It is known that the Roman settlement of Colentum was also a port town, as shown by the remains of harbour facilities. The port of ancient Colentum, once of great importance for maritime traffic because of its location, stretched along the north-western side of the Gradina peninsula, just past today's church. It lay in a very sheltered bay, closed off on one side by the Gradina peninsula and on the other by the islets of Mali and Veli Vinik and Tegina. The period from the 1st century BC is considered the time of its busiest traffic.
Last year, the Municipality of Murter-Kornati created the first archaeological beach in Croatia right here. More and more swimmers come here – some are attracted by the peace and quiet this beach offers, others by curiosity to explore the remains of the Roman town under the sea. Dive just a few metres deep at this beach and you will find remains of ballast stones, pieces of tableware, amphorae… And it was the remains of these amphorae that prompted the story of the “Amphorarium”, the first house of amphorae, a visitor and interpretation centre that will create a unique, innovative and attractive presentation which, through the basic theme of the purpose and origin of the amphora and the underwater archaeological sites, will make possible
the interpretation of Murter's gastronomic and wider tourist story, all through interactive multimedia content.
Along with the mayor of the Municipality of Murter-Kornati, Toni Turčinov, and the head of the Department of Finance, Development and Economy, Luka Ježina, the project was presented by architect Damir Lasinović and his associates from Studio Arx d.o.o. Jure Knežević and Iva Petrov, Jelena Devčić and Marko Barišić from the Šibenik company Kocka d.o.o., and the director of the Šibenik City Museum, Željko Krnčević. Prof. Irena Radić Rossi from the University of Zadar is also an associate on the project.
According to the Municipality of Murter-Kornati, the “Amphorarium” will bring to life and present, in an innovative and sustainable way, the existing cultural wealth and
the special character of the site by linking the cultural and gastronomic dimensions into a unique tourist product. We believe that this project will contribute greatly to the economic and social development of the island of Murter, and we are delighted that our Argonauta association is part of it.
Read more about the project at the following link. See photos of the conceptual design at the following link.
