7
DAYS
Great presence of World Heritage sites in this area has pushed an entire
range of archaeological attractions into the background, causing them to be
neglected in terms of tourism and to stay away from the eyes of the public
despite all their splendour.
This programme introduces fascinating sites, places and people, which
certainly deserve the attention of those who love archaeological tourism.
Did you know that the city of Split inherited 12 Egyptian sphinxes, or that
Syracusan Greeks founded one of their first colonies in this region on Vis, one
of the best preserved Mediterranean islands...?
This is a journey woven from hidden archaeological sites that definitely
deserve your attention.
DALMATIA BEHIND THE SCENES
far from sight
Vis, Split, Kaštela, Omiš, Klis, Trilj, Vrlika, Sinj, Brać
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL:
April, May, June, September, October, November
NUMBER OF DAYS: 7 days / 6 nights
PLACE OF DEPARTURE: Split
MIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 2 persons
MAX NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 16 people
ITINERARY
More about Vis...
Issa is an ancient settlement in what is now the town of Vis, on the island of Vis. It
was founded in the 4th century BC by the Greeks from Syracuse in Sicily. Decisive for
the choice of location of the settlement were the strategic position of the island of Vis
and numerous freshwater springs. Issa had the status of a polis (city-state), and has
developed as a major Greek stronghold on the Adriatic. It lost its independence in
47 BC, having taken the side of the defeated Pompey in the war against Caesar. Since
then it was a part of the Roman Empire, retaining, however, its economic importance.
Numerous remains of the ancient Greek and lat¬er Roman settlement survived, such as: baths,
necropolis, parts of streets, sunken parts of the port and the Roman theatre, where a Franciscan
monastery was later built.
In recent times, the island of Vis often served as a stronghold for many armies, and
although it seems completely intact on the outside, the inside is a burrow of tunnels dug by the
army of the former Yu¬goslavia.
DAY 1 & 2 – THE ISLAND OF VIS
Tour of the island includes the collection of the Archaeological Museum, located in the
Austrian fortress; the archaeological site of the ancient city of Issa; and many
fortresses of later historical periods: Perast tower (17th century), George’s Fortress (19th century),
Levaman Battery – Our Lady’s Fortress (19th century...).
Trip to Komiza, a picturesque fishermen’s village on the other side of the island.
We will visit the Venetian tower from the 16th century and the unique complex of the
St. Nicholas – Muster monastery from the 13th century.
DAY 3 – TOWERS AND PLACES OF SPLIT
Diocletian’s Palace is known to almost everyone, but within and around it
there are many interesting places, no less noteworthy. Whether it’s the towers,
mysterious sphinxes, noblemen’s palaces, bastions, museums or churches, we will introduce you to our city in a different way. After a tour of the city centre, lunch and a
walk to the nearby Marjan park hill, our story continues on its southern slopes.
Hermits’ dwellings in the rocks, a tower from the 16th century constructed in rock, a
picturesque church of St. Jerome (15th century) and, at the end of the day, Monastery
of St. Anthony on the northern side of the city.
SPHINX is a creature with a lion’s body and the head of a ram, falcon, hawk or a human.
In Egyptian mythology they were considered to be keepers of tombs of the Egyptian
pharaohs, and the sphinxes from the Diocletian’s Palace were probably guardians of
the final resting place of Emperor Diocletian, who attributed to himself divine power
and origin, much like the Egyptian pharaohs. So far as many as 12 have been found,
and today they are scattered across numerous locations inside the palace. Split’s most
famous sphinx is, of course, the one on the Peristyle. It is also the best preserved one,
and the only one that still has a head. It is 3500 years old, made of black granite, and
dates from the time of the pharaoh Thutmose III.
In terms of its composition, DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE contains elements of an imperial villa,
Hellenistic town and a fortified military camp (castrum). From the 7th century, the palace
has been functioning as a city, which started to spread westward from the early Middle
Ages and was repeatedly enclosed by walls.
