This monument is the Cathedral of St. Jakov, completed in 1535 with the actual building process led largely by Juraj Dalmatinac, a very respected architect at the time. While not a large cathedral in terms of dimensions by any, it is special for two reasons, the first being that on top of this gorgeous building is the first example of a cathedral dome in Croatian architecture. The second, and perhaps a more curious reason this small cathedral is so famous and visited by tourists and locals alike, are the 71 realistic stone heads which circumvent the entire cathedral. Dalmatinac used the locals actually living in Šibenik as models for these and forever immortalized them, giving us a glimpse of the faces, which once made up this gorgeous place. It is notable to mention that during this time, Šibenik was also known as a hub of artists, writers, architects, poets and sculptors which went on to enrich Croatian culture with their many works and innovations.

This huge cultural boom was cut short by a vicious period of a plague in the mid-16th century which was a very devastating blow for Šibenik. This was followed by a steady decline in population and resources and while quite a few empires and rulers have governed over it after the sickness was long gone, the city would never again reach its former glory.