As Novac/Lenka Gospodnetic writes on the 5th of August, 2020, in Brnaze near Sinj, there is a four-star hotel, but with an unfortunate name - the Corona hotel.

As Slobodna Dalmacija reports, the Corona hotel's owner Mario Basic, who runs the Sedile company, in whose portfolios the hotel is located, says he will not change the name.

''We're not the only ones called corona: there is also the beer, boats, and millions of hotels around the world! One hotelier said: let the virus change its name, because I'm not going to!'' said Basic.

Otherwise, the Corona hotel's owner is engaged in the production of furniture, has five workers and very full hands. Everything in the Corona hotel is made in Sinj, by hand, from home-made wood and leather, he says.

When asked if there were cancellations for the Corona hotel due to its unfortunate name, he said there weren't, but there was stagnation due to the virus which has made this hotel's name so unlucky.

''For example, there's no one at the moment, but we're full for Alka and Velika Gospa! Our guests aren't only pilgrims here for religious tourism, we have a lot of business people because we're in a good place, we have four stars, we have a "bed end breakfast" option and it's a good price: in the heart of the season, it's 450 kuna per person for a bed and breakfast,'' says the hotel owner, adding that the Corona hotel's staff didn't work for work a month and a half, like everyone else, but they kept all of their staff.

People who come, and those who pass, admits Basic, often make fun of the name, and there are those who certainly react. Some laugh, others take pictures, and some - when they see the name of the hotel - cross themselves.

But there are reasons why no one should avoid spending the night at the Corona hotel, regardless of the ongoing pandemic bearing the same name, claims Basic.

''This is a great place for excursions, Sinj is close by, the Cetina river, rafting and canoeing, quad-driving, horseback riding. And then there's the opportunities for river fishing, the Krka waterfalls. Split! All the beauty of the world. So, who cares about the virus, or its name? It's normal for us to diligently disinfect everything, and with respect to everything else, let's not be petty,'' concluded the Corona hotel's owner from Brnaze.

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August 22, 2019 - The Brnaze Festival is a festival of chivalry, heroism, and folklore that is dedicated to old disciplines, cultures, and sports.

The Brnaze festival was held for the first time in 1974 and continuously ran until 1990. The festival was relaunched in 1999 and came to a halt a few years ago. In 2016, the Sinjska Alka cluster organized the festival again to ensure the preservation of the traditions of this area through this manifestation.

This year’s Brnaze festival will return for the 34tg edition at Meljač, known as the site of the ruins of the early Christian church of St. Mihovil.

The Brnaze Festival is a valuable, cultural, and original ethno-festival with rich economic content. Many producers of autochthonous products from the Cetina and Dalmatian region participate in the event, and there are also demonstrations of hunting, heroism and folklore dedicated exclusively to ancient disciplines, culture and sports. 

The location of Meljač is among one of the most important early Christian sites that is regularly mentioned in literature. Therefore, the festival serves a purpose to help revalue the site through projects that protect its cultural heritage.

The festival also aims to promote locality, and as in previous years, it will promote the preservation of ethnic heritage, various traditional games (bocce ball tournament, bag races, football matches, long jump, martial arts, parachute jumps), performances of KUDs, and more. 

At the end of the three-day affair, an “Evening of Tradition and Folklore" will be performed through cultural art societies, with special reference to this year's winner of the 304th Sinjska Alka, Frane Ivković from Brnaze.

The event is organized by the Sinjska Alka Cluster in cooperation with the locals of Brnaze.

Entrance is free!

The Brnaze Festival is a festival of chivalry, heroism, and folklore that is dedicated to old disciplines, cultures, and sports.

Final competitions and great folk festivities ended yesterday at Meljač for the 31st Brnaze festival, organized by the association ‘Alka'.

Organized by the group 'Sinjska Alka', the weekend of August 26-28 will host the 31st “Brnaze Festival” at Meljač, part of Brnaze in the south of Sinj.