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Island of Murter is an island in the northwest part of the Šibenik archipelago with lots of sandy beaches, separated from the mainland by a 20 meter wide sea canal.
It is connected to the mainland by a 37 meters long draw-bridge. The proximity of National Parks - Kornati (15 km) and Paklenica (100km), make the island an even more attractive place to spend your vacation and recharge your body and spirit. The island covers an area of about 18,7 km² , and the highest peak Raduč, stands 125 meters above sea level. The mainly steep southwest coast is divided by many sandy coves. On the northeast tree covered coast, formed the towns Jezera and Tisno, and on the northwest side of the island, around fields with many wells, Betina and Murter under the Raduč peak.
Climate -The average sea temperature during summer months is about 23,9°C, and the island yearly gets about 2699 hours of sunlight. The average air temperature in January is 6,90°C, and in July and August 24,7°C, while the mistral, the most frequent summer wind, reduces the heat and makes the summer moths very pleasant.
History - The island has been populated for ages, the oldest known residents where the Illyrians, to which testifies an illyric-roman settlement Colentum near Betina. In the 13th century there existed two major settlements on the island Jezera and Veliko selo, Srimač (todays Murter). Betina and Tisno were built in the time of Turkish attacks on this area, most likely at the begging of the 15th century. The island of Murter is mentioned in the year 1318. as Insula Mortari. Archeological sites worth seeing are the peninsula Gradina between Betina and Murter, Plitka vala between Tisno and Betina and Ivinj.
Betina
Mentioned for the first time in 1423 and it had 8 houses with 15 people living in them. The number of people living there has increased by the end of the 16th century when it is populated by refugees from Vrana, who were running from the Turkish threat. The church is built in the 15th centuryand a new one is built on the foundations of the old in 1601. In 1720 it is expanded. The today’sbell-tower was built in 1752. Till 1640 it is under theMurter perish, and in 1680. it becomes a parish of its own.
From the cultural-historical sites it is worth mentioning the baroque altar from the 18th century, the picture of the Lady of Ružarij, and the altar of St. Josip with the picture of the Lady of Health from the same period. The local people mostly live from farming and fishing and in the recent time from tourism. In Beting there is also an old shipyard that dates back to 1740 and which still produces wooden ships today.
Jezera
Jezera can be found on the cove of the same name turend towards east. Elevations Brošica (113 m) and Čvrdak (112 m) protect the town from wind, as well as part of the island towards the open sea from the south. The town was formed before 1298, when during the foundation of Šibenik perish, it was listed as part of the Murter perish. At that time the town had 8 households and 94 people. More intensive population begins in mid 16th century when the refugees from the mainland, running from the Turkish invaders, come to the island. It becomes and independent perish in 1602, and the perish church of Lady of Health is finished in 1724. A special cultural-historical interest represents the main altar and the altar painting of the Lady of Health from the 18th century, made as a half-carving in wood.
Jezera is a town of sailors, fishermen and farmers, and in recent times more and more people took up tourism
Murter
A town situated underneath the highest island hill - Raduč. The continuity of the town reaches from the antique period during which there existed an iliric - roman settlement, Colentum, which is confirmed by the archeological findings from that period near Gradina . The parish is mentioned in 1298, although it is most likely it existed even before that date (Christianity, in the beginning was spreading among more organized settlements). At that time the village Velo Selo had 202 people. The early middle age church was restored in 1770 and was expanded 77 years later. It takes on the appearance it has today in 1964. In the church we can find an 18th century altar with the gothic statue of the Mother of
God.
The population of the town is mainly consisted of fishermen, sailors, farmers and land owners, while lately more and more people started working in tourism. In the marina Vinici there is a shipyard for building of wooden ships.
Kornati Islands
Archipelago is the most indented island group in the Mediterranean, situated in North Dalmatia, not far from Šibenik. It includes 140 uninhabited islands, islets and reefs with the area of only 70 km2. In the immediate vicinity of the Kornati National Park, there is another jewel of protected nature in Croatia - the Telašćica Natural Park, which includes a spacious and deep bay of the same name on the neighbouring Dugi otok. The Kornati islands are noted for their varied unusual forms and extraordinary relief structure, and especially the high cliffs.
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