May 2, 2019 - On May 1, the Croatian Tourist Board and the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, in cooperation with the local tourist communities, welcomed ten prominent international journalists in Inland Dalmatia as part of the ongoing tourist promotion of the area. This time, the journalists explored the Sinj region. 

On the initiative of Joško Stella, director of the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, as part of organized study trips, journalists arrived from all countries the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) has a representative office. In cooperation with local tourist boards, around 40 foreign-based journalists will visit the cities of Split, Hvar, Brač, Vis, Solin, Klis, Trogir, Trilj, Sinj and Omiš in three very attractive tourist programs. They will inform tourists about selective forms of tourism, that is, natural, cultural and gastronomic forms, as well as the opportunities for active holidays in this area.

The four-day program "Culture and Gastronomy" - announced as "the most delicious program" - presents the gastronomic and cultural offer of the cities involved in the tour.

Reputable journalists from Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, the Netherlands and Norway - Jerzy Niemocinski, Anna Sienkiewicz, Ewa Wagner, Adolf Wurzer, Marta Budska, Obert Oppelt, Maurizio Ceccaioni, Giuseppe Danielli, Giorgia Lola Oost, Ann-Mari Helena Gregersen and Elin Kristin Kristoffersen - arrived in the Sinj region on the third day of their stay in Split-Dalmatia County.

Accompanied by tour guide Dina Ivančić and director of the Tourist Board of Sinj, Monika Vrgoč, the group was first introduced to the geographical position of Sinj, the rich and intriguing history of the city, the shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, the Alka and the significance of the City of Sinj for the whole Cetina region. The group then visited the Sinj Alka Museum, accompanied by the curator Tomislav Barhanović. With an interesting interpretation, Barhanović brought the group closer to the significance of the museum and its exhibits. Namely, the modern concept of the museum, the fact that it was nominated for the European Museum in 2017 and won the prestigious Europa Nostra Award in 2018, its many interactive features, and valuable and unique museum exhibitions, which delighted the journalists. 

After the Alka Museum, the group toured the OPG Moro in Gala. They were welcomed by the friendly leaders of the OPG, Jelena and Ivana Moro. Their ecological family farm was founded in 2003 to grow domestic fruit and vegetables, and breed animals in a controlled environment where they eat healthier and thus live healthier lives. In the heart of the Dalmatian hinterland, in the oasis of the fertile and vast Sinj field, through which the clear and crisp Cetina river flows, all the preconditions are available to the Moro family. The OPG is held by three generations, sharing traditions, knowledge, and skills, all with continuous physical work. Since 2013, OPG Moro deals with sowing as well as seed processing and industrial hemp. Their seeds are ecologically certified, sown in fertile soil without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers, to be compatible with organic production, and therefore with nature. Currently, they have six products from hemp: tea, oil, protein, flour, face and body cream as well as lipstick.

Otherwise, OPG Moro realized support from rural development measures for operation type 6.1.1. and 6.2.1., and will develop their idea of a farm for the ecological breeding of chickens. The plan is to use waste that has been processed in hemp as a perfect supplement to poultry feed. It already contains 25 percent of protein, meaning at least 80 percent of the animal’s diet will come from their own production. The kind hosts made sure that all journalists tasted their produce, and creams and lip balms were given as gifts. The journalists were delighted with the quality of the product, especially the hospitality of all Moro family members.

Enjoying the beautiful nature on the way from Gala, through Obrovac Sinj, Han, and Bajagić to Hrvace, the journalists also had the opportunity to see the source of Kosinac, the Han bridge built in 1849, Rumin and the bridge on Panj constructed in 1852. As the whole program is largely dedicated to gastronomy, the journalists enjoyed a traditional gastronomic offer at the Panj Farmhouse and enjoyed the most famous dishes of the region such as uštipak, Sinj arambaša, peka of roast veal, and fritule.

The journalists were pleasantly surprised by the potential of the Sinj region. The group continued their journey exploring Omiš.

You can learn more about Sinj here.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

April 30, 2019 - The long and strong friendship between Vukovar and Sinj, following the great success of last year, continues this spring through a unique Festival of Intangible Heritage, tourist manifestations, attractions and destinations titled “SVI zaJEDNO HRVATSKO NAJ  – VUKOVAR 2019”.

The event is held to mark the Day of the City of Vukovar (May 3rd) and lasts until May 6th. The organizers, without borders, and in cooperation with the City of Vukovar City and the Tourist Board of Vukovar, prepared this prestigious event aimed at promoting Vukovar in a new light and branding it as a desirable destination of continental tourism. 

