Dugopolje Sights

Daily Travel Updates

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Folklore in Inland Dalmatia - The Amazing KUD Pleter from Dugopolje

(photo: Dugopolje.hr)

The Folklore Group KUD Pleter from Dugopolje was officially established on May 28, 1999, although has begun with active work already in 1998. The primarily desire to preserve the folk traditions of the Dugopolje area has grown into a respectable cultural and artistic association, which has proven to be able to gather fans of culture and folklore in Dugopolje (and beyond) and to direct the joint efforts and energy towards cultural achievements, which are beyond the idea of preserving the tradition of this place.

Today, the folklore group Pleter has about 100 members, divided into several sections:

- folklore ensemble and folk singers

- children´s folklore dance ensemble

- female vocal group "Queen Jelena"

- female klapa "Murtela"

- mandolin and tambourine orchestra and musicians of traditional instruments

Here are several videos of the members of the folklore group Pleter performing on various occasions. Enjoy and be sure to plan a trip to Dugopolje for the annual festival of international folklore groups, which will take place mid July. More details soon.

Thursday, 10 March 2016

The Split-Dalmatian County Prefect: New Tourist Information Centre in Dugopolje Will Open Next Year

(photo: Dalmatinski Portal)

The Split-Dalmatian County Prefect Zlatko Ževrnja spent a day touring the Dalmatian Hinterland with electric vehicles in order to promote eco-driving and successful economic and tourist potential of the county, informs Dalmatinski Portal.

"Electric vehicles are the pinnacle of technology, they are the most environmentally friendly vehicles and the driving experience was excellent. We received a grant in amount of 1,3 million kuna for a project related to electric vehicles. We used the money to install five electric filling stations, created and app for e-licensing issuance for our line carriers, created an app for cell phone signal tracking, aimed primarily to tourists, so that our employes get information about their habits and heavy traffic occurrence..", said Ževrnja.

His first stop was in Dugopolje. A new project was presented - The Tourist Information Centre, which will be located at the commercial zone Podi, near the largest hub on the highway - Dugopolje.

"Analyses have shown, that this is the most optimal location and it is the nearest to all tourist, who use the highway. We made a conceptual design, obtained the location permit and now the obtaining of a building permit is in progress. We expect to get it by May 1, when we will be publishing the construction tender. I hope, that we will start with the works during the summer and have everything done by the next tourist season - announced Ževrnja.

The project is worth about 7,5 million kuna and this is what should be all available at the centre..

"All information with all textual and visual data from all tourism destinations of our county will be available at the centre. Browsing of several locations will be possible and there will be a space for tasting of local food and wine, as well as the possibility of buying souvenirs on spot," said Ževrnja.

Saturday, 27 February 2016

Dalmatian Smoked Ham (Pršut) Protected by EU - Try the One from Dugopolje

(photo: Domagoj Jakopović / 24sata)

Dalmatinski Pršut (smoked ham) has been added to the EU´s list of Geographical Indications under the CAP quality scheme.this month and together with the Pršut from Krk, Istria and Drniš, and the extra virgin olive oil from Cres, the Mandarin from Neretva, Ogulin sauerkraut and Baranja kulen (susage), it is the 8 product from Croatia to be protected by the European Commision.

According to Narodni-List.hr, the procedure was initiated four years ago at the request of the Association of Producers. The Ministry of Agriculture registered it at the national level and on February 2014, the Ministry sent a request to the EU Commission to protect the Dalmatian Pršut at the EU level.

Only products, which meet specific criteria can carry the label - the Dalmatian Pršut is described as preserved dry-cured product made from a pig´s leg and the bone, skin and fat, with no additives except sea and is to be produced in Dalmatia.

More detailed conditions say, that from the moment of slaughter to the start of salting, must not pass more than 96 hours and not less than 24 hours. The whole process from salting, through drying and ripening has to be done within the Dalmatian area.

And where to taste such an original Dalmatian Pršut? Inland Dalmatia is the right place to look for, especially Dugopolje with its Pršut from the Smjeli producers.

"We make it the same our ancestors did, the natural environment and ideal conditions for the production of the pršut and other cured delicasies," said Vlade Prančić, owner of the Smjeli company to 24sata on the occasion of opening their store in Zagreb,

Althought they produce several sorts of products, such as ham, bacon, salami and sausages with much care and love, their Dalmatian Pršut is the holder of numerous awards from national and international competitions.

