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48-520: Sinj is known for a knights' tournament of Sinjska alka , which has been held since the beginning of the 18th century as a sign of victory over the Ottoman Empire , and for the shrine of Our Lady of Sinj . The urban center of Sinj is a protected cultural heritage site . Sinj is located in Dalmatia , in the region historically known as Cetinska Krajina , a group of settlements situated around

96-613: A continuation of knightly competitions that were held across the Venetian Dalmatia : Zadar , Imotski and Makarska . The oldest written mention of Alka are in the three sonnets and an ode written by the Italian poet Julije Bajamonti in 1784. The oldest official file about Alka is a letter of the first Austrian Commissioner for the Austria Dalmatia Count Raymond Thurn that he wrote to

144-638: A fertile karstic field of Sinjsko Polje (300 m AMSL ), once shaped by the flood waters of the Cetina river. The field lies between the mountains of Svilaja (1508 m), Dinara (1913 m), Kamešnica (1855 m) and Visoka (890 m). Further south, the mountain Mosor (1339 m) separates Sinj from the Adriatic sea . The mountains give Sinj its specific sub- Mediterranean climate , with a total annual rainfall of about 1300 mm. Winters are wet and cold, especially in

192-634: A new church, a monastery and the first residential houses were built soon after. The Republic of Venice and its possessions were abolished by the agreement between Napoleon and Holy Roman Empire (Austria) on October 17, 1797. Napoleon ceded the Venetian possessions to Austria, and in July the first Austrian troops arrived in Cetinska Krajina. This marked the beginning of the first Austrian occupation of Dalmatia, which would last for eight years. As

240-473: A new large sports hall, a hotel, a hippodrome for the 1979 Mediterranean Games , and a large high school building. The construction of the Split-Zagreb state road (1963) improves traffic connections, but the narrow-gauge railway known as Sinjska rera, which connected the town to Split , was discontinued in 1962. Since the summer of 1991, a large part of the old Municipality of Sinj was occupied, and Sinj

288-520: A philharmonic orchestra were established, and a large number of local intellectuals received classical (est. 1854) and real (est. 1921) high school education. The city center was first electrified around 1922. The town and nearby settlements were under the rule of military forces of the Independent State of Croatia, Italian, and German armies. This resulted in the spread of the idea of Partisan resistance , followed by frequent reprisals by

336-574: A pointed edge on the side facing the Alkar. A spring clip on top of the outer ring is used to hang it on the rope. The alka is at 3.32 m height, measured from its center to the ground. The Custodian of the Alka ( najmeštač alke ) and his assistant have the responsibility for the proper placement and height of the Alka; the Custodian steadies the pendant ring with a 3.22 m long stick and simultaneously controls

384-651: A result of new Austrian policies, Sinj's first public elementary school opened in 1798. With the defeat in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, Austria was forced to hand over all former Venetian possessions to Napoleon, giving the region a new master at the beginning of 1806. A tumultuous and significant period of French rule began that would last seven years. In 1811, the French established the Municipality of Sinj. The French administration canceled state subsidies wherever it

432-399: A rider on horseback, has to pass the racecourse length 160 m in full gallop in less than 12 seconds and try to hit the center of a small iron ring called alka. The alka is a ring made of two concentric wrought-iron hoops connected by three equally spaced spokes. The inner ring has a diameter of 35 mm, and the outer of 132 mm. The rims and spokes of alka are 6.6 mm thick and have

480-594: A smaller number of Venetians managed to defend Sinj against 60,000 Ottoman soldiers led by Mehmed-paša Ćelić. Because of this victory, the Venetians retained control over Sinj and integrated it into the Venetian Dalmatia in accordance to the terms of the Treaty of Passarowitz signed in 1718. The people of Sinj believed that the Lady of Sinj miraculously drove away Ottomans, thus helping them to defend their town. On

528-597: Is a tourist attraction, and receives extensive media coverage and Croatia's political establishment attention. Sinj is also a pilgrimage site, with thousands of Christian worshippers visiting on the feast of the Assumption to participate in the procession with the painting of Our Lady of Sinj . Sinj is home to the Museum of the Cetinska Krajina Region , Museum of Alka, Archaeological Collection of

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576-594: The Snačić gentis. The rise of the Nelipić family's power was harmonized with the fall of the Šubić family's influence, with whom the Nelipić family continued to have tense relations and frequent skirmishes with during the 1330s. When George II Šubić died between 1328 and 1330, he was succeeded by his son Mladen III Šubić . Pressure from Ivan Nelipić , including his capture of Ostrovica and various lesser Šubić places, led Mladen III and his uncle Paul II to make peace with

