April 11, 2019 - The second Sinj ‘Smrčkijada’ will be held on April 13 and 14, 2019.

April 11, 2019 - The event has been postponed until further notice.

NP Krka is another one of those ''must visit'' places when in Croatia, and yes, there are many such destinations to be found here. The whole ''must see'' thing has become a little saturated over recent years, especially with the rise of self-proclaimed travel bloggers and social media influencers, however, there is much more to this stunning national park than just the ability to take artistic Instagram pictures.

NP Krka is involving itself in the education of school children in the Dalmatian county in which the park is situated through a praiseworthy project aimed at increasing kids' overall awareness of both protected areas and nature and the environment.

As Morski writes on the 3rd of April, 2019, the highly visited NP Krka actually launched the project "Let's fill up the school libraries" (Popunimo školske knjižnice), for primary and secondary schools of the Šibenik-Knin County back in 2007.

The aim of the project is to make the books published within the framework of this educational scope available to school-age children and other young people, so that they can contribute to their own respective awareness of the country's numerous protected areas and the need to take care of their surroundings, including the importance of the proper preservation of the environment.

Since back in 2007, VHS tapes and later on, DVDs covering a wide array of topics related to NP Krka and its environment and native wildlife and birds have been shared around numerous local schools within the aforementioned county in Dalmatia. In February this year, a total of 49 books were distributed to thirty-six primary and thirteen high schools in the county.

NP Krka's administration and staff believe that this year's gift to local schools will be used by students and their mentors and teachers not only as an additional teaching aid for the classroom but that it will also encourage children to go out and get to know and further explore the rich natural beauty and the cultural heritage of the beautiful NP Krka.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

April 3, 2019 - For nine years Sinj has hosted the National Fair of Prosciutto Ham and Dry-Cured Meat Products. With international participation, the event promotes the traditional way of producing dried meat products with the constant support of all associates, producers, Croatian institutions and renowned experts. 

In the last several years, the National Fair of Prosciutto Ham and Dry-Cured Meat Products in Sinj has gained international character thanks to participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy and Slovenia. The fair hosts around 70 producers and several thousand visitors each year. This showcase event presents prosciutto and other dried meat products, cheese, wine, olive oil and traditional handicrafts from rural parts of Dalmatia, Lika, Slavonia, and the Croatian islands. 

At the fair, renowned experts as members of the committee even evaluate products based on Ordinance on Prosciutto Ham Quality Evaluation.

Besides the promotion of large variety of traditional products, the National Fair of Prosciutto Ham and Dry-Cured Meat Products in Sinj has an educational character, as workshops are held where both producers and visitors can learn about the production and sales of dry-cured meat products, protection of original Croatian products and quality labels, the introduction of standards, models of association, the market, trends, cooperation opportunities, stimulation and funding programmes of governmental and other institutions, and more.

You can find the full program below.

12.-13 April 2019 at the Alkar hotel

The opening ceremony is on 12 April 2019 at 11:30 

11.4.2019. - Sample evaluation program

08:00 PROGRAM OF PROFESSIONAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

08:00 DELIVERY AND CURRENT SURVEILLANCE

08: 30-15: 30 QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PROSCIUTTO 

EXHIBITION PROGRAM / EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND ROUNDTABLES

1st day - 12.04.2019. FRIDAY

09:00 ARRIVAL OF EXHIBITORS / Exhibition of Prosciutto and Cured Meat Products / Presentation of Cheese,

Presentation of autochthonous food and wine

11:00 Cultural and Artistic Fair Program

11:30 OFFICIAL OPENING

12:15 Tour of exhibitors, press releases and tastings

13:00 News from 2018 from Measure of Rural Development - European Agricultural Fund 2014-2020 - Ministry of Agriculture

IAKS rural development measures - news (M10, M11, M13 and M14)

Diversification Opportunities from the Rural Development Program-Operation Type 6.2.1. Supporting investment in the start-up of non-agricultural activities in rural areas.

Operation type 6.4.1 Development of non-agricultural activities in rural areas

The Fair will be organized round tables, lectures, and presentations on topics:

Program presentation: Government and other institutions, ministries, associations and chambers, banks and funds, development programs of the Split-Dalmatia County, development programs of Sinj, HBOR, Promotion of quality labels - "Croatian Quality" and "Original Croatian" - Croatian Chamber of Commerce Split

EXHIBITION PROGRAM / EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

2nd day - 13.04.2019. SATURDAY

09:00 FAIR OPENED FOR VISITORS

11:00 Perspectives of demography and young people in the Republic of Croatia and the EU

12:00 CULTURAL ART PROGRAM

13:00 TASTING AND PROMOTION OF PRESENTATION

Gastronomy (traditional products - U Zemane) - Presentation of traditional products,

