Smoković
Smoković is a small village in the zone called Ravni kotari, in the northern part of Dalmatia. Smoković, together with the villages of Zemunik Donji and Zemunik Gornji, belongs to the municipality of Zemunik Donji, which is located in Zadar County. This small settlement is located only 12 kilometers northeast of the large tourist center of Zadar, between places Murvica and Zemunik Donji.
This place has a rich history. In Roman times, it was one of the important stations on the main road to the historic, royal city of Nin. During the Venetian-Turkish wars, this small place was completely destroyed, while the inhabitants were largely displaced. However, after the second half of the 17th century, this village began to be inhabited again and the inhabitants rebuilt it once again.
In the past, the population of this idyllic Ravnokotar hamlet was mainly engaged in agriculture, due to the fertile fields of this zone and the sub-Mediterranean climate, but also cattle breeding, i.e. raising mainly sheep.
In Smoković there is also a recreational entertainment program called Ponyland Zadar, which allows its visitors to socialize and play with animals in beautiful nature. Various fun events are organized here, especially birthday parties for children, where visitors can enjoy the environment of dwarf goats, pigs, rabbits, horses and donkeys.
Due to the proximity of Zadar, it is easy to access various entertainment facilities of this city, as well as to visit the rich cultural and historical offer it gives, and visit the numerous islands of the Zadar archipelago, but also to rest on the nearby beaches surrounded with beautiful crystal blue sea. Zemunik Airport is located just 7 kilometers away from Smoković, and in the surrounding places it is easy to find a rich gastronomic offer with indigenous food and drinks of this area. Not far from this small village there are several national parks and nature parks such as: Northern Velebit, Paklenica, Telašćica, Kornati, Krka Waterfalls and Vrana Lake.
According to the last available census, which dates back to 2021, Smoković has 165 inhabitants on its total area of 16.9 square kilometers at an altitude of 93 m. Until the territorial reorganization of municipalities in Croatia, this place was part of the old municipality of Zadar.