624-700: The 14th century. It was ruled by the Talovci family beginning in the middle of the 15th century, followed by general discord and internal conflicts until it fell to the Ottoman Turks . In 1513 Sinj was conquered by the Ottoman army. It eventually lost its importance and became a small settlement on the road connecting Bosnia to the Adriatic Sea . Part of the Croatian population fled, part remained, and

672-598: The Alka. Nelipi%C4%87 family The Nelipić family , also called Nelipac or Nelipčić , was a medieval Croatian noble family from the Dalmatian Hinterland . They were greatly involved in political situations in Dalmatia , and in Bosnia . At their greatest extent during the 14th and 15th century, they ruled areas in inner Croatia from mountain Velebit to Cetina river. They emerged as descendants of

720-629: The Cetina region had been ruled by the Byzantine Empire . It is unknown when the Croats settled in the area. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII mentions the County of Cetina among the Croatian administrative units in his 10th century De Administrando Imperio . Over time, a settlement developed beneath the old fortress. It was initially referred to as Cetina, after the nearby river, but

768-606: The Emperor Francis II visited Sinj, and the locals organized a special Alka in his honor. The Emperor awarded the winner a brilliant ring worth 800 forints. Also, by 1818, Vienna was rewarding the winner a prize of 100 florins, and this was probably main reason for the continuation of this knightly tournament. When the Emperor Franz Joseph rose to power in 1848 he established the award in the amount of 100 forints. From 1902 to 1914 prize awarded to winner

816-701: The Franciscan Monastery, and two galleries. Sinj is twinned with: Sinjska alka The Sinjska alka ( Croatian pronunciation: [sîːɲskaː âːlka] ) is an equestrian competition held in the Croatian town of Sinj every first Sunday in August since 1715. It commemorates a Croatian– Venetian victory in the Ottoman–Venetian war on August 14, 1715, in which the local Christian population of around 700 Croats in cooperation with

864-653: The area was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe Dalmatae . They were settled in the area between the rivers of Krka and Cetina , where they clashed with the Romans in the period of wars from 156 BC to 9 AD, ending with their complete defeat under the leadership of Bato the Daesitiate . In Roman times, there were two important localities in the vicinity of Sinj: Colonia Claudia Aequum near today's village of Čitluk , and Tilurium , today's Gardun near Trilj . Aequum

912-524: The central ring with his spear. Depending on which part of the alka he hits, he receives from 1 to 3 points, and no points if he misses. If, however, the alkar sends the alka in the air away from its holder and hits any part of it on its way down, he will be awarded 1-3 points for a target hit and an additional three points, thus increasing the maximum to 6 points in one run. The contest consists of three rounds. Only men born in Cetinska krajina (area along

960-560: The commander of Sinj Josip Grabovac on February 10, 1798. In the letter Count Thurn informs Commander Grabovac that the Palatine Commission from Vienna "approved further maintenance of Alka in Sinj on the last day of the carnival". In the past Alka was organised at a different time than today, occasionally twice a year (in years: 1798 (the last day of the carnival and on 9 May) and in 1818 (on 15 May and 6 July). In 1834 it

1008-828: The defeat of Austria in WWI, a new union was created in 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes . The new state under the rule of the Karađorđević dynasty failed to meet public expectations. When Stjepan Radić was assassinated in the National Assembly in Belgrade in 1928, the town sent an Alka delegation to his funeral in Zagreb . Between the two world wars, the town developed a vibrant and diverse cultural life: two amateur theater groups, large choirs, two brass bands, and

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1056-437: The economy consists of service activities. The city promotes the development of agriculture, transport, tourism, and industry, so far with limited success. As of the 2021 census, the total population of the municipality was 23 452, distributed across the following settlements : Sinj is well-known for Sinjska alka , a knights' tournament that is now on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List . Taking place in early August, it

1104-470: The events; no Turkish sources mentioning the siege or battle have been discovered thus far. Following the Treaty of Požarevac in 1718, the entire region fell under the Venetian Republic . The period is considered one of poor prospects, although the town began to develop as a result of increased trade with Bosnia. The settlement was moved from the old and unsuitable fortress to the plain, where

1152-598: The famous Battle of the Neretva , nineteen-year-old Bruno Vuletić from Sinj commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Dalmatian Brigade, some of which were the first to cross the collapsed bridge and attack the Axis -aligned Chetniks . On October 25, 1944, the town was liberated by the forces of the 20th Division of the Yugoslav Army . During the war, 479 residents of the Sinj region were interned in concentration camps,

