April 17, 2023 - High in the hills above gorgeous Omis is a truly unique place, where culturally protected food is prepared in an independent republic - making soparnik is the Poljica Republic. 

One of the secrets of tourism in Croatia is the simplicity of its cuisine, the freshness of its products, and the unlimited unique and authentic experiences. It is wonderful to watch how some enterprising locals are taking the simple pleasures in life which cost almost nothing, then package them up as an authentic experience which completely wows their visitors. 

The case of soparnik, a delicious dish now under EU cultural protection, is a case in point. Regarded as peasant food for as long as anyone can remember, the ingredients are very, very basic, and yet today it has become one of the must-try culinary experiences on a visit to Dalmatia and especially the area about Omis, which is the soparnik heartland. And not only a culinary tourism experience, but some enterprising locals have turned this into a full-blown excursion and cooking experience in the rather fabulous  Poljica Republic, a bastion of independence from the 12th century all what way until the arrival of Napoleon 700 years. 

The Poljica Republic was a network of 12 towns from the Cetina River further inland, which had its own statute and regulations, and which was very advance in its governance, effectively resisting Ottoman invasion for over 400 years. Its flexible statute changed with the times, and it was written by the people, for the people. Its core values included the freedom of all residents to fend for themselves, zero tax, and the election of the Duke of Poljica each year. 

The republic may be no more, but its legacy lives on, and a guided tour of the excellent museum, combined by a cooking lesson in making soparnik is a superb way to experience the tradition and cuisine of this rather unique slice of inland Dalmatia. Check out the CROMADS experience video below.

And the ingredients which go into making soparnik? Nothing too complicated or expensive - 500 g all-purpose flour (3 1/2 cups), 1/2 tsp. salt, 4 Tbls. olive oil, 50 ml water (1 1/4 cup), 1  bunch parsley leaves, 1 kg chard (2.2 lbs), 1 bunch spring onions, salt, 3-4 garlic cloves, olive oil, and Fresh parsley leaves. 

Video by 45 Degrees Sailing.

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March the 11th, 2023 - When it comes to Croatian bridges, it isn't just Peljesac bridge that is getting the glory. The Cetina bridge, which will finally relieve seriously irritating traffic issues in and around the Omis area, is now finally connected. 

As Mladen Miletic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the much talked about Cetina bridge over the Cetina river canyon in Omis in Central Dalmatia was finally connected on Thursday, and it is expected that cars will be allowed to drive along it this autumn.

The brand new Cetina bridge spans 224.45 metres and is part of the wider Omis bypass construction project which seeks to help this area, known for its traffic jams and congestion issues, to relieve itself of those burdens.

It sits over the Cetina river and is held up with a steel arch, the ends of which are secured in tunnels on both sides of the bridge, meaning that its actual length is greater than the visible structure.

The value of the works on the Cetina bridge stood at around 23.16 million (without the inclusion of VAT), and this much needed project will contribute to the traffic relief of the town centre of Omis, the immediate surrounding areas and reduce overall congestion issues. The works on the new Cetina bridge were carried out by Strabag, and the designer was Veljko Prpic from the Engineering Project Institute.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at the merger ceremony that the merger of the Cetina bridge "is a good thing for Omis, Dalmatia and Split-Dalmatia County as a whole".

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated news section.

March 5, 2023 - Good news for traffic in Omis - the bridge over the Cetina is finally connected.

It has been a good 12 months for bridge enthusiasts in Dalmatia.

Firstly, the opening of the much-anticipated Peljesac Bridge connecting the mainland to the Peljesac Peninsula, thereby bypassing the need to transit Bosnia and Hercegovina on the way from Split to Dubrovnik. The Chinese-made bridge has been a big initial success. 

And now, another milestone, and there can't be many better examples of a bridge with a view than the recently connected bridge over the River Cetina.

The Omis bypass road project will alleviate the considerable traffic problems along the coastal road from Split to Omis. It includes the construction of the Stobrec, Dugi Rat, Omi's fast road, as well as this 216-metre bridge connecting two tunnels.

The bypass is expected to be fully open by the end of 2025, and it will make a considerable difference to the traffic flow, particularly in Omis, which is a bottleneck in the season.  

