While dying in Venice on his way back to his homeland, the great Vrančić wished to be buried in the Church of St. Mary of Mercy on the island of Prvić, where he had spent the happy days of his childhood in his family’s Renaissance summer house. He also requested that his literary works be placed in his grave with him. Thus, just 30 metres from his tomb, thanks to the efforts of the island community, Faust’s legacy has come to life in the form of this memorial centre, and his works have been given a modern interpretation.

In the outdoor area of the Centre, surrounded by a Mediterranean garden, there are life-size models of three of Faust’s inventions. A suspension bridge, an olive mill, and the flying man, the first functional parachute in history, is the first thing that will greet you above the entrance. The permanent exhibition delights visitors with meticulously crafted scale models of inventions from Faust’s legendary collection Machinae novae as well as games based on them, while a short film about Faust’s childhood regularly touches and inspires visitors of all generations. A special part of the exhibition is dedicated to the Dictionary of the Five Most Noble European Languages for which we owe Faust a special debt of gratitude, as it is also the first dictionary of the Croatian language.

After getting to know Faust Vrančić as a member of the Šibenik humanist circle at the Museum of the City of Šibenik, and discovering the secrets of St. James’s Cathedral at Civitas Sacra, the Faust Vrančić Memorial Centre is the perfect place to learn more about this great man, often referred to as the Croatian Leonardo da Vinci. Interestingly, it was in his book of inventions that Faust provided the first depiction of the Šibenik cathedral, calling it the ornament of his homeland.

Plan your visit to the Faust Vrančić Memorial Centre as part of a trip to the island of Prvić, which is served by several daily boat lines from Šibenik. We recommend checking the official website of the Centre for information on opening hours and ticket prices.