The Dalmatian Pršut of the Smjeli company is smoked and dried naturally, and the strong wind, mild exposure to smoke and the sea salt and the traditional way of ripening gave it a distinctive aroma, mild salty flavour and a reddish colour.

The director of the company, Vlade Prančić, has been interested in the production from an early age. All the knowledge was passed onto him by his father and grandfather, whose nickname was turned into the company name. Their tavern was the most important part of their stone house in Dugopolje and 10-kg pršuts were smoked at the fireplace, then would be transferred under a plain stone and after seven to eight days returned to the smoke again. Pršut in this family was done and eaten after 2 years of smoking and there had to be always pršut and wine in the house. The production process has not changed much, hence the name "Just like in good old days" stated at the Smjeli Dalmatian Pršut.

For a high quality pršut, it is extremely important to have a good pig´s leg, weighing between 14 and 16 kg of fresh meat. Pršut is smoked on dry hornbeam, which has a sweet taste and a little less on beech. Bura (north wind) is very desirable, but not for a long period of time, because it would dry the pršut too much. It is the best, when bura and jugo (south wind) alternate, which is what happens the most in our area," said Vlade Prančić.

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

A large fire at the Mosor Mountain

(photo: Duje Jerković / Crometeo / Dalmacija News)

A fire swept through a larger area at Mosor between the Mosor′s hut and the mountaineering lodge as informs Dalmacija News. A canadair had to be involved due to the inaccessible terrain.

Members of the DVD Žarnovica were on site, but because of it being so far away and inaccessible, it took them a while to reach the fire. The area affected by the fire is estimated at 15 hectares. The fire was set at minimum 10 places from the hiking path from Zagrađa towards the lodge.

With the fall of night, the canadair had to stop helping on the site and another 12 fire-fighters were left (all from DVD Žarnovica). Although the fire at Mosor was visible from Split area in the evening hours, according to the fire-fighters on site, the situation is under control.

Only at the top of the peak Ljubljan still some open fire, but there is no possibility for it to spread any further. All other areas have been extinguished. Another 5 fire-fighters remained on duty at Mosor for the Monday night.

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Life in Dugopolje in 1936 - The Way People Live Movie

It never cease to amaze me. The way people lived in Inland Dalmatia prior to electricity. Life was probably more about hard work, cooperation and a close community. But still, for someone in my age and time, it is something I can´t even imagine. Life changes so fast. Too fast, maybe..

Tomislav Balić, the Director of the Dugopolje tourist board sent us a wonderful youtube video today. A trailer for the 2013 movie: The Way People Live, done by Hrvoje Jelavić-Šako for Lampros film, Croatia. This is a short introduction from the Visit Dugopolje Youtube channel:

"In 1936. young Croatian writer Zlata Perlic comes to Dalmatia to create ethnological record of the hard life of the inhabitants in the village of Dugopolje. Through the story of the young writer and local friar in live action form, described events create a circuit of lost life and world-view of the Dalmatian hinterland in the past. All elements of ethnological works on the land, birth and death, wedding and feasting are intertwined in a bitter, pungent and dignified image of Dalmatian farmers life through four seasons."

So, how was the life in Dugopolje some 80 years ago. Watch the trailer to get an idea..

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Brand New Virtual Tours through Dugopolje

A new edition to the Virtual tours of Inland Dalmatia - Tomisla Balić, the Director of the Dugopolje tourist board sent us these beautiful virtual tours through several locations in Dugopolje. You can now virtually visit The Vranjaca Cave or the St. Michael´s Church, or check out the Sports Centre or discover the King´s Cave and more. You can find all of the here. Enjoy!!

Monday, 28 December 2015

Hotel Katarina - a Great Wedding Location in Dugopolje.

An interesting offer from Hotel Katarina in Dugopolje for everyone who is planning a wedding with more than 100 and less than 800 guests..

"It is a great privilege and a challenge to create a magical atmosphere for you wedding. In the delightful ambient of our hotel with the professional and friendly staff and the supreme culinary offer, we will ensure that your wedding will become a series of magical moments as a part of the most beautiful love story.

