Gradina fortress is located on a strategic mountain position at the crossroads of the coast towards the continent. As the center of the Rastočka or Gorska district, it has dominated the Vrboska region. The Gorska region was under the rule of the noble Radivojević-Jurjević and Vatković families until the second half of the 15th century, when the fortress fell under Turkish rule.
During the 200 years of the Ottoman rule, the fortress was expanded and the Avala tower was built nearby to protect the access to the fortress. Underneath the fortress, a settlement was formed and expanded with emphasized fortified towers for residential purposes.
The fortress was conquered by the Venetians in 1690 and the passage to the fortress was blocked by new walls. The Chapel of St. Ante was then built.