January 7, 2023 - After the magnificent feat of modern infrastructure that is the Peljesac bridge, Croatia is soon to join another two pieces of its land with a new impressive, incredibly complex construction, the Omis Bridge, hanging 70 metres above this beautiful karst river Cetina.

As Slobodna Dalmacija writes, at the end of January, we will witness the historic joining of the most impressive bridge over the Cetina river; at 70 metres above sea level, the two ends of the bridge that now "stick out" from the gorge. It will connect the portals of the access tunnels "Omis" and "Komorjak."

The last "push" of the bridge section, 12 metres long, is still missing. The section will complete the crossing over the canyon of the karst beauty above Omis, in a visible length of 152 meters, while 30 meters of supports on both sides are "hidden" in the tunnels.

"On the Cetina bridge, there is only one section left of about 12 metres. The last push is expected at the end of January", Hrvatske Ceste (HC) revealed. They are the investor for the Omis bypass, as part of which the bridge is being built, all so that soon we can finally utilise the long-awaited fast, modern road Split-Omis.

Slobodna Dalmacija was curious and asked the investors why the parts of the bridge are not at the same height, because the difference of almost two metres between the eastern and western parts is visible to the naked eye, even from a greater distance.

"It is true that the currently constructed parts of the Omis bridge are not at the same height. Due to the variable height of the cross-section of the bridge, the structure also moves vertically during each push.

After the final phase, both sides will be at the same height so that they can be connected and the entire structure can finally be fixed on the bearings," Hrvatske Ceste specified.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Travel section.

August the 18th, 2022 - A man in Omis has smashed a plaque which bore written text in both the Latin script and in the Cyrillic script, stating that the Cyrillic script belongs on the other side of the Drina River, and not in Croatia.

As Morski writes, "Keep Cyrillic on the other side of the Drina River!" exclaimed an irritated young man in the Central Dalmatian town of Omis while breaking the plaque displayed on the "Pillar of Shame" in Poljicki Square. He committed the act a mere few minutes after the plaque was displayed there, and he then calmly threw the pieces into a nearby bin.

As stated in the Facebook post, Anand Stambuk is an art lover and collector who got the opportunity to present his original work at a renowned art festival.

He wanted to install a bilingual plaque on the Omis' city administration building with an inscription attesting to a positive relationship between Serbs and Croats in both the Cyrillic and Latin scripts.

His work is the only work from this year's festival that didn't receive a municipal permit, for which the festival administration apologised to Mr. Stambuk and returned the plaque to him, with the explanation that he can still manifest and display the work in his own arrangement, in the way he deems appropriate, but he'd have to do so without the support of the organisers, except in terms of documentation.

After this explanation, the author decided to display the plaque on the "Pillar of Shame" on Poljicki Square in Omis.

A few minutes after it had been placed in the aforementioned location in the town, a young man who happened to be there reacted by smashing the artwork and throwing the remains in the bin, shouting in a commanding tone to those present: "Keep Cyrillic on the other side of the Drina River!"

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

Jun 17, 2022 - The first World Cup of Basketball Veterans will be held in Split and Omiš next April, with once-famous basketball players from Europe and even the NBA expected to compete. 

"We have been successfully organizing the Masters Handball World Cup for five years, so we decided to organize a competition of the same level in basketball, so from next year in Omiš and Split, in addition to handball veterans, basketball veterans will compete in the first World Cup," said sporting event organizer Mario Čaljkušić, as reported by Dalmacija Danas.

A well-established team started organizing the International Camp of Handball Goalkeepers eleven years ago, and then the Masters Handball World Cup, bringing the biggest names in international handball to Omiš. There is no doubt that they will be equally successful when organizing the basketball tournament.

"The hardest part of the job was getting to know the whole organization and we can freely say that in the last few years it has been going routinely. Not only for us who are involved in the organization, but also for the people who take care of the hall, hotel accommodation, transport, as well as volunteers, sponsors, and city and county structures. It is already a well-established system, and when we decided to do basketball, we joked that we just need to change balls, a handball for a basketball, and replace goals with baskets, as everything else will be the same," laughed Čaljkušić and added:

"Of course, we consulted and involved several basketball experts in the organization, but we will inform the public when the time comes."

