Island Žirje is the most remote island of the Šibenik archipelago. It used to be covered with thick Mediterranean oak forests so it is often assumed that the island got its name after the fruit of this tree – acorn. Indented island Žirje has numerous bays surrounded by plenty of small islands and reefs. Being very distanced from the land, Žirje served as an outpost which is why in the 6th century the settlers built a fortress and its late antique remains still exist at Gradina above the harbour Velika Stupica.
From the ancient times agriculture played an important role in the life of the settlers from Žirje, however, since the island is a home of many mariners, fishing plays takes a great part as well. Moreover, the settlers are recently becoming more engaged in tourism. The island offers its visitors astonishing nature, protected bays, crystal sea and private accommodation. Žirje is an island of 29 bays, the largest being: Muna, Koromašnja, Mikavica, Tratinska and Pečenja. Stupica (trap) bay, as indicated by the name itself, is dangerous to be anchored when jugo (sirocco) is blowing so that the bay needs to be abandoned at the first sign of the upcoming wind. Indented coast is additionally adorned by 17 surrounding little islands, reefs and cliffs. Two isthmuses are also found on the island (so called Tombolo) – Kabal and Škrovadica.
The island has 485 recorded species of plant and 253 sea algae in coastal areas, six types of orchids and numerous medicinal and aromatic plants being the most prominent among them. The vegetation of Žirje is dominated by macchia that in the past used to be a grazing-land in addition to of pine, the habitat of small game. People recognized the unspoiled beauty of Stupica bay so they submitted a petition in order to protect it. The aquatorium of Žirje is famous for historical fishing grounds of coral and many other fishes. The project of saving green plums (ringle plums of supreme quality) is also underway. Agricultural crops of Žirje include olives, grape vine, figs, five sorts of plums and almond, mostly grown in the fertile areas of the island’s heartland, but also in drystone walls, one of the most picturesque landscape motifs to be seen and thus worth visiting.
D. Šabić