Over time, small aristocratic palaces were built both within and outside its walls, bearing
witness to the continuous life of the city and the emergence of new values. Together with
other preserved areas of Diocletian’s Palace, they make a complex of immensely important
architectural heritage.
Palaces you will see: de Augubio, the large Papalić Palace (the city museum), the small
Papalić palace, Cindro, Karepic, Cambi, Milesi, Ciprijani, Grisogono - Cipci...
The town of Kaštela exhibits traces of all historical periods. Prehistoric man from the Stone Age hunted here,
there are many findings dating back to the Illyrian period on the mountain Kozjak, while during the Greek
and Roman rule Kaštela experienced economic growth and development of civilisation, as evidenced by the
remains of numerous ancient villas and settlements. Croats have inhabited the gentle slopes of Kozjak in the
7th century, which is evidenced by old Croatian churches. Trogir and Split landlords, together with church
officials, built citadels on the coast or on the cliffs to protect the crops and farmers. There were seven villages
built around the 16 citadels: Kaštel Štafilić, Kaštel Novi, Kaštel Stari, Kaštel Luksic, Kaštel Kambelovac, Kaštel
Gomilica and Kaštel Sućurac, which grew, evolved and eventually merged into the town of Kaštela.
Some of the citadels are still recognizable in the Kaštela Bay: Citadels of the family Lodi, families Stafileo,
Cipiko, Vitturi, Rusinac citadel, Cambi tower, citadel in Kaštel Gomilica, and citadel in Kaštel Sućurac.
DAY 4 – FORTS OF SPLIT RIVIERA
This day is dedicated to citadels, forts and towers on the coast. We will
start with the most representative example, the town of Kastela, an
agglomeration of seven small towns that developed around 16 citadels.
After Kastela, which are located north of Split, we will go south, through the ancient
Republic of Poljica and down the canyon of the Cetina River to its estuary - in the
town of Omis. This small picturesque town, known mostly as an excellent bathing
destination, has some stories to tell and sights to see, ranging from the Classical
period onwards.
Omiš is a small town in the heart of Dalmatia which is located at the estuary of the river Cetina.
The history of this small town is long and very interesting. Here you can see many cultural and
historical sites in their authentic natural environment. Through the historic centre of Omis and
along the beautiful old stone houses, the road leads to the Mirabela fortress (13th century) which
served as a watchtower. Omiš is a real “bad boy” of Medieval and modern times. The main source of
income of its residents was generated from pirate attacks on rich galleys. Today, however, it is a small,
charming tourist town.
KLIS FORTRESS is one of the most important fortresses on the Croatian soil, due to its extremely
important strategic and defence position. The fortress on a cliff, which for more than a
millennium has been the key to Dalmatia and the true altar of the homeland, represents a link between
the sea and the continent and is renowned for its invincibility and long resistance to the Ottoman forces.
It was precisely in the Klis area that Croats established one of their first territorial communities. First Croatian
dukes ruled from the fortress, and in the 16th century Uskoks used it to defend Christianity in blood. The last
time it was used for military purposes was during the Second World War by the German army.
DAY 5 – IN DALMATIAN HINTERLAND
We will start this day with the most important link between land and sea,
the Klis Fortress, with its magnificent view of Split, the islands and the
Kastela Bay. The Klis Uskoks, historical unit made up of volunteer veterans of the last
war for Croatian independence, will be your proud guides around the fortress. After
that we will visit the military camp of the Roman 7th Legion – Tilurium, near the
present-day town of Trilj, where a permanent exhibition of its new Museum awaits
us. After lunch, we will continue our journey towards the source of the river Cetina
and the town of Vrlika,where we will visit the Church of Holy Salvation (9th century)
and the Prozor castle.
The day will end with a visit to the town of Sinj and its Museum of the Cetina Region
and the archaeological collection of the Franciscan monastery.
TILURIUM, a Roman military camp located on a strategic hill above the present-day town of Trilj,
was the most important Roman military base in the province of Dalmatia along with Burnum
near Kistanje. The construction of these two strongholds during the early 1st century marked the
definitive pacification of the Illyrians and defeat of a particularly belligerent tribe of Delmats,
after whom the region was named. Tilurium was the camp of the Roman 7th legion who came to
Dalmatia to take part in the suppression of the great Illyrian and Pannonian revolt.