The World Cup of Basketball Veterans is scheduled for April 13-16 next year, and registrations have already been launched on the official website. Moreover, a dozen teams have already applied for competitions to be organized in three groups, "5 v 5", "3 v 3" and "wheelchair basketball", in three women's (+35, +40, and +45) and four men's (+35, +40, +45 and +50) categories.

Given that the organizers brought many big names from the world of handball, it would not be surprising that once-famous basketball players from Europe and even the NBA League come to the World Cup of basketball veterans. So far, the project has been supported by many famous names such as Nikola Vujčić, Aramis Naglić, Aleksandar Petrović, Krešimir Lončar, Mario Kasun, Bruno Šundov, and Teo Čizmić, and a roundtable on current basketball events was announced. Representatives of the Croatian Basketball Federation also announced their arrival.

"I support the initiative and look forward to participating in the roundtable if my commitments allow. Basketball has a lot of problems that need to be openly discussed and pointed out what we as professional people think is not good. Of course, I am looking forward to meeting again many famous people from the world of basketball that I have not seen for a long time," said Aleksandar Petrović.

"Veteran sport is very popular all over the world, even among basketball players who may not be ready for professional sacrifices as they used to be, but still enjoy playing and socializing, which is why we all started training together a long time ago, as children. I am glad that this project has come to life in our country and I have no doubt that it will be successful," said Nikola Vujčić.

The final of the World Cup is planned to take place at the basketball temple at Gripe, where the story of the great and powerful Jugoplastika, unofficially the best basketball club in Europe in the 20th century, won three consecutive European titles.

"Our club supports all basketball projects, so we will actively support the World Cup of basketball veterans. We are looking forward to opening the doors of our home to all who actively live basketball, regardless of the fact that they have long since retired, and we are considering putting together a team of our veterans to compete in the official competition," said director of Split Basketball Club Edo Blažević.

The fifth edition of the Masters Handball World Cup, despite the problems created by the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine, gathered over 1,000 competitors and guests, so there is no doubt that the Veterans Basketball World Cup will yield similar, if not better results.

"I have to admit that I was a bit envious of handball players when I saw how many of them gather at veteran competitions and that I wondered why something similar is not organized for us, former basketball players. And here, it was as if I had summoned the organizers. I am glad that they started this project, and I am especially glad that my club will be actively involved in it," said the sports director of Split and one of the players of the famous golden generation of Jugoplastika, Teo Čizmić.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

May 24, 2022 - You can spend a large part of your itinerary in the city centre, but did you know that you can get to know many interesting Split destinations by bus? We're going to show you how.

Whether it is a short visit or for a week, the City of Split can fill your itinerary with activities of all kinds, sights, gastronomic spots, and much more. But what if you feel the need to explore your surroundings? Surely from the window of your plane, shortly before landing, you noticed that Split is much more than just its centre. In the high season, you may want a little respite from the crowds, so why not explore some of the nearby Split destinations? By using public transport, you can save yourself the fees of renting a car to visit these relatively local destinations, as well as the tedious search for parking in the city.

Photo: Ivo Cagalj/PIXSELL

The public transport system in the City of Split is called Promet (Traffic) and its buses can take you beyond the centre. The bus network is divided into four zones, and that is how ticket prices are determined (based on proximity to the very centre). If you're very clear about where you're going, you can buy your tickets at the Tisak stands indicating the area you are going to, or you can also pay the bus driver himself, indicating the exact destination you are going to.

The prices of bus tickets by zone are as follows:

Zone 1: 9 kuna

Zone 2: 13 kuna

Zone 3: 17 kuna

Zone 4: 21 kuna

Image: Promet Split

Now, the question is, where do you want to go? Generally, everything in the centre of Split is part of Zone 1. You can choose between beautiful and less crowded beaches, small and picturesque old settlements, or even historical places beyond that zone. The choice is yours. Here are some ideas for Split destinations you can visit in zones 2, 3 and 4 with the city's public transport system.

ZONE 2

Solin

Solin is located very close to the centre, just northeast of Split. Originally called Solana, it was a Greek colony founded in the 3rd century BC, and later a Roman colony. At that time, it ended up becoming the fourth largest city in the entire Roman Empire. For a zone 2 ticket to Solin, you can go ahead and visit its impressive ruins. You'll need to get on bus number 2 (Split - Poljička - K. Sućuraj (Strinje) - Split Airport), or bus number 38 (Split - K. Stari - Resnik).

