It has been planned for years, and last week it finally happened: the first Dalmatian fish market, "Gastro Fisch Brač" opened in Vienna. In Neubau, one of the more prestigious neighborhoods in Vienna, just a couple of minutes walk away from the main square partners Ivo and Toni Bartulović and Milan Prgomet, opened the first Austrian branch of their famous chain of fish markets, that operate all over Dalmatia. 

They got the idea in 2016 and started working on the project in 2018 after they managed to find the appropriate location for their shop. They promised their buyers that the fish will be coming to the shop from the Adriatic 12 to 24 hours after being taken out of the sea. In addition to fish, the buyers will be able to purchase many specialties made from fish and other seafood in this dalmatian fish market.

The opening of the fish market took place on January 12th, and many Croatian as well as Austrian people from the hospitality business, as well as many seafood lovers, came to welcome the novelty to their city. The future buyers got the chance to taste some of the goodies they will be able to purchase in the dalmatian fish market in the center of Vienna in the future. The main attraction of the opening evening was the bluefin tuna, filleted and served by Ivica Katić, the chef in the Zoi restaurant in Split. For years this delicacy, expensive and demanding to breed, was exclusively exported to the Japanese market, which is always looking for more high-quality tuna. Only recently have the Gastro Fisch Brač fish markets in Dalmatia, and now in Austria, started offering the tuna to their buyers. 

Meet BuyFish Shop, the first electronic fish market in Croatia.

Marmontova (Marmont’s Street) is today a popular pedestrian street leading north from Riva towards Trg Gaje Bulata, which is where the Croatian National Theatre is located. Other than housing glitzy shops, Marmontova bears historical significance too.

When Napoleon conquered Dalmatia in the early 19^th century, his supervising General Auguste Marmont looked over infrastructural developments in Split. Marmont urbanized the city by bringing electricity to Split for the first time, tearing down unnecessary structures, and creating a more viable street grid. In honor of these improvements, the city has immortalized Marmont’s name by calling one of its most visited streets after him.

Along Marmontova you will find “Alliance Francaise,” a French culture and language center suitably located on a street named after a Frenchman. Previously, this location was a library and reading room founded in 1922.

Along the street is Split’s oldest pharmacy, “Varoš” from 1856, which is fitted with furniture from an even older Italian pharmacy. Wooden cabinets are from the time of the Renaissance and various neo- Renaissance decorations and figurines, notably Galen (the Greek physician) and Aesculapius (the God of doctors in Roman mythology) are still found in the space today; a cute little stop for medical dorks.

For the artsy crowd, there is an ever-changing photography exhibition at Galerija Fotoklub Split housed in a beautiful Secession style palace “Duplančić”, and another little gallery on the street often displays quirky art by local artists. Just off Marmontova is Split oldest cinema, Karaman, from 1907.

Most popular is the Fish Market (Ribarnica, or Peškarija in dialect), known as the “belly button of Marmontova” and a monument of the city where locals come early to buy the best the Adriatic has to offer. It is housed in a Secession style building with ironworks and white stone slabs displaying the freshest catch. As the city has grown, so has the market, now taking up some outdoor space as well. Visitors will be surprised to notice that the market is not bothered by flies; this is due to the smell of the nearby sulfur springs.

Along the street is the public Split Spa facility housed in a great Art Nouveau building by local architect Kamilo Tončić, recognized by its captivating sculptures of topless women on its façade.

Curiosity will catch your eye as you spot the peculiar Pirja Fountain, a funnel-like sculpture on the ground and a fisted hand on the wall above where water aims into the funnel. The fisted hand shows the thumb protruding between the index finger and middle finger, showcasing a typical hand sign from Split, šipak, with a versatile definition of up yours, whatever, or nothing. Unfortunately, the fountain has not been in use much as the water splashes onto pedestrians. Ironically, the šipak faces directly to Zagreb; a coincidence perhaps?

image by croatiaholidayshr.com

Below maps show that the šipak is facing Zagreb

At the top of Marmontova is the square of Trg Gaje Bulata where you will find one of the best examples of modernist church architecture in “Gospe od Zdravlja” covering a still-preserved 17^th century Franciscan monastery bell tower. Dominating the square is the bright Croatian National Theater of Split built in 1893, considered one of the biggest and oldest theater houses in the Mediterranean.

image by skyscrapercity.com

There are many branded shops along Marmontova, including Bershka, Paul&Shark, Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, Benetton, O'Neill, designer eyewear in Optika Anda and a full optical service in Salmoiraghi & Vigano.