SPLIT MAKARSKA ZAGORA BRAČ HVAR VIS TOURIST GUIDE FREE COPY Foreword The coastal area and a chain of green islands, lovely pebble beaches that 4 are deeply indented under the skirts RIVIERA SPLIT of the surrounding mountains and the adjacent clear waters of the Split 8 Mediterranean, over which hang Trogir 14 hundred-year-old pine trees, the Kaštela 16 green “heart’’ in the valleys of the Solin 17 Cetina and Jadro rivers is the area of Omiš 18 the central part of the Adriatic coast, Šolta 19 from Marina in the north to Gradac in the south and it is here that tourism has had its home for more than a century. In this strange and in many ways special place, the most skilled hands of art and culture masters, from ancient times and Romanesque 20 eras, to old Croatian folk artists and RIVIERA MAKARSKA builders, all left their traces, inscribing them in rocks, walls and palaces of Contents Makarska 24 towns and urban centres that, at the Brela 26 same time, not only provide guests Baška Voda 27 with peace and solitude but also Tučepi 28 2 cheerful nights soaked in the warm Podgora 29 Mediterranean south. Živogošće 30 The history of this century-long Drvenik 30 tourist area notes the hosting of Gradac 31 many crowned heads, renowned dignitaries, statesmen and potentates, as well as world famous and easily- recognizable celebrities. But the warmth, compassion and openness of the hosts to people from all walks of life and their putting the customer in the centre of their attention have always been present here. If you choose this region for your stay and vacation, not only will it provide physical comfort, but you will feel your soul elevated to higher levels. Your visit will allow you the adventure of peeking into the life and customs of the local people to discover their cheerful nature, and you will certainly wish to come back again, and again. Welcome to Central Dalmatia - the heart of the Croatian Adriatic! Split - Dalmatia County Tourist Board 48 THE ISLAND OF HVAR Hvar 52 Stari Grad 54 Jelsa 54 Vrboska 55 Sućuraj 55 32 ZAGORA 3 Klis 34 Dugopolje 34 Sinj 35 Trilj 36 Vrlika 36 Imotski 37 Vrgorac 38 40 56 THE ISLAND OF BRAČ THE ISLAND OF VIS Supetar 44 Sutivan 45 Vis 60 Milna 45 Komiža 62 Bol 46 Selca 47 Postira 47 Sumartin 47 Pučišća 47 Povlja 47 Riviera Split World’s cultural heritage in the palm of your hand 4 From the peaceful groves of Trogir, with its surrounding villages and islands, across the seven Kaštela, Solin, Split and all the way to Omiš lies the Split Riviera, a tourist area where every solitary step of history mingles with the present day, where people live and work in regions which are thousands of years old. Present Riviera underneath Kozjak and Mosor mountains is the middle part of the Adriatic Coast, and it has been the intersection of trading routes since the period of the Illyrians and Greeks, therefore, in this very spot, beside numerous drinking wa- ter springs, the first and oldest settlements emerged, attested to by those rarest of cultural and historical monuments. At a mere thirty kilometres in distance you will find two cities registered on the UNESCO’s registry of the world’s cultural heritage: Diocletian’s Palace along with the historical core of Split, and the historical core of the City of Trogir, among which there is Salona, the largest archaeological site of the Croatian Adriatic, which was formerly the capital of the Roman Province of Dalma- tia. Croatian kings were crowned in this region, wars were fought for hundreds of years for this small part of the coast, and it would been conquered, only to be later given back to those to whom it belonged, and the conflicts and casualties have been creating legends and heroes, protectors and saints for centuries. MARINA, SEVID, VINIŠČE, VRANJICA, ISLANDS DRVENIK VELI AND DRVENIK MALI, SEGET, TROGIR, ISLAND ČIOVO (OKRUG, ARBANIJA, SLATINE), KAŠTELA, SPLIT, STOBREČ, PODSTRANA, KRILO JESENICE, SUMPETAR, DUGI RAT, DUĆE, OMIŠ, NEMIRA, STANIĆI, RUSKAMEN, LOKVA ROGOZNICA, MIMICE, MARUŠIĆI, PISAK, ISLAND ŠOLTA (ROGAČ, NEČUJAM, MASLINICA, STOMORSKA, GROHOTE) NatURAL tennis, fishing, etc., a number of agencies will be happy to show BEAUTY you the joys and locations of This region, rich in historical and an active vacation. Discover a cultural heritage, also offers an wondrous world of caves and entire spectre of interesting and pits around Split and Omiš, mo- unusual natural features. You untaineering and free climbing, should certainly visit, as legend rafting and canyoning on the has it, one of the oldest olive trees Cetina River, as well as producer in the world, the one in Kaštel of the newest adrenaline rush in Štafilić, which is at least 1500-ye- the canyon of this blue river that ars old! You should also visit the takes