Cultural Art Program- Reviving Original Costumes

Promotion of the product labeled "Croatian island product"

14:00 Promotion of the product labeled "Croatian island product"

         - Clusters as a model of association - examples of good practice

         -Sensory analytic: The importance of quality assessment of prosciutto

        - Production technology and technological trends in prosciutto production

         - Announcement of the results of the competition

        - Winner announcement

Sinj sports finally got their day! Around 1,200 visitors flocked to the rugby playground SC "Andrija Alčić and Ivica Poljak-Sokol" in Sinj, where the Sinj rugby club won the Croatian Cup title over Zagreb’s Mladost in the final on Saturday! Last year, it was Mladost to celebrate in the final in Zagreb - and now, Sinj finally got their taste of revenge, reports Dalmacija Danas on March 30, 2019. 

The Sinj club had a fantastic start to the match and led 5:0, but Mladost came back to make it 7:5. In the second half, Sinj kept the lead at 15:7, though Mladost managed to reduce to the score to 15:14. However, the Sinj club would not give up and managed to achieve a massive 29:14 advantage. Mladost couldn’t quite keep up, and with incredible determination, Sinj was named the winner with a result of 29:19.

In a fierce battle with solid play by both sides, Sinj managed to overcome a dangerously tough opponent to win the Croatian Cup finally. In the club's 40 year history, they've played in the Cup final four times. 

Joško Jaman

There was an explosion of enthusiasm both on the field and in the stands. This is the biggest success of a senior sports team in Sinj since Croatian independence. Many people compare this success of Sinj rugby to the legendary basketball final of the former Yugoslavia, some 35 years ago between Alkar and Bosna in Metković.

Otherwise, just how big Sinj’s sporting heart is, is proven by the fact that the final game also had a humanitarian character. The organizer, Nada Rugby Club from Split, waived the entrance fee to the final, and instead welcomed donations for the treatment of Ivana Omrčena, a former Alkar basketball player who is being treated for a malignant illness. 

Sinj rugby club, congratulations from the bottom of our hearts! You can see the celebration photos in the gallery on Dalmacija Danas.

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

Thirty-five years have passed since a Sinj team could have been named the best in Croatia. It was in Metković on March 20, 1984, in the Yugoslav Basketball Cup final. The third-league team Alkar from Sinj, despite the historical thrill, did not manage to overcome Bosna from Sarajevo for the Cup, reports Dalmacija Danas on March 29, 2019. 

However, 35 years later, Sinj is faced with a new opportunity. This Saturday, the Sinj rugby club will play in the final of the Croatian Cup at the rugby playground SC "Andrija Alčić and Ivica Poljak-Sokol" in Sinj. The Sinj club will play against Mladost Zagreb, who celebrated the Cup win in Zagreb last year. While Sinj didn’t have much of a chance last year thanks to poor weather conditions which only favored the hosts, this time around, the Sinj team is faced with a new opportunity for revenge, but also the greatest success of a Sinj senior sports team ever!

The spectacle in Sinj has already been announced to tourists from all parts of Dalmatia, neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, and sports fans in general. And to show just how big Sinj’s sporting heart is, the final game will have a humanitarian character. Donations will be collected at the game for the treatment of Ivana Omrčena, a former Alkar basketball player who is being treated for a malignant illness.

“We will organize a humanitarian action as part of the game. At both entrances, we will put contribution boxes where you'll find our members and the family members of basketball player Ivana Omrčena, whom we want to help with treatment. The organization will be more modest so we can get the most out of it. There will also be free entry,” said the president of the ruby club Sinj", Ivica Vučemil.

As for the game itself, the president of the club is optimistic. 

“We are playing the Croatian Cup final for seniors against Zagreb's Mladost. Last year, Mladost got us in the Cup final in Zagreb, and this year the final is in Sinj, and we hope this will be a real reward. This is our fourth Cup final, and it will, hopefully, be the first trophy for the seniors,” Vučemil said.

This is the fourth Cup final for the Sinj team and yet another attempt in the forty-year history of the club to win the title in the senior category. A bonus to the spectacle is that Sinj seeks revenge on the Zagreb squad, and this time, Sinj gets to show off their turf. 

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

Last year, Dalmatinska Zagora (Dalmatian Hinterland) received several important tourist awards, and the tourist statistics from Vrlika to Vrgorac are getting better with each passing year. The town with the highest number of visitors and overnights is Dugopolje, reports Dalmacija Danas on March 25, 2019.

Ahead of the new tourist season, Dalmacija Danas spoke with Tomislav Bralić, the director of the Dugopolje Tourist Board.

