May the 12th, 2022 - Rogoznica, which always attracts quite a significant number of tourists from far and wide each and every summer tourist season, is clamping down firmly on waste disposal rules as the season rapidly approaches.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, last year was especially dramatic for the Rogoznica utility company Skovacin, which had to deal with piles of rubbish all over the place, and the problem with waste in all possible (and in impossible) places escalated when collections from the doorstep started. Bins were given only to those who were on the register and who pay for transportation properly, while the rest of the residents were left with roads, other people's fences, and environmentally protected areas in which to dump their rubbish, reports Sibenski portal.

According to municipal records, the then director Rogoznica's aforementioned communal company determined that as many as 700 owners of buildings, including apartment renters, simply did not pay and were never paying for proper garbage collection. A deeper look revealed that that figure was actually far higher. That's when the company and Rogoznica itself decided to take things further and alter things before 2022's tourist season flies around.

In order to function even better and be fully in line with EU laws and directives, a new Decision on the method of public service of municipal waste collection was adopted in Rogoznica, which prescribes detailed billing criteria, user categories, rubbish container sizes, the frequency of emptying those containers, the obligations which must be met by service providers and users, and so on. The method of recycling and collection of various waste for recycling is also prescribed in clear detail.

There are also contractual penalties. A fine of 300 to 1,000 kuna will need to be paid if, for example, other types of waste are disposed of in a recyclable waste container, if hazardous substances or recyclable waste are disposed of in a mixed municipal waste container or biowaste container, and an array of other rules are also now in place.

The biggest penalty will be paid by those who dispose of their rubbish into the environment or in a public space, also known as flytippers. The maximum fine for this offense stands at 3000 kuna.

For the Municipality of Rogoznica, there is another big problem being struggled with and that must be solved urgently. In the wider Rogoznica area, there is a lot of construction going on, houses are springing up at every step, so there is a tonne of construction waste lying around. It is unfortunately very often being irresponsibly disposed of in various places, mostly on private plots, artificial hills are being created, and it is being found along unclassified roads in the hinterland of the municipality.

At the last session of the Municipal Council, the new mayor Anita Zivkovic emphasised that this problem will now begin being seriously tackled. In addition to the Municipality of Rogoznica itself, the competent inspection services should also react promptly and in a timely manner.

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

December 21 - Calling all travel writers and bloggers! Animare Villas Croatia and Total Croatia News are offering 5 nights of free accommodation in one of the new luxury seafront Animare villas in Dalmatia (Rogoznica)!

The offer is valid for 5 travel content creators (writers, bloggers, vloggers, social media influencers) from January 26 to 31, 2022. 

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

The competition is open to travel content creators (with preference given to content creators experienced in luxury travel writing) that have a solid presence on one of the following mediums: travel-oriented news platform, own website, YouTube channel, and that is already in the area or can travel to Split on 26.01.2022, on their own expense. A strong Facebook/Instagram presence is a plus.

HOW TO APPLY

Send a short email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name, the link of the website/YouTube channel where you would publish, and a phrase about yourself and your highlights as a travel content creator.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• 5 nights of luxury accommodation at Animare Villas Croatia
• Welcome drinks
• Transport from Split Old Town to the villas on January 26 and back to Split Old Town on January 31

(Travel to Split and any other expenses related to the stay in the villa are not covered).

WHAT IS REQUIRED

The winners of this competition will commit to writing 3 minimum 1000-word articles / creating 3 minimum 3 minutes long videos, during their stay in the Animare Villas, with the following topics:

• Why Dalmatia in the winter is a good idea
• Your experience staying at Animare Villas Croatia
• A topic of your choice that relates to luxury travel in Croatia and/or things to do in the Trogir-Rogoznica-Sibenik area

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications are open until December 28 at midnight (CET). Successful candidates will be contacted to confirm they will be able to attend the retreat, and the list of winners will be announced publicly on the Animare Villas & Total Croatia News Facebook and Instagram accounts, on December 31, 2021! 

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

November 23, 2021 – Šibenik-Knin County assembly is formally launching the process to obtain the official protected status for Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake

On the shores of Šibenik-Knin County, a dragon is stirring. For as long as anyone can remember he has slept here. Famously, he rests next to the Adriatic and Marina Frapa, one of the most beautiful yacht harbours of the Mediterranean. Indeed, this giant - Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake - is one of the most iconic natural features of the mainland's coast.