ones breath away, the zip- Botanical and Biblical gardens in line. Kaštel Lukšić, and also the Pantan swamp and its mills near Trogir, GastronomY the Marjan forest park in Split and the magnificent canyon of Cetina Residents of Dalmatia are well river near Omiš. known as admirers of liberal table, lightly cooked and easily ACTIVE digestible food, with lots of fish, 5 olive oil, vegetables and season- vaCation ing herbs. Diverse aromatic herbs Split Riviera is a region which that grow on sunny hillsides, offers a myriad of sporting possi- alongside parsley and garlic, cre- bilities that are adapted to gue- ate a small culinary delight with sts of all ages, with only average the scent of laurel, rosemary and physical capacity. If you prefer basil. Capers and olives are indis- to spend your vacation cycling, pensable appetizers, and espe- walking, diving, sailing, playing cially with Dalmatian prosciutto 6 which has been dried in Bora most well known among the of world famous operas, bal- wind, as well as the sheep cheese. wine admirers abroad. Mike lets, drama and classical music You should try Poljički Soparnik Grgich, a famous Californian concerts. At the same time, the (Chard pie), which is a light appe- vintner of Croatian descent, main Split promenade Riva is a tizer, garnished with an unusual has for many years claimed that place of folklore and entertain- chard and pastry baked on cin- the predecessor of the famed ing concerts and performances ders on a fireplace. Fish, which is American zinfandel is precisely of street entertainers during the grilled, stewed or cooked, occu- the Dalmatian Plavac Mali. Years summer evenings. “Diocletian pies a special place in this cuisine, of research and testing resulted days,” with a royal dinner on the while clams and crawfish which in the discovery that zinfandel authentic premises of Diocle- are traditionally prepared in bu- really does originate exactly tian’s basements, present an zara style. The most well-known from this part of Croatia, from unforgettable experience. The way of preparing meat is by mak- Kaštela, where old grapevines original sounds of Dalmatian ing a Pašticada with homemade known by the name crljenak klapa songs will excite you in gnocchi and traditional Croatian kaštelanski have been found. Omiš, as will klapa ensembles’ roasted lamb, and you can sweet- performances in Kaštel Kambe- en your gastronomic odyssey Entertainment lovac, and concerts in Kamer- with some flan or Trogir rafioli. lengo Castle in Trogir. In all of Split, Trogir, Kaštela, Solin and the small Split Riviera towns, WINE Omiš are the cities and towns you will be greeted by fisher- where life vibrates by day and men’s’ feasts, summer carni- With every mention of Croa- erupts in all of its beauty dur- vals, concerts, and numerous tian wines, the name “Plavac ing night outings and events. restaurants and taverns ready Mali” is inevitable. Plavac Mali The most well-known theatre themselves to satisfy everyone’s is the most wide-spread and festival out in the open is Split taste, after which the gala eve- economical wine, as well as the Summer, which makes Split, its ning continues in discotheques most important grapevine in squares, historical locations and and nightclubs in the open air, Croatia, and it is certainly the the heritage become a stage many by the sea. UNESCO’s cultural heritage DIOCLETIAN’S HistoriCAL Klapa palaCE IN SPLIT CORE OF (HARMONY) The Palace consists of a regular, Trogir SINGING square foundation with about 200 metres-long sides and it is The city of Trogir is a remark- Klapa singing is traditional har- surrounded by high walls with able example of the conti- mony singing without the accom- numerous forts. Historians claim nuity of a city. Street plans paniment of any instruments. The that the year 305 was the year for these settlements date tradition of Klapa groups and Kla- when the Roman Emperor re- from the Hellenistic period, pa songs which we know today tired to the palace which was and various rulers during the was created in the middle of 19th built for his family, honour guard, years of town’s history have century, in a time when cultural servants and military crew. Cer- continued to add to it with and musical identities of Mediter- tain architectural and decorative public and residential build- ranean towns on our coast and parts had been shipped from ings and forts. Its gorgeous islands were being individual- distant parts of the world, there- Romanesque churches are ised, especially in Dalmatia. The fore sphinxes and granite pillars complemented by remark- festival of the Dalmatian Klapa in had been shipped from Egypt. able Renaissance and Ba- Omiš is significantly meritorious As the centuries passed, the orig- roque buildings.