Mala Loža is a typical example of how the people of Šibenik cherish their old toponyms and enjoy using them in everyday speech.
On the map of Šibenik, you won't find this charming medieval square under that name, but under its official one – Pope John Paul II Square – which almost no one has heard of. But everyone knows where Mala Loža is! Medieval Šibenik had one large loggia and several small ones, and one of them was once located right on this square. For centuries, the square served as a green market, and during holidays and fair days, it was the busiest spot in the city. Interestingly, it is also the "would-be" cathedral square – city fathers originally planned to build the cathedral right here, but fate decided it should be at its current location.
Mala Loža is dominated by the Church of St. John, whose stone facade delights with its rich architectural details. The church bell tower is adorned with a so-called "Turkish clock," brought as a trophy from the clock tower in Drniš after the liberation from the Ottomans in the 17th century. On the square itself, you can take a break in the shade of the church and replenish your water supply at the historic Rodićevac public fountain, the only one remaining of the six original fountains from 1879, when drinking water from the Krka River first flowed into Šibenik.

Today, through projects to revitalize the old town center, there is an effort to bring the green market back to Mala Loža, which is why special multi-purpose stallshave been designed for this purpose. They can serve equally well for selling fruit and vegetables in the manner of a pop-up market, as well as serving as easels for art workshops that are frequently organized in this favorite open-air city space.

Because of its position and spaciousness, Mala Loža is a place where numerous events and festivals are held, such as H2L0 – a festival that marks the day when Šibenik first received drinking water from a public fountain and is thematically dedicated to – water itself. There are also traditional Šibenik Klapa Evenings which are always well-attended in a city that has produced great singers and great klapa groups. For a younger audience, there is Supertoon – an international animation and comic book festival that turns Mala loža into an open-air summer cinema. Two other very popular Šibenik festivals have also found their ideal home at Mala loža: the Festival of Alternative and the Left FALIŠ, and ŠKURE (Šibenik Literary Hours) – an international festival of contemporary literature. The popular gastro event Taste like… Marenda which is held throughout the year in numerous towns across the county, kicks off every season in Šibenik – right here at Mala loža.


