureus), the still visible ruins of the rustic villa on Barbir, the Illyrian fortress on Vrčevo and old roman waterworks (Vilinski zid) indicate the possibility that this place was settled during the Roman ruling of the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Unfortunately, the first written proof mentioning Sukošan as a settlement dates from the year 1289, so that we have no knowledge of its prior existence.

THE CHURCH OF ST.CASSIAN

The church of St Cassian is the parish church situated in the old village. This is today a beautiful church built in stone with Romanesque and baroque details having this form since the 12th century but according to many historians, a more modest version even before the first written testimonial (1289.) existed. In favour to this goes the assumption that the name of the place has its origin in the name San Cassian.

Many years later, in the 20th century, a belfry according to the design of the famous architect and conservator Ćiril Iveković was built next to it. The people of Sukošan are especially proud of the beautiful sound of the bells which even today have an important role in the everyday life of the people. The yard of the church surrounded by a big stone wall „Ispod kampanela“(Under the belfry) becomes a unique stage during the summer where year after year concerts of „klape“(Dalmatian harmony-singing groups) are being held. The Feast of the St. Cassian, patron saint of Sukošan, is celebrated on August 13th when worshippers go around the town in a procession carrying the statue of the saint.

Saint Cassian (lat. Sanctus Cassianus, tal. San Cassiano) is a saint rarely honoured by our people. He lived during the reign of Diocletian in times of huge persecution of Christians. He was a distinguished Roman and Christian. As a bishop, he was first banished from Tirol where he taught the Gospel and later, around the year 300, from Rom. He continued to teach the young and children in Imola. The Roman reign didn't like that and asked him to renounce his teachings and bring sacrifice to the Roman idols. Cassian refused to that and the judge convicted him. The children and the young he taught the Gospel, stabbed him to death with their styluses. That is how Cassian bore his martyrdom for Jesus Christ in the year 302. The Christians in Imola buried him in their city and immediately started worshiping him as a saint and later he became the heavenly patron of the region of Tirol.

THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARTIN

If you reach Sukošan from the highway, you'll see on a hilltop over the vineyards and olive groves the small church of St. Martin which used to be the parish church of the medieval village of Prljane.

The edifice of a Romanesque style is located in the area of Kaštelin. The church was first mentioned in 1387 and it witnessed the troubled history of this area and it was completely destroyed several times. The last time was during the Croatian War of Independence by the end of 1991. The local people and the war veterans are convinced that St. Martin protected them during the troublesome period and restaurated the church which was inaugurated on November 11, 2005, on the Feast of St. Martin. The holy mass is celebrated in the church on this day every year.

THE SUMMERHOUSE OF THE ARCHBISHOP - PALAC

The beauty of the bay of Sukošan and its mild climate are best represented by the summer villa of the archbishops of Zadar – Palac, built on an islet in the middle of the bay by the end of the 15th century, where the prelates spent their summers. Its humble ruins are the only reminders today but nevertheless point out its grandiosity. The church was built under the direction of the archbishop of Zadar Matheo Valaresso in 1470.

It was a rectangular two-floor palace of monumental dimension and the most significant example of rustic architecture. During the Siege of Candida it served to protect the people of Sukošan of the Turkish invasion.

Today it is the symbol of our place and our trade-mark. It is an especially beautiful sight to see it in the sunset. In the summer months you can reach the place by swimming.

THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MERCY

The church is located in the centre of the old village opposite from the Upper Gate (Gornja Vrata) on the square. It was built in 1650 during the Siege of Candida and the plague, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary as an expression of gratitude for protecting the place of the plague.

It is also a testimony of the centuries old connection of the people of Sukošan with the Virgin Mary who protected them during troubled times.

The church has inbuilt loop holes which make us conclude that it also served as a protective edifice in front of the town's gate.

Interesting are also the door-posts, two pre-Romanesque epistyles. These are reliefs from the 9th and 10th century and are undoubtedly originally from the St. Cassian's Church.

There used to be a cemetery around the church.

THE UPPER GATE (Gornja Vrata)

This used to be the entry, i.e. the exit of the fortified Sukošan and these are also the visible ruins of the protection walls that the place was surrounded with built by the Venetian authorities in 1468-1470 with the purpose of protecting the place and the people.

THE COAT OF ARMS OF ZMAJEVIĆ

Across from the summerhouse Palac, on the edifice called „the Bishop's palace“ standing today unfortunately abandoned, you can find a wonderful example of Croatian heraldry, the stone-carved coat of arms of the archbishop of Zadar Vicko Zmajević.