Emperor Claudius awarded them for their fidelity by founding a colony in the area of the city of Kaštela.
The church dedicated to Christ the Saviour, CHURCH OF HOLY SALVATION, is one of the most
valuable monuments of Croatian and Western European pre-Romanesque church architecture
(early Middle Ages), and in its western façade, which resembles a tall bell tower, is one of the
most completely preserved “westwork spires” of that period in Croa¬tia and the region.
Numerous burial sites around the church (more than 1162 tombs) make this site the biggest
Croatian necropolis ever discovered. There were many upheavals associated with this church,
which makes it even more remarkable. At a distance of about 500 meters from the Church of
Holy Salvation there is the biggest and the most beautiful source of the river Cetina.
PROZOR FORT, located above the present-day town of Vrlika, was built at the turn of the
14th century on the territory once governed by Ivanis Nelipic, a Duke of the Cetina region. In
terms of its preserved condition, it is one of the most important medieval fortresses of the
Dalmatian hinterland. The fortress was captured by the Ottomans around 1520, followed by
the Venetians in the late 17th century.
The fortress has suffered the most during the “Small War” and the famous Ottoman attack
on the Cetina region in 1715, after which it was reportedly abandoned and never rebuilt.
The area around Vrlika is known for the so-called „Nijemo kolo“, a traditional folk dance
without musical accompaniment or independent of it. It was added to the UNESCO’s List of
Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.
SINJ is place where the first Roman emperor Octavian Augustus was wounded, one of the
last strongholds of Delmats, which was lost from later historical records until the late Middle
Ages and the Croatian Dukes. However, Sinj is best known for its miraculous victory over the
Ottoman army in 1715, in whose honour a knights’ tournament, the “Alka of Sinj”, is being
held until this day. Alka has been on the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since
2010.
ŠKRIP
DAY 6 – ANCIENT “LOST” ISLAND OF BRAC
We have started this programme with an island and we will finish it with one – this
time it is the island of Brac. We will, of course, visit the oldest place on the island,
the authentic small town of Skrip. Here, within only a few metres, you can visit
numerous monuments: the Radojkovic Tower with its mysterious ancient tomb,
the Heritage Museum of the Island of Brac, the Cerineo-Cerinic castle (17th
century), and the Museum of Oil.
We will also visit the Roman quarries of Rasohe and the Lovrecina cove
with the remains of a Roman country villa and an early Christian basilica of
St. Lawrence.
DAY 7 – DEPARTURE
Free time until departure of the airplane.
With its 3000-4000 years of age, the town of Škrip is the oldest settlement on the island, and
today it hardly has more than ten houses. Škrip has the largest preserved Roman cemetery on the
island and a Roman mausoleum that is, according to a legend, a resting place of Prisca and Valeria,
the wife and daughter of the Roman emperor Diocletian. According to another legend, St. Helena, the
mother of the emperor Constantine, was also born in Škrip. The name Škrip derives from the Latin noun
scrupus, which means “large sharp stones.” Roman mausoleum was built on the foundations
dating back to 1500 BC (the so-called Cyclopean walls), and above it is the Radojkovic defence
tower that was built during the Venetian-Turkish wars (16th century), which has been housing the
archaeological and ethnographic Regional Museum of the Island of Brač since 1979.
Nearby is the largest fortified castle on the island of Brač, the Cerineo - Cerinic castle from 1618, one of the
most beautiful castles on the island.
The Museum of Oil in Škrip exhibits the history of olive growing on the island with a population of one million
trees, while the Roman quarry Rasohe is well known for the most preserved ancient relief on the island of Brač
depicting Hercules carved into the bedrock. The relief was probably made at the end of the 3rd century and
at the beginning of the 4th century, when the stone was excavated for the construction of Diocletian’s Palace.