The ruins of Solin. (Photo: Mario Romulić)

Stobreč

On the southern loop of Split zone 2, Stobreč is the first destination you can get to. It's ideal if you are looking for somewhere nearby to relax and with a good number of bars and restaurants. Stobreč also has a golf course, if that's your thing. You'll need to get on bus number 60 (Split-Omiš) or number 25 (Split-Stobreč).

Overview of Stobreč. (Photo: Mario Romulić)

Podstrana

Passing Stobreč, you'll reach Podstrana. Podstrana has a large number of beautiful beaches, with bars and restaurants on them. I always say, if you are looking to enjoy the sea in Split and away from the crowds, go to Podstrana. If you're looking for something other than the beaches, you can also go hiking in the surrounding hills or kayaking on the Žrnovnica river. Did you also know that legends say that Podstrana is where the famous King Arthur could have been buried? You'll need to get on bus number 60 (Split-Omiš) to get here.

The sword of Artorus, in Podstrana. (Photo: Ivo Cagalj/PIXSELL)

ZONE 3

Kaštela

Please note that there is more than one Kaštela! It won't be something that will have much relevance when paying for your ticket, since they're all in the same area. Kaštela is located northwest of Split, on the way to the airport. No matter which Kaštela you decide to go to, be sure to enjoy its promenades, beaches, and marinas! You'll need to get on bus number 2 (Split - Poljička - K. Sućuraj (Strinje) - Split Airport), or bus number 38 (Split - K. Stari - Resnik).

Krilo

If you pass Podstrana, heading south, you will enter zone 3. There are many places that you can visit almost in succession: Mutogras, Jesenice, Sumpetar, Dugi Rat... Krilo has very nice beaches, as well. You'll need to get on bus number 60 (Split-Omiš).

Krilo. (Photo: Tino Juric/PIXSELL)

ZONE 4

Duće

Duće is one of the last destinations in zone 3 to the south. Many continue on to Omiš, but Duće is a place that deserves all your attention for its beautiful beaches and camping sites. You'll need to get on bus number 60 (Split-Omiš).

At the beginning of Zone 4, just before Omiš, you'll find Duće. (Photo: Mario Romulić)

Trogir

Passing the Split Airport, you'll find the very ancient and picturesque town of Trogir. Often regarded as the miniature version of Split, its beautiful promenade and narrow streets will stick in your mind for a long time. A good idea is to find pristine beaches in the bridge-connected island of Čiovo. You'll need to get on bus number 37 (Split - Split Airport - Trogir).

Trogir. (Photo: Mario Romulić)

Omiš

Omiš is one of the most popular and largest towns on the coastal road between Split and Dubrovnik. Just 40 minutes from the center, Omiš is a true jewel of the Dalmatian coast, with beautiful old streets, the Cetina canyon, and wonderful beaches. You'll need to get on bus number 60 (Split-Omiš).

Omiš. (Photo: Mario Romulić)

For more information on Split's bus system, be sure to check the official website of Promet.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 8, 2022 - Minister of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure Oleg Butković spoke for HRT about major transport infrastructure projects in Croatia that are underway and plans for the future. He especially commented on the Pelješac Bridge and the Omiš bypass.

"We do not have the exact date of the Pelješac Bridge opening yet, but everything is going well. The bridge is finished, and we are now concentrating on the access roads. As for the bridge itself, the procedure is more about documentation, and access roads are being worked on in a hurry. We expect the opening of the Pelješac Bridge and part of the access roads in mid-July. This year we will witness a massive event. It is a large infrastructure project, the most important because it is about merging the state territory," said Butković.

"I must be satisfied because despite COVID-19 and all the recent events, major infrastructure projects, including the Pelješac Bridge, were built at a good pace, so there were no delays," he said.

The opening of part of the access roads will cover a little more than 12 km, but the completion includes the Ston bypass and the Ston bridge, which should be completed by the end of this year. However, Butković added that there were some delays in that part due to unforeseen circumstances.

"By the end of the year, we will connect southern Dalmatia, which includes the Pelješac Bridge, 30 km of access roads with the Ston Bridge, and a large project, which is impressive with a 500 m across Ston Bay."