He's at least 10, 000 years old, so local residents are used to having him around. However, he's recently become a lot more famous for two distinct reasons.

© Vlado Franolić

Firstly, the rise in drone photography has successfully unlocked the startling beauty Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake gifts this varied landscape. Secondly, over the last two decades a successive stream of scientific researchers have arrived to study these unique waters. They have poked and prodded, taken samples and photos. Their published findings have lead to the current awakening. Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake now looks set to become a nationally protected Nature Monument.

Today, 23 November 2021, Šibenik-Knin County assembly is formally launching the process to obtain the official protected status for Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake. Classification as a Nature Monument (Spomenik prirode or prirodna baština in Croatian) is sought to preserve the original natural values of a place or object. The protection is awarded because of the rarity, uniqueness or beauty of a natural monument, its value to science or its value to surrounding ecosystems. Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake meets each of those criteria.

Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake aka Zmajevo oko jezero

© Dream Division Split / Rogoznica TZ

This elliptical-shaped lake was formed after the end of the last ice age. After all the ice melted, sea levels rose a massive 100 metres. When that happened, the Adriatic penetrated through cracks in the wall of a sinkhole located on the Gradina peninsula. The sinkhole became Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake.

The lake has a maximum measured depth of 15 metres. It is surrounded on all sides surrounded by vertical rocks that range between 4 and 24 metres in height. These walls protect a unique hydrological and geomorphological phenomenon and ecosystem.

Below the water surface, the lake is connected to the open sea by a large cave. At the bottom of the lake is a thick bottom layer of hydrogen sulfide. This creates an environment that is, in parts, extremely low in oxygen. It also produces a meromictic lake - one which has layers of water that do not usually intermix.

This combination creates a challenging but unique set of conditions for the sea creatures and plants that inhabit the lake. Although, for the former, their residence can be somewhat transitory. From time to time, the lake waters become uninhabitable. Its sea creatures are forced to leave the lake en masse and head out into the open seas. They only return when the lake waters are purified.

To people of the locale, Rogoznica Dragon's Eye Lake has held a fame long before the drone cameras and scientists arrived. Myth and legend surround the lake and its formation. Some believe the sinkhole is actually a crater left by a falling meteor. Others say that long ago, a dragon really used to live here. The awarding of Nature Monument status ensures these entertaining stories will be retold long into the future.

If you want to read more about Rogoznica, read our Total Croatia guide here. And if you want to keep up with news from Šibenik-Knin County, keep an eye on Total Croatia News's tagged pages here

As Morski writes on the 5th of October, 2020, Rudjer Boskovic Institute scientists are busy investigating the disappearance of oxygen from the iconic Dragon's Eye Lake in Rogoznica. The Rudjer Boskovic Institute scientists studying the body of water in Rogoznica have recently noticed a change in the colour and smell of the lake. It is the occurrence of anoxia in the entire water column of the lake and the spread of toxic hydrogen sulfide. This natural process is favoured by extreme weather conditions, such as a sudden drop in atmospheric temperature.

Rogoznica Lake, more popularly known as the Dragon's Eye, is a natural phenomenon and a unique marine system in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean region. Recently, due to its physico-chemical and biological characteristics, it has been included on the map of about a hundred permanently stratified, anoxic (oxygen-free) and euxinic (free toxic sulfide in the water column) lakes in the world.

The main characteristic of the lake is seasonal stratification into an upper oxic layer, a middle layer or a chemocline coloured in purple, and a bottom anoxic layer characterised by complete darkness (due to there being absolutely no presence of light) and high concentrations of toxic ammonia and sulfide.

''Recently, the lake has suddenly mixed again, has become blurred, the smell of rotten eggs has spread, and the lake has changed from its usual transparent greenish-blue colour of the surface to an opaque greenish-gray. During the mixing of the water 'slayers, sulfide evaporation and oxidation has occurred in the lake, as well as the formation of polysulfide and elemental sulfur, which, due to high concentration and low solubility, appears in colloidal form, ie sediment in the water column, which changed the transparency and colour of the lake.