Deep in the Lovrečina cove lie the remains of a Roman country villa and a villa rustica, while sunken in the
sea are the remains of an ancient harbour. The western part of the bay features the ruins of an early Christian
basilica of St. Lawrence from the 5th to 6th century. This site was the location of a strong religious shrine, which
continued to be used in the time of the Benedictines (Croatian king Petar Kresimir IV invited them from Italy),
whose remains can also be found in the cove.
INTERESTING FACTS
STEĆCI
BIRANJ
STEĆCI are monolithic stone blocks, horizontal or vertical tombstones from the 14th and
15th century, characteristic for Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of Montenegro,
west Serbia and Kosovo. Stećci cannot be found anywhere outside this territory.
Most scientists agree that these monuments belonged to the Vlachs. The Vlachs were a
nomadic tribe, probably of Illyrian origin, who were cattle breeders and often also
merchants and mercenaries. The area around the town of Imotski particularly abounds
in stećci. These roughly and somewhat unskilfully carved tombstones, these monumental
stone blocks, have found their place in the past of the Imotski Region, testifying to the
literacy, culture, faith, and power of this area.
The Biranj peak on the Kozjak Mountain (631 m) above the town of Kaštela is a
dominant point in space, which commands a spectacular view of the Central Dalmatian
coastline and the Dalmatian Hinterland. Not many people know that this is the location of an
interesting and complex archaeological site. The earliest findings date back to the late
Neolithic period, and the hill-fort had been used intensively during the Bronze Age, when
it was a fortified borough. In terms of the area it covers, this is one of the largest hill-forts
in Dalmatia, with two rows of preserved dry-wall ramparts. During the Late Antiquity, this
site was also fortified, and remains of various buildings and water cisterns were preserved.
The toponym Biranj is derived from the name of the Slavic supreme deity, Perun.
A Romanesque chapel of St. John is still being used, testifying to the sacral continuity of
this site.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
TRIP TERMS & CONDITIONS
The travel arrangement and full-day will be officially booked once we have
received a 50% deposit payment.
We accept bank transfer and credit card payment through our secure
payment service for Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Diners
credit cards.
The customer can cancel the travel arrangement and full-day or
half-day tour at any moment; however, Ventula Travel DMC travel a
gency shall keep a certain portion of the paid amount which will depend on the
cancellation period, and which is specified as follows:
•
•
The above mentioned program is general and proposed for a period of 7 days / 6 nights.
•
Destinations mentioned in the program can be used to create a perfect individual program according to the wishes and preferences of customers for a period of up to 2-7 days.
•
The tour package can be booked for groups ranging from 4 to 16 people throughout the year.
•
Accommodation is available in different arrangements (hotel, guest house or apartment) 3 * or 4 *,
as well as food (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
•
We organize transport and a travel companion throughout your stay, as well as a local guide for the specified sites.
•
Information provided in the program is illustrative and non-binding; in cooperation with you, a final offer
and itinerary will be tailored according to your wishes and interests.
30 or more days prior to departure – 10 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour, and no less than 15,00 € *
• 29 to 22 days prior to departure – 30 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
• 21 to 15 days prior to departure – 40 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
• 14 to 8 days prior to departure – 80 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
• 7 to 0 days prior to departure – 100 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
• after the departure or no-show – 100 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour.
* According to the selling exchange rates on the day of the payment
Ventula Travel DMC
Travel agency
Uljara Vukšić d.o.o.
Don Frane Bulića 169 A
HR - 21210 Solin
OIB: 05275002138
ID: HR-AB-21-060178482
Phone: +385 21 21 81 81
Fax: +385 21 21 81 81
GSM: +385 98 436 041
E-mail: info@ventula-travel.com
Web page: www.ventula-travel.com
Bank information: Privredna banka Zagreb d.d.
Radnička cesta 50, 10000 Zagreb
IBAN: HR51 2340 0091 1100 3365 2
MBS: 060178482 Commercial Court in Split
Founding Capital: 1.440.100 kn - paid in full
Member of the Board: Katarina Vukšić