Croatian Royal Heritage Tour

Taste Dalmatia - Croatian Royal Heritage Tour

Did you know that during the 10th and 11th century Croatia was a well-known kingdom? The state was ruled mostly by the Trpimirović dynasty until 1091. There was no permanent state capital as the royal residence varied from one ruler to another; five cities in total reportedly obtained the title of a royal seat: Nin, Biograd, Knin, Šibenik and Solin. With this tour you will learn more about out rich Croatian history and culture and you will find that next to its beautiful clear blue sea and never-ending sunshine there is more to Croatia than meets the eye.

Your Price Includes: • 8-day tour by luxury air-conditioned minibus with expert English-speaking local guides and driver • 7 nights’ accommodations in 4* and 5* hotels • Breakfast included daily • Welcome drink and appetizers • 6 meals during the tour • Wine tasting • guides and tickets to sights in Split, Zadar, Šibenik such as Saint Dominus Cathedral, Palace Basements in Split, Salt museum in Nin....

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

SHUTTLE travel agency IBAN: HR6424070001100415304 [email protected] HR-AB-21-060200921 SWIFT CODE: SOGEHR22 OIB: 96166404601 SOCIETE GENERALE - Splitska banka 00385 98 184 4738 Rudjera Boskovica 16 | 21000 Split 00385 21 458 444

HERITAGE: • Church of the Holy Cross (smallest cathedral in the world),

• St. Donat

• Knin Fortress

• Diocletian's Palace in Split

• Fortresses in Šibenik, Šibenik's cathedral,

• The ancient Salona, Church St. Stephan

CULTURE: • Salt museum in Nin

• permanent exhibition of religious art - The gold and silver of Zadar

• fortification monuments

• „klapa“, an a capella type singing protected by UNESCO

GASTRONOMY: • Wine tasting

• tradional lunch including peka and prisnac

• tasting sweet delights such as arancini, limuncina, almonds in sugar

EXPERIENCE: • taste authentic Croatian food

• see ancient and medieval historical monuments

• hear Dalmatian song echoing through Zadar's pier and Greeting to the Sun

• learn the traditional ways of wine making and salt making

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome to Croatia!

Upon your arrival to Zadar airport you will be met by our representatives and transferred to an accommodation situated in Zadar city center. After arrival you'll have a short break in hotel and a welcome dinner is organized where you will be given all necessary information about your tour and program.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 2: Nin

After early breakfast you will meet your tour guide and head with our organized transfer to Nin, the oldest royal town in Croatia. It is also known as the town of salt which used to be a source of wealth throughout the city's long history. We will start the tour by visiting the salt pan where the tradition of salt making has been present since ancient times. After the visit to the Museum of salt, we'll head back to Nin city center and explore the town's impressive number of ancient monuments dating back to 9th century AD. After our town sightseeing, we'll take a stroll through the royal vineyards and wine cellars and our guide will introduce you to many different types of wines that are made here while savoring some of them.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 3: Zadar

After early breakfast we'll head directly to Biograd na Moru, once considered as the crown city of Croatian kings. We'll take a tour of the city and show you it's history through its monuments, but also see Biograd as a well-recognized nautical center. After Biograd we'll hop on our transfer and take you to a rural estate in Zadar hinterland for a traditional Dalmatian meal. There you'll get a chance to taste and experience Croatian heritage through its authentic dishes prepared for you by the hosts. After lunch we'll drive back to Zadar city center and continue the tour through Zadar streets beginning with the ancient history of the city dating to a faraway 4th century BC and walking our way around to the futuristic monuments greeting the sun on the pier. To culminate this unique tour we will enrich your experience with an exclusive performance of Dalmatia's most valuable intangible heritage protected by UNESCO that is „klapa“, an a Capella type singing performed for you by one of Zadar's best klapa groups „Munita“.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 4: Knin and Šibenik

After breakfast, we continue our story and we go to the royal city of Knin. Back in 11th century Knin was the capital city of king Dmitar Zvonimir and even today the city is also known as Zvonimir's city. Knin fortress is one of the largest Croatian fortification monuments and the second largest military fortification in Europe. It's an extremely rugged and it is preserved in all its parts making it a living monument. On the road from Knin to Split we'll make a stop in a small village caled Biskupija, a site which used to be a central place of government, church and culture in the early Croatian state during the Middle Ages. Considering its vital significance in Croatian history, it is no wonder Biskupija today is a place of study for Croatian national archeology as one of the most significant Croatian archaeological site. After Knin, we are going in Šibenik, Croatia’s first major coastal and coronation city dating to 11th century, but also a city where the most important Croatian king Petar Krešimir 4th ruled for almost 20 years. We'll take you through this medieval town and show you it's most important sightings including the most valuable cultural monument in town, Cathedral of St. James protected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 5: Cave Vranjača and the ethno village of Klis

On the fifth day of our tour schedule we have something completely different for you. In the municipality of Dugopolje, we'll take you to the amazing cave Vranjača and after we'll take a ride to the ethno village of Klis. Vranjača cave is situated at the foot of the central part of Mosor, on its northern side. Meet the wonderful underground world of stalactites and stalagmites and underground sculptures created through thousands of years of work of water far from daylight and the human gaze. Here you will discover all the richness this underground beauty has to offer.

By taking a walk through the ethno village of Klis, you'll come to find that this old Dalmatian village is an authentic ambient space surrounded by wild nature, olive grove and aroma park. In the village, we'll discover the old way of life through the magic of Mediterranean architecture, old ethno collection and various degustation’s.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 6: Solin

Last on the list of royal towns, but not any less important is the city of Solin. Solin is also known as the antique Salona. The size, wealth and magnificence of the ancient city is testified by its impressive walls with towers and gates, a forum with temples, a theater and an amphitheater. Following the Great Migration, a part of the ruined and abandoned Salona was inhabited by the Croats. Queen Jelena built the Church of Saint Mary that served as the tomb of Croatian rulers. Jelena died on 8 October 976 and was buried in that church, where a royal inscription on her sarcophagus "Mother of the Kingdom". Also, Solin was the place in which the king Dmitar Zvonimir gained his title with the support of Pope Gregory 7th and was crowned as the King of Croatia.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia

Day 7: Split

Although Croatian kings have not ruled Split, the city is an unavoidable point on our way. Split is an eternally young city with a warm Mediterranean temper and has already lived its urban rhythm for 1700 years with its heart in the Diocletian's Palace. Diocletian's Palace is one of the best preserved Roman monuments in the world. The emperor's palace was built as a combination of a luxurious villa - the summer residence and Roman military camp (castrum). Among European cathedrals Split has the seat of the oldest building - the mausoleum of Roman Emperor Diocletian. Today, two millenniums after its long and significant history, the Diocletian's Palace is a place of reconciliation of ancient pagan, medieval and Christian heritage. Diocletian Palace and the entire historical core of Split have been on the World Heritage UNESCO list ever since 1979, and not only for the extraordinary preservation of the Palace, but also because the Palace and its city continue to live a full life.

Old town hotel 4/5*

Day 8: Departure

After early breakfast our transfer van will take you back to the airport.

Taste Dalmatia DMC price 2.500 euros per person, minimum 2 people. Agent commission not included.

Rudjera Boskovica 15/Kaleta 1 21000 Split | Croatia