ATTRACTIONS – WHAT TO SEE? WHAT TO VISIT?
DUCE
Duce is one of about twenty small places in Poljica, the area at the foot of the Mosor mountainous chain. The Duce with its magnificent, nearly continuous sandy beaches, about 4 km long, are a natural phenomenon.
A number of houses along the very coast have been built for tourism. There are several houses that provide board and lodging and a number of catering facilities.
The scent, silence, nature and scenery of the horizont and islands, make this region particularly attractive to tourists from large modern cities.
Duce belonged in the past to the famous ancient Poljice Republic ruled by the Grand Duke according to the decrees of the Poljice Statute.
Such a heritage has left an indelible imprint on that place which is proud of its preserved examples of popular rural architecture.
Beaches: sandy.
OMIS
Omis is a small Central Dalmatian town between Split and Makarska. It is situated in the canyon of the very beautiful Cetina river and is surrounded with massive gorges.
It was well-known in the past by the pirates of Omiš whose ships were for foreign invaders a centuries-long symbol of retaliation, courage and strength.
Today, Omiš is the place of various tourist facilities along its 35 kilometres long riviera consisting of the multitude of picturesque beaches and preserved fisherman’s villages.
The strength of the ancient Omiš pirates has been converted into the authentic song of the Omiš harmony-singing groups.
Omis Pirates
At the peak of their power, Omis Pirates were one of the most powerful and fearsome pirates on the whole Mediterranean Sea.
In the 12. and 13. century Omiš was governed by the dukes Kacics, the leaders of the pirates of Omis. The Omis dukes from the Kacic family: Malduk, Toljen, Pribislav, Osor were the masters of the Adriatic Sea, so mighty that the towns of Dubrovnik and Kotor were forced to make treaties with them on non-attacking, and in the 13 th century even Venice appeared as a party in the pact with the Omis pirates making a commitment to pay tribute to ensure free sailing and trade.
The pirates of Omis used to attack Pope’s galleys and merchants of Venetia, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split. On few occasions they even attacked the crusaders on their way to the Holy Land.
Omis Pirates ruled the Adriatic Sea for more then three centuries until in the year of 1420 the whole of Dalmatia, except Omis, fell under rule the of Venetian Republic, the most powerful naval force of those times.
Surrounded by the enemy and left completely alone, the Pirates of Omis managed to defend themselves for 24 years. In 1444, Omis fell into the hands of Venetia and that year marks the end of piracy on Adriatic Sea.
Omis Pirates were extraordinary sailors and shipbuilders, famous for their Sagittas (the Arrow), a special type of ship constructed for fast attack and even faster retrieval into the safety of the mouth of the Cetina River.
Due to its position and the bravery of its inhabitants, Omis was practically impregnable to all invaders. Even the Turks, who conquered all of the south-eastern Europe, and were stoped at the gates of Wienna, didn’t manage to defeat Omis.
DUGI RAT
The Dugi Rat is little town situated by the very seaside, along the Adriatic road, and stretches from the village of Podstrana to the town of Omis. At its northern side it is surrounded by Mt Mosnjica, and on its southern side, by the sea of the Brac Channel.
Nearly the whole coast consists of pebbly beaches, while the part from Dugi Rat to Omis is covered with sandy ones. The scent, silence, nature and scenery of the horizont and islands, make this region particularly attractive to tourists.
Picturesque old villages, numerous coves, harbours, small ports, old ships, modern motor yachts, fishing boats, yachts, small boats, fishing equipment and nets, vineyards, figs, olives, sour cherries and the sun, sun, sun…
Beaches: pebble, sandy.
SPLIT
Split is the economic and administrative center of Middle Dalmatia, with about 300,000 inhabitants. It is also the jumping-off point for exploration of the coast and islands of the beautiful Croatian Adriatic.
The site was first settled when, at the end of the third century AD, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace here.
The importance of Diocletian’s Palace far transcends local significance because of its level of preservation and the buildings of succeeding historical periods built within its walls, which today form the very heart of old Split.
Split’s growth became particularly rapid in the 7th century, when the inhabitants of the destroyed Greek and Roman metropolis Salonae (present-day Solin) took refuge within its walls. The lovely ruins of Solin outside the city can still be explored today. In the Middle Ages, Split was an autonomous commune.
Many of Split’s historical and cultural buildings can be found within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. In addition, numerous museums, the National Theatre, and old churches and other archeological sites in the Split region make it an important cultural attraction.
Split is a busy port, with an international airport and regular ferry services with the nearby islands, the north and south Adriatic, Italy and Greece. The merchant and passenger ships of the Split shipyards may be encountered in almost all the seas of the world.
The fertile fields around Split represent a good base for agriculture, while cultural monuments, superb landscapes and unparalleled seascapes make it a tourist’s wonderland. Split is also a university seat and host to numerous scientific institutions.
TROGIR
Trogir is situated in the center of Dalmatia, on the eastern coastline of Adriatic sea. The heart of Trogir is small islet laying between the gentle hills on the mainland and the coast of the Island of Ciovo.
Trogir is city with 2300 years of tradition. It’s rich culture is created under the influence of old Greeks, Romans, Venetians. Trogir with concentration of palaces, churches, towers, fortress on a small island in aevery way deserves it’s nickname “the stone beauty”.
Every year during the tourist season, in period from July 1 to August 31, in the very centre of the town, as the part of Trogir Summer Festival, concerts of classical and folklore music are held-in the open air or inside (the Rector’s Palace, Museum Hall, Cathedral, Kamerlengo Fortress…), as well as the promenade concerts along the streets and in the town squares.
MAKARSKA
Makarska has always been the center of the surrounding region known as Makarska Riviera, both in an administrative, political and economic sense, as well as a center of culture, education, and since the mid twentieth century, tourism.
Today, it is a city of more than 15 thousand inhabitants that encompasses picturesque villages at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain, including Veliko Brdo, Puharići, Kotišina and Makar (which is where the name of Makarska comes from).
Makarska is one of the most famous tourist destinations on the Croatian coast, attractive for its nature and good climate, rich in tourist attractions and full of hospitable hosts.
DUBROVNIK
George Bernard Shaw was enchanted by this beautiful city: for him, it was paradise. And he is not only one. Millions of other people also take home happy memories from this “jewel of the Adriatic”.
Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. An independent, merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), it traded with Turkey and India in the East (with a consul in Goa, India) and had trade representatives in Africa (Cape Verde Islands). It even had diplomatic relations with the English court in the middle ages. Its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was envious of this Croatian-Slav city.
Dubrovnik is the most southern city in Croatia, and the most practical way to reach the city is to do so by air. Dubrovnik is 200 km far to the south from Omis. The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day. If you are visiting in the summer, do not miss the world-renowned Dubrovnik Summer Festival, with music, theatre and dance performances.
