The Rakitnica Fortress, located on the strategic hill of Kuline in the Vodice field, was a key defensive stronghold of the western part of the Šibenik district. Built around 1509 to defend against Ottoman incursions, it was constructed through the cooperation of Šibenik nobility and the local population and served as both a shelter and a line of defense.
During the Cyprus War (1570–1573), the fortress temporarily fell into Ottoman hands but was restored to Venetian control by the end of the 17th century. After the Morean War (1684–1699), it lost its military importance, was abandoned, and fell into disrepair. Today, only ruins of the walls and dry stone structures remain.
The cultural richness of this area is enhanced by archaeological findings such as the Church of St. John the Baptist (from 1445), a Roman-era brick kiln, and the nearby Velika Mrdakovica site. This location testifies to the historical layers and cultural value of the Vodice field, which, with its archaeological monuments, awaits systematic research to fully understand the past of this historically significant region.
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