1200-453: The fascist regime against the local population. The people's liberation army included approximately 500 soldiers from the town of Sinj. In total, 1338 partisans died in the fighting, 143 of whom were killed in the Battle on Sutjeska . The occupiers killed 1,888 people and set fire to 2,933 homes in 59 villages across the region. Eight partizans were declared National Heroes of Yugoslavia . In

1248-660: The fortress on September 25, 1686. Due to harsh living conditions and constant oppression under Ottoman rule, the domicile population declined, so Venetian authorities attempted to attract people from western Bosnia. The most massive migration took place in 1687, led by the Franciscans from the Rama monastery. In August 1715, during the Second Morean War , the Turks tried to retake Sinj and kept it under siege. The siege

1296-592: The height of it, while his assistant tightens the rope on which the ring hangs. The aim of the game is to collect as many points in three attempts. During the race, all equipment has to remain on the horse and Alkar, and not one single piece may be allowed to fall off. If this happens without the Alkar being aware of it, he must subsequently seek permission from the Alka Duke for another attempt. However, if an Alkar notices that any item of equipment has fallen off, he must run through with his "spear lowered" without hitting

1344-551: The language of instruction was founded in Sinj by the Franciscan Province of Split . Due to its favorable strategic position, Sinj become an important Austrian military center in Dalmatia. The bridges over the Cetina river were built between 1849 and 1851; sewerage was installed in 1878, and by the end of the century, the town had taken on its current urban form; in 1891, an important tobacco trade center opened. With

1392-584: The long period of peace ( Pax Romana ), the Romans built roads in the area, fortified Osinium (Sinj), on Illyrian foundations, and Tilurium on the southernmost edge of the polje of Sinj; they built a bridge on Cetina ( Pons Tilurii ) and numerous villa rusticas . Tilurium was once home to the Roman 7th legion , followed by Roman auxiliary units. Since the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476,

1440-521: The majority of whom never returned. On April 22, 1945, Ante Bakotić from Sinj led the escape of male prisoners from the Jasenovac Concentration Camp , shortly before the end of WWII. Many of the 1,073 detainees at the time, including Bakotić, did not survive the flight. Following WWII, there was extensive work to increase literacy , emancipate women, and accelerate industrial development . Dalmatinka cotton processing factory

1488-550: The mornings, when temperatures can drop below -10 °C, whereas summers are hot and dry, with temperatures surpassing +40 °C. Partly due to its location in a valley, Sinj is one of the coldest Dalmatian towns in winter and one of the warmest in summer. Several stone weapons and tools discovered in Cetinska Krajina attest to the area's population dating back to the Mesolithic . Many caves and dugouts contain evidence of later Neolithic settlements. About 1000 years BC,

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1536-565: The name of the old town of Sinj was eventually transferred to it. Following the extinction of the Trpimirović dynasty in 1102, the country was united with Hungary under the Árpád dynasty , but Cetina was ruled almost independently by the Domaldo family, then by the powerful Croatian Šubić family from the end of the 13th century, falling under the rule of the Nelipić family in the middle of

1584-503: The national holiday of the Assumption of Mary ( Velika Gospa ) on August 15, in honor of Lady of Sinj, a procession is organised, during which horsemen in full regalia ( Alkari ) parade a painting of Our Lady of Sinj throughout the town streets. The Alka itself is an equestrian competition in which various horsemen riding at full gallop aim their lances at a hanging metal ring ( alka ), and are awarded points according to which sector of

1632-511: The newly acquired properties, Austrian Emperor Francis II takes a journey through Dalmatia in 1818, and visits Sinj. The people of Sinj use the opportunity to organize the tournament of Alka, which Francis II liked so much that he established a permanent annual financial support. Despite Germanisation and Austrian bureaucracy, Sinj made significant progress under the Austrians. In 1854, the first public high school in Dalmatia with Croatian as

1680-505: The ring they are able to pierce. In 2010, the Alka was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists . Alka is the name of the target used in the tournament; it is made of two concentric rings connected by three equally spaced bars. The target is hung on a rope in the middle of the race track. The contestant ( Alkar ) rides his horse, in full gallop , down the track and tries to hit

1728-453: The same that were worn by the warriors in the 18th century. Each alkar is accompanied by a squire ( alkarski momak ) who is dressed in a folk costume of old, wearing several kinds of weapons ( yatagan , flintlock musket and rifle , mace , shield ). Alkars ride horses bred, kept or maintained almost exclusively in Alkars' Stud . Sinjska Alka was created in the early 18th century as

