Stojan Janković’s tower in Islam Grčki

Stojan Janković’s Tower is a unique historical monument that blends defensive, residential, and economic structures, acting as a bastion on the frontier with the former Ottoman Empire.

Stojan Janković gained fame in the 17th-century battles against the Ottoman Empire, becoming a legendary hero celebrated in numerous epic folk poems. For his military successes, he was granted the noble title of Cavaliere by the Venetian Republic.

The writer Vladan Desnica, an heir of the Janković family whose descendants still own the Tower today, created his greatest works here. He is also buried in the church-family tomb next to the fortress.

The Kotar serdars, glorified and sung about in heroic folk songs as fighters against the Turks, were commanders of the local uskoks, or the native and settled Christian population. They were always obliged to maintain a specific number of soldiers, fully equipped for battle, on the volatile border.

Vladan Desnica wished for the Tower’s values and beauty to be accessible to all. In the mid-20th century, he opened the oldest part of the castle to the public, skillfully and tastefully arranging several of the most atmospherically valuable rooms within the Tower and transforming it into an exhibition space for part of the collections.

Today’s owners, the descendants, strive for the same goals. During the summer months, visitors to the partially restored tower in its historical core can explore the ethnographic collection “In the Old Kitchen,” the exhibitions “Guardians of Janković Tower” and “Icons of Janković Tower,” the tower (viewpoint) and dungeon, as well as the surrounding park and the small Church of St. George. The complex, including its exterior, can also be visited year-round.

Educational events and gatherings are also organized at the tower during the summer.