Museum of Alka in Sinj

About

On August 14, 1715, Sinj’s Christian population of around 700, aided by a smaller number of Venetians, managed to defend Sinj against 60,000 Ottoman soldiers. The townsfolk believed that the Lady of Sinj helped drive the Ottomans away, so on August 15, a procession of horsemen in full regalia parade a painting of Our Lady of Sinj throughout the town in her honor. They also hold an equestrian competition, called Alka, where horsemen ride at full gallop, and try to get their lances through a hanging metal ring. In 2010, UNESCO recorded Alka on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The museum opened on the event’s 300th anniversary, in order to preserve the Alka identity for future for generations. Visitors can experience the Battle of 1715 in a multimedia environment, see the traditional regalia, and examine original artefacts to learn about this unique piece of local history.