Benkovacf

The small town and crossroads in Ravni Kotari. In the Middle Ages it was in the possession of the Croatian princes from the Benkovic family. The remains of two fortresses are still preserved, as well as the small church of St. Ante from 1743. There are also ruins from the Illyrian period in the vicinity. The most interesting place in the surroundings are Vrana on Vransko Lake (the remains of the Roman water supply system, the ruins of the seat of the knights of St. John from the 12th and 13th century, and well preserved Meštrovica - han - the only preserved Turkish caravanserai in Dalmatia); Podgrade (the Greek colony Asseria with the archaeological finds, defense walls and the triumphal arch of the emperor Trajan); Šopot (the stone inscription from the 9th century, in which the name Croatia is mentioned for the first time, was found in the ruins of the foundation of the prince Branimir); Nadin (Illyrian and Roman settlement);Smilcic(rich Neolithic settlement).