Vodice, Croatia

thumb|280px|The Blue Beach

Vodice (, lit. in Croatian 'small waters') is a resort town in the Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia. It borders the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 8,649 (2021 census).

Former village transformed in the second half of the 20th century into tourist destination, with peak popularity during the 2000s, when it was regularly among the most visited Dalmatian destinations.

Geography

Vodice is located in a wide bay, 11 km northwest from Šibenik, 85 km from Split, and 62 km southeast from Zadar. It is close to the highways M2, E65, and A1. Zadar Airport is 48 km and Split Airport 60 km away.

History

Prehistory and antiquity

First mention

Turkish invasion and plague

Modern period

In 1891 Vodice separated from Tisno municipality and became an independent municipality (obćina), encompassing Pišća, Okit, Rakitnica, Dražice, Tribunj, Stajice and Vrbice. In the mid-19th century there were 1500, and in the early 20th century 2500 inhabitants.

With the establishment of the independent Republic of Croatia in the 1990, Vodice acquired city status.

On August 30, 2007, twelve firefighters died in attempts to localise and stop eruptive fire on the island of Kornat. Five of them were members of Voluntary firefighters society Vodice (DVD Vodice), others were from Šibenik and Tisno. This tragedy is known as "Kornat tragedy" (Kornatska tragedija).

Population

Urban population more than doubled between 1948 and 2011. Population density is higher than 100 people/km<sup>2</sup>.

In 2011, approximate age of residents was 43,1. There were 20,6% of young (0–19 years) and 28,1% of old people (60+ yrs).

Čista Mala, population 132
Čista Velika, population 405
Gaćelezi, population 181
Grabovci, population 75
Prvić Luka, population 148
Prvić Šepurine, population 252
Srima, population 864
Vodice, population 6,592

Economy

Thanks to favourable position and richness in springs of drinking water (Vodice meaning 'waters'), Vodice became intersection of trade routes, atracting tradesmen, seamen, fishermen, peasants, armies and travellers, especially with area being venue of fairs (on which locals sold and traded cattle and field crops, while islanders offered fresh or processed fish), even before the first mention of the name Vodice. Furthermore, until the 19th century Vodice were known for the export of the drinking water, while the wells (bunari) built for this purpose become gathering places of people and centers of social events.

History of the Vodice fields

Several kilometers north of Vodice there are two fields, Rakitnica and Gradelji/Pišća: Rakitnica has an old fort named Gradina on the hill and down the hill it has three wells and a pond, recently a Roman terracotta masonry has been excavated there. This field is most known for the small church of Saint John, damages from the Patriotic 1991-95 war can be sen, the grassland near it is known for having 1 May celebrations every year. Gradelji/Pišća has old walls on the top of the hill, an old Roman Cistern, the small church of Saint Eliah, and a small ruined house from the 17/18th century.

Religion

At the request of the manager of the church of the Holy Cross, priest Ante Hlapčić, and by the decision of the episcopal vicar Juraj Šižgorić, on 13 May 1484 Vodice became a chaplaincy, and in 1564 parish to which the settlements Kamene, Okit and Pišća join. Faced with the danger from the Ottomams, the population from the mentioned villages in 1571 fled to Vodice. In 1572, the Turks occupied Rakitnica, which thus ceases to be a parish and joins the parish of Vodice. Namely, Rakitnica, which was first mentioned in history in 1311 and ecclesiastically, it first belonged to the Diocese of Skradin, in 1445 becomes a parish, and after the Turks conquered Skradin, it fell under the administration of the Šibenik diocese.

Vodice deanery comprises following parishes: Vodice, Tribunj, Zlarin, Prvić Luka, Prvić Šepurine, Žirje and Kaprije. Bells were electricified in 2006. Local female Klapa Oršulice was founded in 2001 and male Klapa Bunari in 2004.

Librarianship

Beginnings of public libraries in Vodice date back to the 19th century and Croatian National Reviwal in Dalmatia. Flrst public library, Croatian library (), was founded in 1886. Library was gathering place of members of Croatian Republican Peasant Party in the 1920s.

Vodice is also known for congressional tourism, with many scientific conferences and events being held here.

Notable residents

Ivo Brešan, Croatian playwright
Dalibor Cvitan (hr), Croatian writer and literary critic
Ive Čaće (hr), Croatian writer and painter
Ante Ivas, Croatian Catholic prelate
Tomislav Ivišić, basketball player currently with the University of Illinois, Zvonimir's twin brother
Zvonimir Ivišić, basketball player currently with the University of Illinois, Tomislav's twin brother
Šime Strikoman (hr), Croatian photographer

Image gallery

;Buildings

File:Crkvica Sv. Križ Vodice.jpg|Church of St. Cross, consecrated in 15th century.

File:Vodice-Church.JPG|Bell tower or Catholic parish church.

</gallery>

;Coast

File:Vodice coast.jpg|Hexagon beach at the Punta peninsula.

File:View of Prvic from Vodice.jpg|View of Prvić from Vodice coast.

File:Vodice-Beach.JPG|"Hangari" beach.

</gallery>

;Monuments

File:Vodice-monument.JPG|Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of WWII from Vodice was erected in 1965.

File:Spomenik žrtvama jugokomunizma.jpg|Monument to the victims of Yugoslav Communism. It is place of commemoration every August 23rd.

File:Križ 600 god. Vodica.jpg|Cross erected in memoriam to 600 years of first mention of Vodice, in 2002.