| 1. Golden Horn Beach |
Its English name is far more appealing that its Croat, Zlatni Rat, but once walking along the powdery white sand that borders the spur of land jutting out into the inky sea from the island of Brac you’ll see what all the fuss is about. The beach and its surroundings are truly stunning.. Interestingly you shouldn’t arrange to meet anyone too far in advance because the spit of land and sand changes shape and position dependent on the winds. There are plenty of watersports on offer here and the organisers have thought of the young families that visit and separated the sports area from the beach with a long net.
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| 2. The Island of Hvar |
Only an hour by hydrofoil from Split, Hvar is becoming the party island of Croatia. Billed as a St Tropez of the 50s, the little town and waterfront are becoming the new haunt of the glitterati. There’s little to do here other than soak up the atmosphere of the town and laze the days away on the pebbly beaches but at night, the swish bars and restaurants become a must go area for people watchers.
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| 3. Split Archaeological Museum |
Humans have inhabited this region for tens of thousands of years and their story is told vividly at the Split Archaeological Museum which then traces the development of the area through the Roman times. Clearly presented, the museum isn’t a stuffy place and you get a real sense of what life in the region must have been like all those millennia ago.
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| 4. City of Solin |
Formerly the Roman city of Salona and capital of their Dalmatian region Solin lost importance after Diocletian built his palace at nearby Split and the important people of the town followed him. These days merely a suburb of Split, many of the sites of the old city have been excavated with the artefacts on show at the Split Archaeological Museum. The city was sacked by the Slavs in the 7th century and the remaining Christian inhabitants moved to Rome leaving the city abandoned.
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| 5. Trogir and Kamerlengo Fortress |
An unusual set up here, Trogir is a city on the mainland but which has an old town on a nearby island. Also on the island is a huge fortress, Kamerlengo, which guarded the city from the sea. Inhabited continuously for over 2,300 years the old city is typified by its large number of churches, towers and palaces. There is certainly plenty to see here in terms of archaeology and history but that aside, it’s a beautiful place in its own right.
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| 6. Cycle the forest trails |
Outside of the city, there are many cycling, walking and horse riding trails marked by the government and local authorities. As an escape from the hot city in spring or for keen cyclists throughout the year, the paths offer great scenery and exercise in safe and picturesque surroundings. There are a number of facilities for hiring bikes in the area.
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| 7. Mount Biokovo |
Makarska is an ideal place to stay to be able to enjoy the pretty coast between Split and Dubrovnik but also to be able to venture up into the Biokovo range and its highest peak Mount Biokovo. Villages dot the lower slopes of the mountains and for those energetic enough to climb to the top, the views on a clear day are spectacular looking down the Dalmatian Coast and if you’re lucky across to the Italian coast. Again, very favourable comparisons have been made with Italy’s Neapolitan Riviera or the lakes.
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| 8. Seafood on the Waterfront |
Split is famous for the fish caught off its shores and Croatia itself renowned for its highly underrated wines. Why not enjoy both sat at a harbour side restaurant watching the world go by or just staring out across the Adriatic. You might even see the little fishing boats come into the harbour to deposit their catches which could soon end up on your plate! Most Croatian wines are kept for national consumption or exported to the other Balkan states. Many are very palatable and re4asonably priced.
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| 9. Cathedral of St Domnius |
Originally built as the mausoleum for Diocletian and completed at the same time as his palace, the cathedral of St Domnius was constructed out of the remains after the sacking of Split by the Slavs. Diocletian was buried here but his remains were stolen or moved in the 6th century. The inhabitants of Salona who had fled here after coming under attack then placed the bones of their bishop, Domnius in it. Coincidentally, Domnius had been executed by Diocletian himself.
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| 10. Statue of Gregory of Nin |
An incredible statue of a 10th century religious leader in Croatia, Gregory of Nin, or Grgur Ninski is highly revered in Croatia. The statue is made of bronze but the constant rubbing of the big toe on the statue’s left foot has left it a shiny gold. Those rubbing the toe are said to have good luck visit them.
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