How to get there: the tree house and the dry-stone wall are at Colentum, on the path above the Roman villa.
The tree house and the dry-stone stairway
As part of the Archaeological Treasure of Colentum 8 project, the Argonauta association, in cooperation with local master shipwright Milan Jadrešić, based on an initial idea by the association's president Luka Ježina and a sketch by academic sculptor Carla Radnić, has created a new attraction at the Colentum archaeological site itself.
Having removed the remains of an old “lookout” that had stood in the pine tree and whose appearance, position and structure invited an attractive transformation, we built a new wooden structure made of stairs, two platforms, a railing and ship's rope. In this way we gave the old, probably “spy post” a new life and purpose: instead of hidden views of secluded nudists on the once undeveloped beach, children can now play on today's viewpoint, and visitors can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the first Croatian archaeological beach and the beautiful archipelago around it.
Furthermore, as part of the “Stone & Sail Extravaganza 2020” project, the approach to our wooden tree house in the pine was also landscaped. The dry-stone staircase was built by short-term volunteers with the help of master Ive Šikić Bažokić. After the project, the Municipality of Murter-Kornati co-financed the completion of the dry-stone wall below Colentum's new wooden attraction.
How to get there: you can reach the installation along the path towards Cape Gradina, behind the well-known wooden swing on the Colentum archaeological beach.
Monument to volunteering
As part of the “Stone & Sail Extravaganza 2020” project, the Argonauta association set up a new wooden art installation promoting volunteering and solidarity. The installation bears the names of all the volunteers who invested their effort and time to carry out incredible campaigns together in our local community. The monument was erected in their honour, and in honour of everyone who has contributed to the whole Colentum project so far.
The monument was made based on an idea by development director Ivona Jadrić and a sketch by academic sculptor Carla Radnić, and it stands on the Gradina peninsula. It consists of a pentagonal wooden installation 5 metres high and 6 benches with carved “hashtags”, promoting our archaeological site, the island, the association, the project, solidarity, volunteering and the ESC programme (European Solidarity Corps).
Many thanks to all the organisations and individuals involved, with special thanks to our shipwright Milan Jadrešić for making it, the Milovac craft business for its donation and Vedranko Juraga for his help in handling the logs.
How to get there: enter the tunnels through the entrance by the semicircular defence trench, go through the natural cave chamber and exit through the exit of the first artillery battery. After leaving the first battery, turn right and walk about 20 metres to the second battery.
The “160 islands, 1 heart” installation
The “160 islands, 1 heart” installation is located on Raduč hill, in the right-hand battery as seen from the land towards the sea, at one of the tunnel exits. It consists of letters of different sizes hanging scattered from the ceiling of the battery. Only when viewed from a certain position suitable for taking photos do the letters form the words MURTER KORNATI.
The scattered letters symbolise the scattered islands of the Municipality of Murter-Kornati which, with its 160 islands, islets and reefs spread over 80 km², is the municipality with the most islands in the Mediterranean. The purpose of the installation is to highlight the connection between Murter and the Kornati and to popularise a unique viewpoint from which the Kornati can be seen as if in the palm of your hand. It is also one more in a series of activities to valorise this area that the Municipality of Murter-Kornati is undertaking while preparing a large project related to the presentation and development of the Croatian islands. The installation was designed by Luka Ježina, made by Nikola Skračić Čiči and financed by the Municipality of Murter-Kornati.
Wooden bench
We also have a new detail on Raduč! After the plateau in front of the ruined old barracks was cleared, Miro Novković from the Kornati Agricultural Cooperative made and installed an interesting bench on a large, unusually shaped pine tree, using leftover material from building the gajeta boat Zadrugarka.
How to get there: the bench is on the east side of Raduč hill, in front of the ruined barracks.