Museum of the Sinjska Alka

The Sinjska alka knightly tournament is the symbol of this historic town and of the whole region. But it is much more than a heritage contest between proud horsemen, the alkari, on the racecourse in the very centre of Sinj in the heat of August. The Alka is an essential part of Sinj's identity, its greatest and most valuable cultural and historical event, and since 2010 it has been on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Alka has a long history directly linked to the victory of a handful of defenders of Sinj over a far larger Ottoman army on 14 August 1715, while the tournament in its present form is first officially mentioned at the end of the 18th century. Besides all its historical, cultural and heritage value, the Sinjska alka is today a true spectacle, and every August tickets are in short supply.

The Alka is held only once a year, in the heat of the Sinj summer, but the Museum of the Sinjska Alka is open all year round. Thoughtfully designed and superbly equipped, the museum is housed in a historic building in the centre of Sinj and brings to life the long history, significance and excitement of the tournament and its irreplaceable influence on the identity and culture of Sinj. It opened in 2015 and ranks among the best museum displays in Croatia, so it should not be missed.

Just a few steps from the Museum of the Sinjska Alka, history lovers can discover the riches of the Museum of the Cetina Region (Muzej Cetinske krajine), and the archaeological collection of the Franciscan monastery in Sinj is also exceptionally valuable.