HTZ recognized this festival as a top event, which is confirmed by high patronage, including the President of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Government, the Croatian Parliament, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of European and International Affairs, the Croatian Parliament of Culture and the Croatian Community of Counties. All patronage is listed without financial assistance.

During the four days of the festival, more than 1000 participants from all parts of Croatia, but also from abroad, will participate in various programs at several locations. Vukovar's streets and squares will be transformed into a meeting place for various cultures, gastronomy and entertainment, preserving and presenting the best of Croatia’s protected intangible heritage, linking Croatians with their homeland, presenting the cultural heritage of national minorities, as well as other countries that will be present at the festival (Austria, Germany, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Hungary, China, Brazil, Romania and Belgium to China, India and Japan).

The presentation of cultural heritage, enogastronomy, children's programs and creative workshops, various attractions and presentations of tourist manifestations and destinations, street theaters, performers and concerts, along with group dance performances, is excellent entertainment for the whole family and people of all ages.

The City of Sinj is, as always, happy to respond to the invitation of their friends in Vukovar. Sinj City Music and several Alkar men and boys will participate in the festival. The people of Sinj never come empty-handed, and will also delight Vukovar with the students of Sinj’s Secondary School Ban Josip Jelačić, led by Professor Goran Batarel, and Zdravko Hrgović will prepare Sinj’s most famous specialty - 500 Sinj arambaša, which will honor guests at the opening of the festival on May 3rd.

Vukovar - the city of heroes, the city symbol of communion and strength - will reveal its hidden possibilities and shine in full glory. Vukovar will surely attract many guests in the future, who will be filled with optimism in the infinite beauty of the fertile Slavonian plain.

April 30, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 38 of this incredible 2011 adrenaline trip covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 38 of this 2019 appreciation of one of the finest tourism promotion projects ever in Croatia.  

The plan? To showcase the diversity and fabulous offer of adventure tourism in Croatia by following a GPS route the length of the Croatian coast in the shape of the word 'Welcome' - thereby creating the biggest welcome in the world from a hospitable tourism country. 

Day 38 moved from Trogir to Trilj.

72 kilometres for the day: 15 km kayak from Trogir to Split, followed by a 2 km climb to the top of Marjan hill, and a 55 km bike ride from Split to Trilj to complete forming the ‘O’ in ‘Welcome’.

Day 38 started in the UNESCO town of Trogir. 

Lacko setting off towards Slatine on Ciovo.

Lacko crossing the bridge to Ciovo.

The ride couldn't go far without brandy at a local bar.

Slatine and Lacko by the Bura Line boat to Split. Will Lacko make it through?

Indeed he did.

From Slatine to Marjan.

Lacko meets the team at Marjan.

And he begins the climb to the top.

From Marjan to Klis.

And Klis Fortress in all of its glory. 

It was an experience best washed down with a beer.

Jagoda joined Lacko from Sinj to Trilj.

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. 

Trogir.

You can see the entire project on the Welcome website, as well as much more of Luka Tambaca's stunning photography on the Welcome Facebook page. 

Tune in tomorrow for Day 39, as Lacko moves from Trilj to Omiš.

To follow the whole project from the start, follow the dedicated TCN page. 

Aprill 29, 2019 - After last year’s highly successful race, which was attended by more than 250 runners from several European countries, the sports club Cetina Adventure again invites all nature lovers, runners, recreationalists, the old and young, walking enthusiasts and really, anyone interested to join the competition on May 11, 2019!

This year's race has three length categories: Bara category (11 kilometers), category Čoja (22 kilometers) and, for the most courageous, the Alka category, which is 33 kilometers long.

Category Details:

Category Bara: With a length of 11 kilometers (390 meters uphill), the Bara passes near all the major sights and is intended for walkers, families, and recreation, as well as anyone who wants to try trail running for the first time. The race starts in front of the church of Our Lady of Sinj, continues to the end of the beautiful Alkar courtyard and the asphalt road climbs to the Old Town and to the church of St. Michael. Descending, the trail leads to a wide macadam path and ascends to the lungs of the town of Sinj, Pavića Nebesa. It passes along the entire length of Pavića Nebesa through the beautiful pine and oak forests and continues to the northern side of Pavića Nebesa on a wide macadam path towards the finish. The track is circular, not technically demanding and is entirely marked by signs, mountaineering markings, and strips. 

