Jadrija is a small, picturesque village located on a peninsula at the entrance to Šibenik Canal, only 12 kilometers from Villa Bianca. Jadrija was founded in 1921 as the city bathing resort of Šibenik, and originally it was only accessible by boat, but today Jadrija can be reached by car from Vodice in 10 minutes. Jadrija got its name from Saint Andrew, the island with which it was artificially connected in 1922.
Colorful doors on Jadrija, known as cabins, have significant cultural and historical value. They are located along the coast and serve as a kind of changing rooms and storage areas for bathers.
The cabins were built during the 1920s, when Jadrija became the official town bathing area of Šibenik. At that time, the city authorities allowed the citizens of Šibenik to build these cabins in order to have a place to change clothes, store personal belongings and rest during their stay on the beach. Each cabin originally belonged to one family, and over time they became a symbol of family vacations and a long tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. The size of these cabins varies – some are only as wide as the door and about two meters deep, while others are slightly larger.
– The point of the cabin is that you have nothing. When you have nothing, you have freedom – says Majda Dorbić for Jutarnji list, woman from Šibenik who wrote the book “My Jadrija” a few years ago. – We haven’t spent time in cabinas. They were used for sleeping, changing clothes, possibly eating and sheltering from bad weather – recalls Majda, who explains that all social life took place outside.
Each cabin on Jadrija is painted in a different color or combination of colors, which gives them a distinctive, colorful look that has become the trademark of this place. The colors of the cabins often reflect the owner’s personality or have sentimental value, and a series of these colorful cabins give the beach a unique and colorful look and a nostalgic atmosphere.
Apart from their practical role, cabins have become a symbol of the local community and part of the collective identity of the inhabitants of Šibenik and its surroundings. Many families have maintained the same cabins for generations, and they are passed down from generation to generation, retaining their original appearance and function.
Today, colorful cabins attract the attention of tourists and photographers because of their nostalgic, authentic look and atmosphere. They are one of the most photographed elements of Jadrija, so the people of Šibenik today call Jadrija an “Instagrammer”.
The colorful houses on Jadrija are not only functional objects, but also part of the historical and cultural heritage of this region. They symbolize tradition, togetherness and longevity of family ties, and represent one of the most recognizable symbols of Jadrija.