Along with a wedding menu for a minimum of 100 and maximum of 800 guests, Hotel Katarina offers to the newlyweds (complimentary):

- first wedding night in one of our luxurious rooms

- sparkling wine and refreshemts served in the room

- early chek-in / late check-out

- breakfast served in your room or at the hotel restaurant, depending on your preferences

- free parking in the hotel garage

- special prices for your guests staying overnight

- surprise gift

We offer a special 10% discount on all bookings for wedding on Fridays and Sundays. The offer is valid all year round!"

You can find more info and contact Hotel Katarina on their website.

Monday, 21 September 2015

New Bicycle Routes by Dinarides Trails

One of the great potential of Inland Dalmatia is cycling. There are already several routes, some official, some not, but people from the Dinarides Trails (Biciklističke staze) are doing a great job publishing available routes on internet - their website.

(all photos: Biciklističke staze FB page)

Publishing available existing routes in not the only thing these enthusiasts for cycling do on their website and FB page. They get together on a regular basis and love to discover new routes. This is what they shared on their FB page the other day:

"You know the feeling, when you go out with your bike and you don´t know where to cycle that day. You are a bit bored by the existing routes. At that point, the best thing to do is to explore. Bike where nobody was biking ever before. Yep, that is when boredom is gone and the fun begins. Getting lost, finding ways, Google Maps, pushing, carrying, bushes, blod, drilling, night, battery dead, no cell-phone signal.. little bit of everything.., but you know, we survived it.

Pictures from the Biciklističke Staze FB page - the route was somewhere at the Mosor mountain near Dugopolje. Will be for sure on their website soon for you to explore.

Friday, 18 September 2015

Organic Poultry to Taste in Dugopolje - Gastro Evening on Wednesday

An invitation from the Dugopolje tourist board for a gastronomy event to take place this week:

As part of the celebrations of the Day of Dugopolje, on Wednesday (September 23, 2015) at 18:30 a Gastro manifestation "Koka Hrvatica" (Hrvatica breed) in organization of the Association of Hrvatica Breed Farmers of the Split-Dalmatia County and the Dugopolje tourist board.will take place.

All breeders and farmers from the Dugopolja area, Imotski area and the Cetina area will present themselves to the guests at the fire station in Dugopolje with their free and organic farming, which requires a broodstock of 10 hen and 1 rooster for an outdoor area of 100 m2.

A large number of the breeders of the Hrvatica breed at the Dalmatian Hinterland are former Croatian defenders, who intend to further popularize this breed, increase the number of registered broodstocks and the expansion of chicken breeding to the whole Dalmatia. Events like this are a nice example of linking tourism and agriculture and sustainable development of small communities in the Dalmatian Hinterland.

Some of the food will be prepared on site by chefs from the Dugopolje restaurant Feniks. You can look forward to taste these specialities:

rooster soup,

rooster cooked,

rooster under the lid (ispod peke) with potatoes,

chicken Tingul with Polenta,

omelettes,

pasta with eggs,

gingerbread cookies with aromatic herbs from Mosor,

"Patispanj" biscuit,

Imotski cake

Imotski Ravioli.

To complete the evening, Oliver Rogošić (musician and traditional-instruments player from Dugopolje) with the female klapa (vocal group) "Murtela" and the Folklore group "Pleter" from Dugopolje will take care for the cultural part of the event.

Everyone is welcome, the entrance is free!!

Sunday, 6 September 2015

Pršut Champion from Dugopolje - What is His Secret?

The International Pršut (Prosciutto) Festival in Drniš took place for the 2nd time last weekend. Many producers and pršut lovers gathered to taste and decide which one is the best of all.

The Dugopolje Pršut maker Vlade Prančić from the "Smijeli" pršutana (Pršut producing business) won the Champion title in the category of certified smoked pršut. To Vlade, it is his second victory after winning the same category last year.

(photo: Slobodna Dalmacija)

According to Slobodna Dalmacija when askied Vlade about his secret in pršut making: " There is no secret ingredient, nor there is too much to think about. All of them who think too much have no pršut", says Vlade.

According to another producer, there are simple rules to follow when making a good pršut: "The most important thing is the age of the animal (must be a year old) and its weight (200-300 kg) and the breed needs to be Landrance or Yorkshire. Pršut need to get salted for two weeks and then smoked for 2 months. It will be at its finest after 2 years, best served with a glass of wine."

Read the whole article here.

Page 3506 of 3791

Search