1776-518: The smallest part converted to Islam . At the time, the fortress and its suburb had about a hundred houses and about a thousand inhabitants. With the return of power of the Republic of Venice to nearby Fortress of Klis in 1648, Sinj regained its old importance as the last Turkish outpost towards the Venetian possessions. After several failed attempts to break free from Turkish rule, the new provisor Girolamo Cornaro with about 7,000 fighters captured

1824-462: The town's economic growth, which was based on trade with its neighbors and beyond, it was granted a railway connection to Split. In 1898, a major earthquake struck the town, causing widespread damage. In 1912, the town received a water supply system that provided drinking water from the Kosinac karst spring . The First World War began in 1914, with significant casualties in the Cetina region. After

1872-465: The town's scout organization, were formed. In 1959, the town's music school began offering lessons in solfeggio , piano , violin , and wind instruments . The city was rapidly expanding through planned construction, which began with housing for workers at the newly established megafactory Dalmatinka; the town's Olympic swimming pool was built in parallel with the building of the factory. Sinjski skojevci Elementary School opened (in 1977), as well as with

1920-458: The valley of river Cetina in the vicinity of Sinj) can take part in the Alka. It is considered a great privilege to participate in the tournament. The vojvoda ("Duke") of Alka is a ceremonial title representing the commander of the Alkars. It is a great honour to become the alkar vojvoda , and only the most notable men from Cetinska krajina become one. The costumes worn by the alkar men are

1968-632: Was 4000 crowns, and from 1914 to 1918 it was 600 crowns. Alka was repeatedly organised during the visits of rulers or other very important people. On March 28, 1842, Alka was organised in honor of the Austrian Archduke Albrecht during his visit to Sinj, and in the same year on October 22 in honor of the Austrian Archduke Franz Karl . On May 18, 1875, Emperor Franz Joseph visited Sinj. In his honor people of Sinj organised extraordinary solemn Alka. The winner

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2016-664: Was Mate Bonić. The Emperor awarded him a gold ring. Alka was organised four times outside of Sinj: in 1832 in Split , in 1922 in Belgrade , 1946 in Zagreb and in 2017 in Vukovar . Vicko Grabovac was the longest-running Alka Duke with 28 commands over Alka festivities (1908-1936). Bruno Vuletić was Alka Duke 21 times (1964-1985) and Ivan Vuletić 17 times (1872 - 1894). Sinjska alka is an individual equestrian competition in which at least 11 and at most 17 Alkars can participate. The Alkar,

2064-437: Was established in 1951, along with Trnovača agricultural plant, Cetinka factory, Naprijed wood processing company, and Autoprijevoz, a freight and bus transport company. Three hydroelectric plants were built along the Cetina river: Peruća (1960), Orlovac (1972), and Đale (1989). Comprehensive healthcare was established, and a health center with a maternity ward was built. A variety of sports, art, and technical clubs, as well as

2112-503: Was organised on 9 February, in 1838 on April 19, and in 1855 on October 4 because of cholera . Alka is organised regularly on August 18, which is the birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph , since 1849, as determined by the Statute of 1902. Since then, Alka is organised in August (and under the new rules), in the first third of the month, so that Bara, Čoja and Alka could be organised in the same month. In 1818, during his trip through Dalmatia,

2160-656: Was possible, thus canceling the support for Alka. Following Napoleon's defeat in Russia and near Leipzig in 1813, the Austrian army reoccupied Dalmatia, and Sinj. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and until 1918, the town was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867 ), head of the district of the same name, one of the 13 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in the Kingdom of Dalmatia . To get to know

2208-527: Was probably founded by Emperor Augustus as Oppidum Civium Romanorum . Among the various monuments, the famous statue of Hekate (Diana) and the head of Heracles were discovered there, which are kept in the archaeological collection of the Franciscan monastery. This is the birthplace of Roman general Sextus Julius Severus , who suppressed the Jewish uprising and destroyed Jerusalem in 135 AD. During

2256-455: Was unsuccessful, owing primarily to the collapse of Ottoman logistics, hunger and the outbreak of dysentery; on the night of August 15, the Turks fled to Livno . Contrary to popular belief, it appears that Venetian professional army units bore the majority of the burden in the conflict with Ottoman forces, rather than local fighters. The "Diary of the Siege of Sinj" is a written Venetian account of

2304-409: Was within artillery range of the rebel Serbs' positions, about 6 km away; some 3,000 shells were fired at the city. Along with the rest of Dalmatia, Sinj was cut off from the motherland in terms of transportation and energy. In modern Croatia, Sinj has regressed economically: industry from the socialist period either collapsed or was destroyed by war and tycoon privatization during the war. Most of

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