PHOTO: JAVNA USTANOVA NP KRKA
Precious archeological sites

Biskupija

Biskupija is the most important archaeological site of Croatian national history and the largest medieval archaeological site in Croatia. Archaeological findings from that area date from the late 6th and the early 7th centuries to the 11th century- the period when Croatian people created their first state entity and accepted the Christianity. Paintings from this period, the recognizable ornaments and inscriptions are the foundation of Croatian national identity. Saint Mary's Church is where the earliest representation of Virgin Mary in the Croatian art was found. On its foundations, based on the draft of Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović, a memorial church was built between 1937 and 1938.

Burnum

Hidden in the wild of the Dalmatian highlands, inhospitable stone overgrown with maquis, lies a pearl of classical history, the Roman military camp of Burnum.

It was built at the transitionfrom the old to the new era, at a position from which the Roman Empire could control the crossing over the Krka River. it was once the camp of the 11th and 14th legion of the Roman army. Visitors can see the arches of the headquarters of the camp, the only military amphitheater in Croatia, and several walls of the drilling grounds. What were once the weapons, tools and objects of everyday use of the soldiers, and later civilian inhabitants, are today part of the archaeological artifacts on display in the archaeological collection Burnum in Puljane.

Kapitul

The Kapitul is an archaeological site located south-east of Knin, one of the starting points for the development of Croatian archaeology. Archaeological explorations carried out in late 19th century led to the discovery of Roman and Early Croatian monuments of great importance. Historical documents mention the royal Benedictine monastery with St. Bartholomew's church, built in the 10th century. In the 13th century, the eponymous cathedral was built on the foundations of the monastery and was actively used until the 16th century, when Knin was occupied by the Turks. A large number of Early Croatian and late Mediaeval graves were discovered on this site, complete with finds such as earrings, spurs, and rings.

Podgrađe

At the foot of the Knin fortress, just along the road from the old town, Knin town and the church of St. Joseph leading to the Knin fortress on the left, situated a few years ago discovered, medieval residential complex Podgrađe.

Villa Rustica in Orlić

In the village of Orlic located in the extension of the Diocese, at 11 kilometers from Knin, there are archaeological remains of the Roman villa from the 2nd century. Today, it’s only possible to see the underlying architectural remains of the residential and economic area of the Villa. Inside the villa, a valuable mosaic has been found, as well as the underlying walls of economic premises, bathrooms and pools. Otherwise, rustic villas are residential and farm buildings which are usually built on land that they received your old Roman officers.