Category Čoja: With a length of 22 kilometers (1000 meters uphill) the Čoja begins the same way as the Bara trail, up to the crossing at Lučane, whereupon it continues on asphalt road one kilometer to the entrance to the protected landscape of Sutina and climbs to the highest peak, Visošnica (907 m ). Up to the top, the trail is marked. From the top of Visošnica, on a broad macadam route, it descends to the Sutina Canyon, through Perjanica and one of the most beautiful parts of the Sinj region, passing the mountain stream Sutina almost from the spring to the return to Pavića Nebesa and the finish. The track is circular, marked with mountaineering markings, strips, and signposts for the direction of movement. It is intended for experienced competitors and recreationalists.

Category Alka: With a length of 33 kilometers and an ascent of 1700 meters, the Alka starts just like the first two categories, and halfway at Pavića Nebesa, it separates on a wide macadam path and climbs to the most beautiful view of the town of Sinj on top of Visoka (896 m). It continues on a demanding hiking trail to the top of Visošnica, from where it descends into the Sutina Canyon. The Sutina Canyon is on the left side and from the canyon, it climbs to its northern peak Bukovac, from which it looks towards Visoka, the Kamešnica, the Dinara and Svilaja. From the peak of Bukovac it goes all the way along the direction of Svilaja to the Kačar area. It is again connected to the technically demanding downhill of Plišivica from where it flows into Lučane and moves towards the finish on a wide macadam path. The trail is also circular, marked with mountaineering markings, strips, and signposts. It is intended for experienced competitors and recreationalists.

Required Equipment:

• cell phone

• competitive card, race card and instructions (provided by the organizers on the day of the competition)

• ID card

Recommended equipment:

• gloves

• astro foil

• personal first aid

• whistle

• rain protection 

• water 

• dry clothes

Children under the age of 14 can only take part in the Bara category, but only accompanied by parents or guardians and with their signed consent.

Children from 14 to 16 years of age can independently participate in the Bara and Čoja categories, but must have the signed consent of the parent or guardian.

Children between the ages of 16 and 18 can take part in any stage, but must have the signed consent of the parent or guardian.

For all the participants of the race, Cetina Adventure from Sinj will also prepare exciting starter and prize packages. To secure the full starter package, you must register and pay for the race by 1 May 2019. Entries will be possible after this date as well as on the day of the race, though the organizer does not guarantee a full starter package.

Online applications can be made on www.stotinka.com or via the link https://www.stotinka.hr/hrv/dogadjaj/860.

The starting price for the Alka and Čoja categories is HRK 100, while for the Bara the price starts at HRK 70. Children up to 14 years have a 50% discount. Also, for the Bara category, a third member of the same family can race for free. 

Payment:

•  Klub avanturističkih sportova Cetina Adventure

• Put Župića 39, 21230 Sinj

• IBAN: HR1523900011100518242, HPB d.d.

• SWIFT CODE: HPBZHR2X

• Description of payment: name and surname + name of the category in which you will perform (ex. Mate Matić - Alka)

Take the competition cards, directions and start packages to the check-in desk at the parking lot of the Sinj City Pool from 8:00 am to:

• 9:00 for the Alka category

• 9:30 for the Čoja category

• 10:00 for the Bara category

After signing up and picking up the starter packages, the contestants can leave their things and go to the start which is 500 meters away from the signpost, i.e., at the Alojzije Stepinac Promenade (near the church of Our Lady of Sinj).

Prizes:

• Awarded to the first three places in the men's and women's categories - for each category separately

• The 1st, 2nd, 3rd place team consists of representatives of a particular club in all three categories including men and women. It is necessary that the team has at least one representative in the category, and if there is more, only the member of the team with the best time in that category is counted. On the decision of the first three, they decide on the time of the fastest representatives, which are summed up for the final result (the order is not looked at in this case).

Parking:

For all competitors coming by car, free parking is located in the area of the Primary School Marko Marulić (next to the Sinj City Pool), at the parking lot in front of the Sinj City Pool, in front of Kaufland, near City Bus Station and in front of Konzum. Competitors can also use city parking with a daily ticket of 10 kuna.

Accommodation:

In case a competitor needs accommodation, they can contact the organizers who will try to arrange the accommodation at the best price.

For those who prefer to camp, there is the camp "Gajo" in the village of Lučane near Sinj where up to 7 tents can be accommodated. The camp has food and beverages, outdoor showers and sanitary facilities and friendly staff. It is completely free for race participants and their escorts. Campers can come up to two days before the race (just announce your arrival a week before).