Directors of local tourist board recently met and discussed the preparations for the new tourist season. We divided the topics into clusters, geographical areas: the Split Riviera, islands, Zagora and the Makarska Riviera. We mainly discussed the preparations for the arrival of cyclists and active tourists. Brochures and maps of thematic trails across the county will be published soon.

How does Dugopolje cooperate with the coastal area and the rest of Zagora?

The cooperation is good, but we can always do better. Much depends on ourselves and the activities of the local tourist boards, but also on the laws as well. In Zagora, we work well together.

In the summer, due to tourism on the coast and islands, food consumption is significantly increased. We know that Zagora has a lot to offer in this area. Is that segment used enough to provide tourists with locally-produced food?

Unfortunately, we do not use that nearly enough. Agriculture should be much more developed, and Zagora should feed the coastal area; that is our ultimate goal. There is a lot of room to grow.

Regarding this topic, the mayor mentioned that green markets would be established during this term.

The markets are in the design phase. We were waiting for certain funds that have not yet been, but we hope they will be shortly. There are more and more family farms, and that is good news. Tourists are increasingly looking for authentic and homemade food.

In the last year, Zagora has received several tourism awards, and the statistics are getting better. Not everybody knows that most of the tourism in Zagora actually takes place in Dugopolje.

That is true. We have a 4-star hotel with almost 400 beds in the area of our municipality. It makes the bulk of our tourism traffic, although we recorded 12,000 overnights in the private sector as well. Still, the hotel makes the most of over 70,000 overnight stays recorded in the municipality, which is a huge number for such a small area.

What did tourists visit the most in 2018?

First of all, Dugopolje is at a great location, well connected with Split and the coast, and the rest of Zagora is just an hour's drive. Dugopolje has its natural beauties and historic sites that are of more and more interest for the tourists.

Makarska is increasingly turning towards Biokovo. How much is Dugopolje turning towards the Mosor mountain?

We recently entered a future mountain lodge into our spatial plan. We have received funding for new hiking trails and the reconstruction of the old ones. We have tracking and trail races on Mosor. One will be held in September, Dalmatia Stage Run. I would say we are working as much as we can, given the existing resources.

More Zagora news can be found in the dedicated section.

Translated from Dalmacija Danas (reported by Rade Popadić).

This year's coordination of Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board directors was held. On this occasion, and as the Easter holidays, which traditionally mark the beginning of the new tourist season, are getting closer, Dalmacija Danas spoke with Monika Vrgoč, director of the Sinj Tourist Board, about the progress of Inland Dalmatia. 

How did the preparations for the new season begin? 

“Preparations are in full swing. We had several events since January, which we have completed. The town of Sinj, Trilj and other towns in Inland Dalmatia pulled up our sleeves as far as the new season is concerned, and we will continue in the same tone. We have Easter manifestations like the Guarding of Christ's Tomb in Vrlika, and Easter breakfast in Sinj. We are going with full steam ahead.”

How do you interpret the tourism development of Inland Dalmatia lately?

“I think there is a growing awareness of tourist renters, and at the same time, tourists are increasingly discovering Inland Dalmatia, which is still insufficiently explored. It is still insufficiently known to local tourists and foreigners. Inland Dalmatia has huge potential in all forms of tourism, as well as other branches of the economy.”

On the example of Istria, we can see that the region's interior can be greatly combined with tourism along the coast. Can Inland Dalmatia learn from the example of inland Istria? 

“We have to learn from all successful tourism areas, especially those where tourism is a primary activity and where tourism has developed for centuries. Istria has done a lot in this area, and we can learn from them.”

Are apartments and swimming pools still being built in the Cetina region? 

“We still have a lot of people who decided to rent. We have popular measures within Split-Dalmatia County that promote the development and investment in tourist infrastructure. I think we will have dozens of new facilities in our area this year."

What is the structure of guests coming to Inland Dalmatia?

“The German market is the biggest, followed by Poland, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Scandinavia, but also Korea. Only in Dugopolje have we noted a rise in Chinese guests. Hotel accommodations mostly affect the numbers in the preseason and postseason. In Inland Dalmatia, private accommodation has now become more dominant than hotels. We only have eight hotels in Inland Dalmatia, and the rest is private accommodation.”

What are the main events organized by the Tourist Board until the end of the year? 

“As for the Tourist Board of Sinj, it is the Easter breakfast, the Sinj Village Fair, the Musical Evenings at Fort Kamičak, the performance of the Siege… We co-organize several events like the Sinj Trail, Cetina Adventure or the City Challenge.”

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

March 22, 2019 - The first CSHR Vrlika Rally 2019 will be held this weekend! 

