MIDDLE DALMATIA – True charm of the southern Mediterranean
Map of Middle Dalmatia; photos of towns, islands, nature & gastronomy
The middle part of Dalmatia is situated between Primosten in the north and the fertile valley of the river Neretva in the south. Even the ruler of the world at that time, emperor Diocletian, has knuckled under the charm of the crystal sea, hidden bays, dense woods and rugged karst of the middle Dalmatia.
By building one of the most beautiful world palaces he has made the foundations of the town that dominates the region. Around his magnificent palace, Split has developed, cultural, political and spiritual centre of the whole Dalmatia. In front of Split is located the island of Brac with its Vidova gora, the highest hill in the Adriatic islands and the ”Golden Horn”, probably the most beautiful beach in Dalmatia.
The island of Hvar is also a must to visit, not only for its uncontaminated nature, but also for its rich cultural heritage. Between the place Brela and the river Neretva is located the ”Makarska Riviera”, considered by many people to be the most beautiful part of the Croatian coast with its wonderful pebble beaches. One of the most beautiful towns of the region is certainly Trogir, today also known as ”Museum-town”, thanks to its medieval city centre, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List under the protection of UNESCO.
Beautiful landscapes, authentic gastronomic offer and friendly hosts, have made of middle Dalmatia the most interesting tourist destination for people from all around the world, specially for lovers of nautical and underwater tourism.
TO EXPLORE
Nature: protected landscapes: Vidova gora, Zlatni rat – The Golden Horn (island of Brač); Cetina River – notable landscape, the 105 km long watercourse and the canyon (Omiš) will delight fans of rafting and canoeing; island of Ravnik; Donja Brela; Pakleni islands (island of Hvar)
Monuments of nature: Modra špilja – The Blue Cave, Medvidina špilja (caves on the island of Biševo); Grapčeva spilja (cave on the island of Hvar); spilja Vranjača (cave on the mountain of Mosor); islands of Jabuka and Brusnik; Crveno jezero – Red Lake and Modro jezero – Blue Lake (Imotski) – geomorphologic natural phenomenon
Special reserves: the source and upper courses of the Rivers Jadro and Vrlika; Pantan wetlands (Trogir); park-wood Marjan (Split)
Nature Parks: Biokovo Nature Park – the highest mountain along the Croatian coast, with rich flora and fauna
Architectural sites: Diocletian’s Palace – example of Roman palatial architecture (Split); the best preserved town of the Romanesque and Gothic periods in Central Europe – walls with castle and tower, narrow stone-clad streets (Trogir); Ancient city of Salona (Solin) – capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia; Renaissance nucleus of the town of Hvar – St. Stephen’s Cathedral, town loggia with a tower and arsenal with a theatre dating from 1612.(island of Hvar); Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sinj – the largest Marianic sanctuary in Dalmatia; drystone walls and popular building styles of closely packed stone houses and alleys on islands and in costal towns (Makarska, Omiš, Sinj, Imotski, the islands of Brač, Hvar, Vis)
Gastronomy: Dalmatian ”kroštule” (sweet , thinly rolled and twisted bits of pastry, deep-fried); Dalmatian ”pašticada”; ”arambašići” – beef in cabbage (Sinj); ”vitalac” – lamb dish; ”viška pogača” (flat-bread of Vis); ”hvarski paprenjaci” (pepper cookies from Hvar); ”smutica” – wine with milk (island of Brač); Vugava and Plančić wines (island of Hvar)
Events: Hvar -The Hvar Summer Events (May/October); Split – The Split Summer (July/August), Days of Marulić (April); Trogir – The International Tenor Competition (August); Sinj – Sinjska Alka (ring tilting tournament on horseback, August); Omiš – Dalmatian Harmony Singing Festival (June/July)
Cycling trails: Marjan park-wood (Split); islands of Brač, Hvar, Vis
Wine roads: Biokovo; Kaštela; islands of Brač, Hvar, Vis, Biševo
Adventourism: rafting and canoeing (River Cetina); flying (island of Brač, island of Hvar, mountains Mosor, Dinara, Biokovo)
Souvenirs: lavender (Hvar), agava lace (Hvar)
TOURISM PLUS
Hunting: state-owned hunting grounds: Biokovo, Mosor, Pelegrin, Kopršnica – Tijarica; Fishing: River Cetina, Peručko jezero (Peruča lake), River Vrlika; Riding: Trilj, Sinj; Bene and Marjan park-wood (Split)