| At the beginning of the 16th century a Venetian castle was built on the Islet of Vela Panitula. It served as a place where fish tax was collected from the fishermen of the Kornati area. In 1532 Venetian authorities passed an order that the fishermen of the Kornati area must bring all of their catch to the Islet of Vela Panitula to pay the taxes. In the immediate vicinity of the castle, on the Island of Piškera (Jadra), the fishermen built a settlement comprised of 36 dwellings and magazines, eight little piers and a movable bridge between the Vela Panitula and Piškera Islands. This was a relatively large settlement for that period. It also included a one-nave church with Gothic construction elements, which was sanctified in 1560. The fishermen lived in the settlement only during the “dark” period of the summer (the best time to catch pelagic fish – when there is no moon). At the end of the 18th century when the Venetian rule was over, the castle and the Piškera settlement disappeared as well. The fishermen settlement is entirely gone; there are only a few remains of the castle found today. The church was renovated, however, and is still used today. |