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Dalmatia Split

Having all his life been an advocate of the maxim that “all roads lead to Rome”, Emperor Diocletian came to realize that this need not be the only essential truth, for in an important moment of his life all his personal roads were to lead to what, in the distant future, was to become the city of Split. In the 3rd century AD the emperor decided to retire from the world of politics and to spend the remaining years of his life resting his soul in a cove close to the Illyrian/Greek settlement of Asphalatos, “Oh, yes; this is where I am going to build me a palace,” he is said to have murmured into his beard. And gave the appropriate commands.

He could never have dreamed that his actions would constitute the kernel of a future town. Initially, it grew within the boundaries of the Palace where its latter-day inhabitants had no compunction in adding to what they had inherited (one example being the Cathedral of St. Domnius), thus creating an amazing architectural amalgam. Together with Diocletian’s Palace and nearby Roman Salona, the Split of our times combines the tranquillity of the times of Antiquity and the energetic, sometimes frenetic, rhythm of the 21st century. And it could be that very rhythm which, according to its temperamental inhabitants, is “the most sports conscious town in the world.“

The historical heart of the city has its place on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage, as does the centre of the nearby Trogir Riviera. Trogir’s ancient roots were built on throughout later periods, the results being its medieval heart, where Gothic- and Renaissance-style buildings are crowned by an even more precious jewel: the 13th-century cathedral of St. Lawrence, its magnifi cent portal bearing the signature of Master Carver Radovan. The Kaštela Riviera comprises a picturesque string of villages that grew around seven coastal fortifi cations, supported from the hinterland by the old town of Klis and its formidable fortress.

Dalmatinska zagora, the region extending beyond the mountains of the Littoral, with the Imotski lakes and the craggy landscape of the Biokovo Nature Park, the mellow valley of the River Cetina which, in its approach to the sea - and Omiš - fl ows through some 50 km of an impressive canyon - are all a feast for the eye, and a blessing for all lovers of active holidaying: riding, rafting, canyoning and mountaineering. The Omiš Riviera is a wonderful landscape where mountains, sea and river come together. The Makarska Riviera comprises a number of smaller sites strung along the coast at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain. Shaded by pines and cypresses there are as many as 60 km of pebble beaches offered by this Riviera.

The island of Brac is the largest of all the Dalmatian islands. Anyone who has once walked the Zlatni rat beach needs no telling that it is one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere on the Mediterranean. And having soaked up as much rest as necessary, one then goes on to enjoy the Bol Tennis Tournament. The island of Visa is an oasis of virgin nature, with phenomena like the Blue, Green and Bear’s Caves awaiting. Here, grapevines and tropical fruit have been growing since the times of Antiquity, from which period remain rich archaeological localities. The island of Hvar is truly Dionysian; bathed in sunshine, submerged in a fragrance of lavender and with its oh, so very good wines! And all of this variously spiced by the Days of Hvar Theatre, the Omiš Festival of Dalmatian Klapas, the Sinjska alka, Days of Marulo (celebrating Marko Marulic, the 15/16th century writer from Split).

croatia-small-hotels.com 2008