Remark:

Each competitor with his/her application agrees directly that he/she will compete at his/her own responsibility and be familiar with all race rules that he/she will abide for his/her own safety, the safety of other competitors and organizers, and is aware of the potential risks the competition contains.

The race rules and the Dalmatian Trail Leagues are available at http://dalmatiaultratrail.com/pravilnik/

Additional information and possible changes:

• Check the Facebook page Cetina Adventure

For more information, please contact the club president (Roberto Živaljić) at +385 (0) 92 221 9514 or by posting on the Cetina Adventure Facebook page.

April 26, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 34 of this incredible 2011 adrenaline trip covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 34 of this 2019 appreciation of one of the finest tourism promotion projects ever in Croatia.  

The plan? To showcase the diversity and fabulous offer of adventure tourism in Croatia by following a GPS route the length of the Croatian coast in the shape of the word 'Welcome' - thereby creating the biggest welcome in the world from a hospitable tourism country. 

Day 34 moved from Sinj to the Dinara mountain. 

59 kilometres for the day: 15 km bike ride from Sinj to Peručko Lake, followed by a 17 km kayak ride at Peručko Lake, 21 km bike ride from Peručko Lake to Glavaš, and 6 km on foot from Glavaš to Dinara to begin forming the ‘O’ in ‘Welcome’.

Day 34 began with Lacko pedaling from Sinj towards Peručko lake.

At Peručko lake, Lacko swapped his bike for a bright yellow kayak.

Lacko passing by a dam at Peručko lake.

Lacko checking out the agility of his small kayak.

Lacko swapping his kayak for a bike. 

Riding to the bottom of the Dinara mountain. 

The view over Dinara. 

They came across rams. 

And a shepherdess named Boja.

They made it to the Cetina. 

And the Church of St. Spas.

Lacko at the source of the Cetina. 

Gradina Glavaš.

To the top of Dinara!

Though the bura began to blow. 

And coordinator Čedo waited for the crew near the shelter. 

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. Lacko and his crew, however, did not pass any significant landmarks on Day 34. 

You can see the entire project on the Welcome website, as well as much more of Luka Tambaca's stunning photography on the Welcome Facebook page. 

Tune in tomorrow for Day 35, as Lacko moves from Dinara to the Roški waterfall. 

To follow the whole project from the start, follow the dedicated TCN page. 

April 23, 2019 - On Monday, April 22nd, also known as Easter Monday, the Tourist Board of Sinj, with the support of the City of Sinj and the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, organized an ‘Easter Breakfast’ in Sinj for the third time. 

The event presented traditional Easter dishes and customs. The event also aimed to provide all guests in Sinj insight into the area’s rich tradition of preparing Easter dishes and customs and bring them closer to the destination they are visiting.

After Monika Vrgoč, director of the Tourist Board of Sinj, welcomed guests, the table was blessed by Fr. Perica Maslać, priest of the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, while Kristina Križanac, mayor of Sinj solemnly opened the event.

All visitors could enjoy a richly prepared holiday table made up of traditional dishes for an Easter breakfast, such as hard-boiled eggs, ham, Dalmatian prosciutto, peka bread, sirnica, gingerbread, and other desserts. 

For the entertainment part of the program, the Sinj majorettes delighted the crowd with new choreography, followed by the Children's Choir Slavuji, the Mixed Choir of Sinj and Klapa Vrilo. Members of the Association for the Conservation of the Cetina Heritage, KUD Cetina, and the Sinj Feral Association were in charge of decorating the holiday table. The youngest participants were able to enjoy the magic of Easter thanks to members of the Sinj Feral Association.

The Sinj Tourist Board would like to thank Mrs. Branki Marinović, who helped to decorate the holiday table, and to the faithful sponsors: restaurant Dubrovnik whose employees prepared the holiday delicacies, the largest poultry farm Mostina d.o.o. from Obrovac in Sinj, Hotel Alkar, and especially the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, the Sinj Children's and mixed choir, KUS employees, KUD in Cetinje, the Cetina Heritage Conservation Association and the Sinj Majorettes.

All photos by Foto Žižić

April 18, 2019 - From ancient times to the present day, one of the ’Good Week’ customs in Vrlika is the 'Guarding of Christ's Tomb or Grave'. This custom involves a group of men from the 'Brotherhood of Guarding Christ’s Tomb' who participate in the rituals and processions guarding. This custom became not only a church manifestation, but also part of the historical and cultural heritage of the Croatian Catholics of the Vrlika region. 

