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 During the 17th and 18th cent. life on Silba was characterized by the development of seafaring. An exceptionally important role was played by the location of Silba, on the sea route between Zadar and Venice, and especially for the transport of cattle from the eastern Adriatic coast to Italy. The owner of the first boat was Juraj Vinturić, and the first captain was Grgur Matković. Until 1806 Silba had more than 200 boat owners and captains with a fleet of 98 sailboats for coastal and cross-ocean sailing. The total boat capacity was 20 thousand tonnes. It is therefore not surprising why Silba was then known as the "Little Venice " of the Zadar archipelago.  The cattle transport boats were called Manzere (from the Italian word for cattle, manzo) and Kastrere (from the Italian word for a ram, castrato). Manzere were the bigger boats with three masts, and they could load up to 100 cattle. Kastrere were smaller, with two masts, and they could carry 400 rams. At the end of the 18th cent. the profitable cattle transport spread over to Split, Trogir, Šibenik, Rijeka and Trieste, and then across the Mediterranean and the ocean. Looking back at the economic and cultural aspect of this period, it was a time of prosperity, “the golden age” of Silba, confirmed by the old saying: "Silba glitters with gold paradise to enfold". After the ruin of the sailships, destroyed by the French army at the beginning of the 19th cent., the inhabitants of Silba lived from wine-growing, fruit-growing and sheep breeding.
In order to protect themselves from pirate attacks, at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century, the inhabitants of Silba built three fortified towers called Kašteli. Preserved today are only the remains of one of these situated not far from City Hall. This rectangular tower  was built by Juraj Vinturić in 1598. Guardhouses were built in the ports for protection from pirates during the unloading of goods. Humble remains of these guardhouses can still be found in Papratnica, Mul and Port St. Anthony.
The Institution of the king of Silba existed on the island from the 16th to the 19th cent., and a king was chosen by majority votes on every December 26. The king’s rule lasted for only 12 days, during which time he carried a brass crown and administered justice at all appeals and disputes. The crown is today kept in the parish church treasury as a souvenir. |
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