About Sinj, Croatia:
The Town of Sinj is located in the heart of Croatia, ( often referred to as Dalmatia), roughly 18 miles (30 km) from the Adriatic Sea. Surrounded by mountains, Sinj is situated at the edge of the fertile Sinjsko Polje Valley. The ruins of the old castle are at the top of the mountains as seen in the photo.
Not just a place of interest, but also the location of an annual event.
Catholic places of interest in Sinj, Croatia:
Basilica of the Miraculous Madonna of Sinj.
Dedicated, as you might expect, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Basilica of the Miraculous Madonna here in Sinj is a beautiful church reflecting the rich Catholic heritage of Sinj.
Traveling to the Basilica of the Miraculous Madonna in Sinj, Croatia:
Address: Fratarski prolaz 4, 21230, Sinj, Croatia
Phone: +385 21 707 010
Click here for the official website of the Basilica of the Miraculous Madonna in Sinj, Croatia.
The Stations of the Cross:
A votive church was erected on top of the fortress on the 200th anniversary of the migration of the people of the Cetina region from Rama to Sinj. In front of the church is a statue of the Virgin Mary, the work of sculptor Josip Marinović, whose solemn and majestic gaze watches over Sinj and its surroundings.
The Way of the Cross has been here since 1996, and a path for it was built in 2001. In the same year, fourteen renowned Croatian sculptors were commissioned to create life-size bronzes representing the fourteen Stations of the Cross.
Annual festivals in Sinj, Croatia:
The Alka: “The Knights Tournament of Sinj”
The Knights Tournament is held in honor of the city’s heavenly patroness the Madonna of Sinj. According to tradition, in 1715 700 knights of Sinj were victorious over the Ottoman army, which was almost 100 times their size, and gave the glory of the victory to the Madonna: “a woman in white was seen, walking on the walls of Sinj”. The battle ended with a victory and the Turks were forced to flee.
The victory and heroism of the people of Sinj in this battle were praised in Venice to the extent that the Venetian authorities had a painting of the battle of Sinj painted at the Doge’s Palace in Venice.
As an eternal vow of devotion and respect, the people of Sinj instituted the Alka – the knights tournament of Sinj, and thus each year on the first Sunday in August the glorious victory is remembered
The Alka squires march along in the procession, together with their leader (harambaša). The Alkari, dressed in the early 18th century authentic knights attire of Sinj defenders, ride richly decorated horses. On their right side, they are armed with a lance and a sabre. To be an Alkar, one has to have been born in the Cetinska Krajina Region, be hawk-eyed and have a strong right hand (oko sokolovo i čvrsta desnica). Above all, he has to be an honorable and honest man.
The Tournament of Alka originated at the time when there were many similar knightly tournaments throughout Europe. All of them have now fell into oblivion, except the Alka Tournament of Sinj, which is at the dawn of its tercentenary and under protection of UNESCO as world intangible heritage. The Alka Tournament is a symbol of the struggle for freedom, peace and hearth, for faith and hope. It unites the past and the future, praises the honour and integrity, the customs of our ancestors, heroism and bravery.
In 1818, Emperor Francis I of Austria, accompanied by his wife Empress Caroline, paid a visit to Sinj. The Alka, the knights tournament of Sinj, was held on that occasion in honor of the Empress. The Emperor was delighted about the Alka to the extent that he decided that from then on the winner should be presented with the sum of 200 kroner from the Empire Treasury. It has been recorded that Francis I presented a valuable diamond ring to the then winner of the Alka. He also gave an imperial banner as present to the Alka Knights Tournament Society.
Up until 1820 the Alka was held on the Shrove Tuesday. In 1908, on the occasion of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Emperor and King Francis Joseph’s rule, the Alkari and the Alka squires were his guests at Vienna. Francis Joseph I was himself present at the Alka of Sinj during his 1875 visit to the Town. The then Alka was held solemnly in honor of his visit. In 1842 the solemn Alka was held honoring the visit of Francis Joseph’s father, Archduke of Austria Francis Charles, to Sinj.
Every year, at the first August weekend, the streets of Sinj become a living display of revived history of the small town and the Cetinska Krajina Region. As the Region’s greatest wealth is its history, its revival is not reduced to a mere imitation of ancient times. Both history and its revival are unique and authentic. The Knights Tournament of Alka has been the embodiment of a local history.
isations.
The Alka Tournament of Sinj is not a celebration of one’s culture superiority in relation to another. On the other hand, it was instituted in appreciation of the Virgin Mary’s help during defence of Sinj, but not as a deed of triumphalism. Since cultural exclusivism has not been a feature of the Alka of Sinj, the Tournament’s oriental component has established its importance as a historical ″document″ of value.
The Basilica was built during the 1699-1712 period and dominates the main square of Sinj. it has preserved its original appearance, despite having been damaged many times during wars and earthquakes.
The Image of the Miraculous Madonna of Sinj takes the central place in the church. It is a work of an unknown painter, dating back to the 15th or 16th century. With her head slightly tilted and eyes lowered, she has devotedly watched over her people, ever since they, driven off by the Turks, brought her along from Rama as the greatest treasure and hope to the Cetinska Krajina Region. Legend has it that in 1715 Sinj was once and for all delivered from Turkish rule with the help of her miraculous influence.
In token of gratitude, the people of Sinj crowned the Image in 1716 with a golden crown, on which there is an inscription reading IN PERPETUUM CORONATA TRIUMPHAT – ANNO MDCCXV (Triumph in eternal coronation – the year of 1715). The Image is nowadays silver-framed, with a relief of Sinj fortress on the back (by the sculptor Ante Jakić), adorned with votive offerings of worshippers.
In addition to the Madonna’s altar, in the Church there are altars of St Joseph, St Francis, St Anthony, St Nicholas Tavelić and St Paulin.
A stone altar, the work of the academic sculptor Kuzma Kovačić, stands out in the presbytery, as well as stained-glass windows made by the academic sculptor Anton Vrlić. Above the entrance door, there are stained-glass windows showing Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the images of Father Pavao Vučković and St Nicholas Tavelić.
The side walls of the nave show the works of the academic painter Ivan Grgat, these being the images of evangelists, Blessed Alojzije Stepinac and Venerable Ante Antić. Behind the main altar, there are a mosaic and a stained-glass window showing the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ on the cross, the work of the academic painter Josip Botteri Dini.
In the inner church courtyard, there is a bronze relief by Kuzma Kovačić, showing the Image of the Madonna of Sinj crowned with twelve stars. The relief is the same as the detail on the door of the Franciscan church at Šćit in Rama.
Traveling to Sinj, Croatia:
The nearest major city is Split, Croatia, about 20 miles south of Sinj. There is regular bus service from Split to Sinj. And, of course, Split has an airport as well as ferry service from other parts of Croatia as well as Italy.