About
Asseria is an archaeological site at Podgrađe near Benkovac, about 21 kilometres and 25 minutes' drive from Škabrnja — the shortest day trip from the village. The Liburnian hillfort became a Roman military post and, in the 1st century, a municipium; the city lived from the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD. A site of roughly 400 × 200 metres is ringed by megalithic walls up to 7 metres high and 3 metres thick, running some 2.5 kilometres, with seven gates; the best known is the triumphal arch raised in AD 113 in honour of Emperor Trajan. The site can be walked freely, and guided tours are arranged through the Benkovac heritage museum in Kaštel Benković; the museum is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Benkovac fair is held on the 10th of every month in the Kukalj zone and starts early — best to arrive between 7 and 9 a.m.