A specific opening date for the bridge with part of the access roads will be known in May, and the opening will be sometime in July.

"The Omiš bypass project is also being done. Last year we broke through the Komorjak tunnel; now, the bridge over the Cetina is slowly springing up. I toured it about ten days ago, the view from the bridge is really impressive. It is one of the most impressive projects, and it is complex because there are big bridges and tunnels. The Omiš Bypass project will be completed in a year and a half at this stage, but we must solve the entire multimodal platform," said the Minister of Transport.

Butković pointed out that the biggest traffic problems are in that part of Croatia. The 50,000 vehicles a day on the existing old D8 highway from Split to Omiš in the summer and through Omiš is simply unsustainable, he says. 

"I would say that the construction of the Omiš bypass is one of the highest priorities in Croatia today. The completion of its construction will be financed in the next financial perspective. We have confirmed from the European Commission that the entire multimodal platform from Solin, Split to Omiš will be financed with European funds. Croatian Roads is also preparing the project's next phases," he said.

He added that the Ministry would announce a tender for the section from Omiš to Dugi Rat by the end of this year.

"We recently visited the Omiš port, one of the largest port infrastructure projects in Croatia today. It is about 90 million kuna; the road is being relocated, the new port will improve and make life easier for people in that part," he said.

"According to all the announcements, the season should be good for our Jadrolinija liner, but recent events are likely to have consequences for tourism. According to Jadrolinija, we had certain interventions at the end of 2021 since they did not have any help from the state during the entire period of the pandemic.

Jadrolinija is stable; they should start purchasing new ships this year. The plan is to build three new "Postira" because the famous "Postira" is over 50 years old, but it sails. I can't talk about procedures and tenders, but modernizing is crucial for Jadrolinija," said Butković when asked about plans for Jadrolinija.

He pointed out that procuring new ships is also a priority of Jadrolinija.

"Without new ships, we will have a problem in a few years when tenders are announced because there is always a danger that someone who has more modern ships will take over the line. Therefore, the process to modernize and buy new ships must go faster," the Minister of Transport concluded. 

For more, check out our lifestyle section. 

ZAGREB, 24 March 2022 - Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butković visited construction sites in Omiš on Thursday including the Omiš bypass and connection to Cetina Bridge as well as works to the town's port, announcing that the bypass Omiš-Split road should be completed by the end of 2025.

Butković underscored that the Omiš bypass is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Split-Dalmatia County and is valued at HRK 180 million.

The access road to the bridge should be completed by the end of this year and next spring a section of 3.5 kilometres should be completed, he added.

A multimodal platform that is in that section is being financed from the next EU perspective. Butković announced that a call for tenders would be advertised by the end of this year for the road to Dugi Rat.

The Omiš bypass included two tunnels and a bridge across the Cetina River, the minister explained and added that the Komorjak tunnel is more than 600 metres long and the Omiš tunnel is just over 500 metres while the bridge is 216 metres long.

Politics: For more, check out our politics section.

February 27th, 2022 - Public shaming nowadays mostly takes place on social media, so we tend to forget that it once used to have a much more tangible form. Have you ever seen a pillar of shame in Croatia?

In a village called Salež, not far from Buzet town in Istria, stands a solemn monolith. A human figure carved in stone, weathered and overgrown with moss.

It’s not an old deity you’re looking at, but a pillar of shame, a once popular tool for punishment by public humiliation.

Transgressors of all kinds were tied or chained to stone pillars, typically set up on town squares or other public places of gathering, and left to the mercy of the mob. The more severe the offence, the longer the convicts had to endure the misery, with more serious crimes often warranting corporal punishment on top of the humiliating public exposure.

Pillar of shame in Salež, Istria / Buzet Tourist Board Facebook

Pillars of shame existed all over Europe, Croatia being no exception. Public shaming was judicially sanctioned until emperor Joseph II banned it as a method of criminal punishment in the 18th century.

The practice lived on in other ways; most recently, it moved to the virtual space where it assumed a more insidious form. Social media only seems to instigate the mob mentality, and gone are the days of public punishment lasting an hour or two - your past transgressions are forever saved for anyone to find. The internet never forgets, and the old stone pillars and chains almost seem benign in comparison.