Since back during ancient times, proximity to water meant life, and now even in the 21st century it is still exactly the same. One of the most rich rivers in Croatia is the Cetina river, found in the rocky Dalmatia region, which breathes life into everything near and surrounding it. Undoubtedly, this 105km long river offers an assortment of benefits to the local population from; powering several hydropower plants, acting as a source of fresh drinking water and being the back one to the growing Croatian family adventure tourism market.

From the water source’s majestic beginnings, at a height of 385 metres in the Dinara mountains to its humble end, emptying into the Adriatic Sea, the Cetina has many personalities to enjoy. In this article, I will tell you a little more about my favourite sections of the river and how to enjoy it safely and with full respect to nature.

Green World Holidays 

River tubing

River tubing is great fun, and not just for adults but also for active families holidaying in Croatia. Sitting in giant inflatable donuts, you’ll have the unique opportunity to descend down small river rapids powered only by your hands and feet. Located slightly north of the village of Kučiće, there is a perfect three-kilometre river section, with many memorable twists and turns. If you want to splash and have fun, and see the Dalmatian hinterland from a very rare perspective, then I can highly recommend this activity when visiting the Cetina river.

Green World Holidays 

Kayaking

All over the world, kayaking is enjoyed as a recreational sport and its particularly popular in Croatia. Our country is blessed with an abundance of pristine rivers, lakes and a stunning coastline, so there are no shortages of places to rent a kayak and enjoy a water adventure. From my experience as a guide, one of the best kayak routes can be found on the Cetina, as the water transcends from sparkling emerald waters to the blue signatures of the Adriatic Sea. This picture postcard perfect route also runs through Omiš, one of the prettiest towns in Dalmatia. Famed for its historical pirates, bringing fear to the whole of the Mediterranean sea throughout the 12th and 13th centuries.

Green World Holidays 

Although there are no pirates in Omiš now, I can still guarantee that this is one of the most memorable kayak experiences available. In addition, and unique to the Cetina river, guests can rent see-through kayaks, so as you paddle down the river you can explore the flora and fauna growing along the bottom of the river and enjoy feeling one with the water.

Mini rafting

As a qualified rafting guide for many years, I’ve been fortunate to have experienced the best sides to the Cetina river, and still to this day, one of my favourite activities is mini rafting. Unlike kayaking and river tubing, mini rafting is done on the northern part of the Cetina river, where you’ll find exciting river rapids and challenging waterfalls to descend. Going down the class 2 and 3 rapids (the scale is up to 6) in an inflatable canoe raft is an
adrenaline packed adventure. Along this section of the Cetina, adventurous families will discover one of the prettiest river beaches, called Stružica, which is very popular among the locals.

Professional tours typically conclude in the village of Blato na Cetini and over there you can have lunch in a little restaurant along the bank of the river. This has become a popular tour for family activity holidays in Croatia, allowing parents to better bond and connect with their teenagers, as they steer their own destiny along the Cetina river.

Green World Holidays 

Canyoning

Canyoning along the Cetina is an unmissable adventure activity when visiting this Dalmatian region. Expert guides help lead the way and help adventurous guests to plunge into these newly discovered rocky areas and clear waters, providing the most exhilirating and unforgettable experience. It’s a true treat to be able to swim underneath powerful waterfalls, flow down naturally formed chutes, and jump into emerald pools of water. It's more fun than you can imagine and that’s why it's an unmissable experience when visiting anywhere close to the Cetina river.

If you decide to do the extreme version (not for families!) you can abseil down next to one of the highest waterfalls in Croatia, Gubavica (56 metres high). The starting point is in the village of Zadvarje and the finish is next to the oldest power plant on the Cetina river, called Kraljevac. Unlike white water rafting, canyoning is ungraded. So before booking with any sports agency, ask the right questions and discuss what you can expect with the experience. Remember, no canyon is the same!

Green World Holidays 

White water rafting

White water rafting is the most popular activity on the river Cetina. The route that you pass along this section of the river is about 10 kilometres long and you will face Grade 2 and 3 rapids. The starting point is north of the village of Kučiće and concludes next to one of the most famous restaurants in Dalmatia, Radmanove Mlinice. On the river, there are a lot of agencies that provide eight-man rafting tours.

Active and sustainable tourism

I hope this article has inspired you to explore the river Cetina and please remember to respect nature. We only have a future if we look after our planet now and give back to the environment and local communities. To try these activities with an Eco-friendly travel company, then contact – Green World Holidays –– a company that believes in sustainable tourism to create wonderful family activity holidays in Croatia. See their INSTAGRAM STORIES – www.instagram.com/greenworldholidays

Green World Holidays 

Follow our dedicated lifestyle and travel pages for more. If it's just inland Dalmatia you're interested in, give Total Inland Dalmatia a follow.