The story behind the custom

The Arambaša is the commander of the tomb and, of course, all of the activities must go through him. Guards must be 18 years of age to guard the grave, and they must also be an active Christian. 

On Good Thursday, the guards meet at the parish house where, after confession, they have a joint dinner. Following dinner is Mass in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, after which they wash their feet and continue to a procession where the holy sacrament is offered to them.

On Good Friday, the guards take the way of the cross to the town of Vrlika, continually alternating their places around the tomb. This is a deep religious feeling and commitment to preserving the body of Jesus from the body's placement into the grave to its resurrection. The entire process of safeguarding Christ's tomb takes place in a strict and severe atmosphere, in the traditional folk costumes of the beautiful region, with the traditional weapons the Vrsani’s had for centuries to defend their home and holy Catholic faith and its principles. The men embellish the mystery of suffering and death, Easter and victory.

 On Good Saturday, the guarding begins at 23:00. When the mass reaches the ‘Glory to God,’ the guards leave the tomb, coming out of the church singing, and then go back to listen to the Mass.

On Easter, the guards' service ends when they begin the Vrlika folk dance in front of the church in the name of victory of Christ's resurrection over evil and sin. 

April 16, 2019 - Over the last 15 years, the “First Steps" tournament has grown into one of the largest international football tournaments for youth in this part of Europe. This year's edition begins on April 17th and lasts until April 20th, and following the great interest of foreign clubs, there is a significantly larger number of participants in Dalmatia. 

Over four days, more than 2,000 young footballers will compete on fields in Split, Trogir, Klis and Dugopolje and play around 290 matches in five age groups, from U8 to U12, with a direct broadcast on Planet Sport.

"Apart from numerous Croatian clubs, led by HNK Hajduk, NK Osijek, NK Rijeka and GNK Dinamo, football giants including FC Bayern, AS Roma, FC Red Bull Salzburg, PSV, FC Perugia and many others from 10 countries around the world will play in the tournament. Everyone is from Europe, and there is one Australian club - the Melbourne Knights, a club that raised some of the greatest Australian and Croatian footballers,” said Franko Bogdan, President of NK Adriatic, a Split Club who is also organized the tournament.

Wednesday's first U-10 match will be the first official match on the new, redone Trogir stadium, where the hosts will face AS Roma’s ten-year-olds. Still, the strongest competition comes to the "Croatian Knights" stadium in Dugopolje, the most beautiful football pitch featured in the “First Steps" tournament. The Dugopolje stadium is reserved for the games of the U-12 category, where hosts Hajduk and Dinamo will face Bayern, PSV, Red Bull Salzburg and others. In Dugopolje on Saturday, at 16:30, the closing ceremony and award ceremony will be held.

The opening ceremony of the "First Steps" tournament, which will include a vibrant entertainment program, will be held on Wednesday at the Mall of Split at 18:30.

April 16, 2019 - Let’s celebrate together! 

Already a traditional event, this year, the Sinj Tourist Board, the City of Sinj and the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, is organizing Easter breakfast in the open!

On Easter Monday, April 22, at 11:00 am on the Alojzije Stepinac Promenade, the citizens of Sinj and their guests will be able to enjoy the rich gastronomic offer of the area’s traditional Easter dishes and customs.

The largest Catholic holiday will be celebrated with an abundance of traditional dishes prepared for Easter breakfast: boiled eggs, ham, Dalmatian prosciutto, cheese, fritule and other delicious desserts.

The Sinj Majorettes will brighten up the atmosphere along with the Children's and Mixed Choir of Sinj and KUD Vrilo. A fun program has also been organized for the youngest visitors.

The Association Sinj Ferali, the Association for the preservation of the Cetina heritage and KUD Cetina are responsible for arranging the space and presenting the Easter dishes.

Special thanks are given to the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj who is supporting this event. 

A happy Easter and Easter holiday to all!

April 12, 2019 - Does your bike need repairs? Don’t fret - there’s a free bike repair workshop this Saturday in Dugopolje for all interested parties! 

Namely, on Saturday, 13 April from 10 am to 3 pm on the premises of DVD Dugopolje (Fire Station), the Tourist Board of the Dugopolje Municipality has organised the first spring bicycle workshop.

Volunteers from “Popke" will help you repair your bike to make it more functional and safer - and they’ll even pass on some of their knowledge of bicycle maintenance to you. 

The bicycle repair workshop concept aims to teach participants how to fix minor bicycle repairs independently. And don’t forget to bring the spare parts for your bike with you!