In Croatia, several pillars of shame survive to this day. The anonymous figure in Salež is arguably the most unique of the lot - and the most unsettling - as it’s the only one that has a human form.

Among the locals, the pillar is known as Berlin, getting its name after berlina, a type of four-seat carriage that once operated on the route Berlin - Paris and was used for transportation and public shaming of convicts. Berlin the pillar is made of white stone that isn’t naturally found in the area. The figure wears a cap, and is resting its left hand on his chest, on a spot once used to clip the chains with which the convicts were tied.

There’s an inscription in Latin on the front of the figure, barely visible, translating to justice to this poor province.

A local named Mate Grižančić recalls that the village elders used to speak of the pillar being brought to Salež on a carriage adorned in flowers, pulled by six of their strongest oxen. A parade of eighteen girls dressed in white followed the carriage as it rolled into town.

Church of St. Servulus in Buje / istra.hr 

Another pillar of shame in Istria is found in Buje. The town is truly the best of both worlds where Istria is considered: it spans over two inland hills, giving off the classic Istrian-hilltop-town vibes, with the sea glimmering on the horizon as the coast is only 10 kilometres away.

Pillar of shame, church of St. Servulus in Buje / Creative Commons 

At the highest point in town, in front of the imposing Baroque church of St. Servulus, you’ll find a pillar that was reportedly used for public humiliation in the 17th century, and later as a flag pole. Spot the Venetian lion on the pillar and elsewhere in town, remnants of the long period of Venetian rule.

An honorary mention goes to Sveti Lovreč, one of the best preserved fortified medieval settlements in Istria which gets its name from the small church of St. Lawrence.

Perched in the centre of the main square is a pillar of shame that’s only partially preserved, standing on a pedestal.

Sveti Lovreč, pillar of shame in the bottom right corner / Image by Central Istria Tourist Board

Public shaming sure seems to have been a popular method of punishment in Istria - what about the rest of Croatia?

Quite a unique landmark is found in Vinica near Varaždin. It’s locally known as pranger, named after the German term for a pillar of shame. Originally located at the Vinica fortress, the pranger was moved several times and is now installed at the Matija Gubec Square.

The three-sided pillar is slightly reminiscent of an obelisk; each side is crowned with a man’s head, carved in stone. The three faces all have different features, but share a chiselled moustache as a common trait.

Pillar of shame in Vinica / Zagreb Nekada Facebook

Next to the central figure, the year 1643 is engraved, followed by a Latin inscription:

IVSTAM MENSVR(AM) TENETE

Measure honestly, it warns. Together with the round stone vessel installed on the pedestal, the inscription points to the fact that the Vinica pillar doubled as a measuring tool. Grain and similar produce were measured with the help of stone pots since medieval times; the merchants who were caught trying to cheat their customers ended up tied to the pillar and were given a thorough thrashing - verbal or otherwise.

On the coast, a famous specimen of its kind is found in Zadar, standing at the northwest side of the Roman forum.

Given its former purpose, the slender column looks much more intimidating than its Istrian counterparts. Fourteen metres tall and ancient Roman in origin, the column was repurposed into a pillar of shame in the Middle Ages. 

Roman forum in Zadar, pillar of shame on the left / Creative Commons

Nowadays one of the most popular spots in town, the location surely used to instil unease in the local population back in the day. Offenders of all kinds were chained to the pillar and left exposed in public for several hours on average.

Women who were caught emptying their night pots through the window or throwing any other kind of garbage into the street got an hour on the pillar. A sign was hung around their neck that read šporkulja - a title that doesn’t translate well, but indicates the woman was messy or dirty.

Pillar of shame in Zadar / Marco Verch, Creative Commons

Other offenders were given a sign as well, listing all their transgressions; theft and solicitation were the most common offences. The gathered masses were happy to hurl insults at them, as well as a wide range of objects. If a person was accused of theft, they’d get a lashing on top of being harassed by the public.

Offenders were often forced to pay a fine for the privilege of pillar use after the entire ordeal - a whole new level of adding insult to injury.

Further south, in the town of Omiš famed for its pirates, a pillar of shame stands on a square near the river Cetina. The final item on our list, the elegant column bears the insignia of the Venetian general, and it’s believed it dates to the 17th century.