The process of mixing and oxidation of sulfides consumed all the oxygen in the lake, and the lake, as of the 27th of September, 2020, has remained completely oxygen-free. Such a condition has caused the death of  theflora and fauna,'' explained Dr. sc. Irena Ciglenecki-Jusic, Head of the Laboratory for Marine Physics and Water Systems Chemistry of the aforementioned institute.

This state of anoxia in the entire water column has been recorded three times so far, in September 1997, October 2011, and more recently in 2016. The lake has been the subject of natural science research by Rudjer Boskovic scientists in collaboration with colleagues from the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, the Centre for Sea and Coast in Dubrovnik and the Split Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, as well as a team of international colleagues since way back in 1990.

The occurrence of anoxia in the entire water column of the lake is a natural process that occurs at irregular time intervals depending on the weather conditions. It is affected by extreme weather conditions, such as a sharp drop in the temperature of the atmosphere, which suddenly cools the salty surface layer of water. This layer of water sinks and mixes with water below which is rich in sulfide. In the last ten years, such sudden changes have become more frequent - scientists say.

''The recovery of the lake is long-lasting, especially in terms of biology, while the chemical processes more or less returns to the way it was within a month or so. According to current knowledge, biological recovery takes several years, but then there is re-mixing and that same life cycle starts all over again. However, it always begins from a new starting point, which is especially interesting for further specific research,'' explained Dr. Ciglenecki-Jusic.

The lake is considered a natural laboratory for monitoring changes in the environment, and in recent times has proven to be ideal for monitoring the transport and delivery of desert dust from the Sahara to the central Adriatic.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

May 5, 2020 - Tourism is on hold, but most of us have plenty of time. So let's look at the virtual resources available to explore Croatia virtually. We continue our new Virtual Croatia series with the tools to discover Rogoznica.

A few weeks ago I wrote that being a tourism blogger in the corona era was about as useful as being a cocktail barman in Saudi Arabia. I feel less useless now, a few weeks later, and I am encouraged by the number of Croatian tourism businesses who are contacting us wanting to start thinking of promoting post-corona tourism. 

One of the challenges of writing about tourism at the moment is that there is nothing positive to write about. With people confined to their homes and tourism in Croatia currently not possible, many have decided to go into hibernation until it is all over. 

I think that this is a mistake, and I have greatly enjoyed the TCN series by Zoran Pejovic of Paradox Hospitality on thinking ahead to tourism in a post-corona world.  You can find Zoran's articles here.

Way back on March 14 - several lifetimes ago - I published an article called Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Zagreb. The way I saw things, now was an OUTSTANDING opportunity for tourism promotion. People have time, they yearn for their freedom and former lives, so give them the tools to thoroughly research and enjoy your destinations, and you will have then longing to be there. And when they do come, they will have a deeper understanding of the destination due to their research. 

South Africa and Portugal were the first to do their post-corona tourism promotion videos several weeks ago (Post-Corona Tourism Planning: Lessons from South Africa and Portugal), a trick which has been followed by other tourism countries, the latest being Croatia with the national tourist board campaign, #CroatiaLongDistanceLove, going live yesterday.

But while these campaigns create longing and market presence, they don't really educate. People now have time to really get into destinations. And dreams of escape to somewhere more exotic are high on the list of priorities of many. 

So TCN has decided to help with that education with a new series called Virtual Croatia, where we will be helping you discover many of Croatia's destinations with all the best virtual tools available on your self-isolating sofa at home. 

We started last week with Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Tools to Discover Hvar.

After this, we put our a press release (which you can read here in English and Croatian) offering a free article to any local tourist board in Croatia who would like the free promotion in our Virtual Croatia series. 

The Sinj Tourist Board was the first to respond, and now you can see just how rich the tourism offer is in this proud Alka town - your virtual tools to Discover Sinj. This was followed by DIscover Opatija, Discover Brela and Discover Omis.

Next up, Marijo Mladinic, Director of the Rogoznia Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Rogoznica. 

Let's begin! 

Discover Rogoznica, the Heart of Dalmatia

Rogoznica is VERY photogenic, so let's get to know it first of all via some general intro videos. The Heart of Dalmatia in 2017.

And the Heart of Dalmatia in 2016.

Rogoznica ,SailHo Croatia.

Rogoznica, Untold Stories.

Rogoznica as It Once Was

How has Rogoznica changed over the years? Some clues in this delightful home video of Rogoznica and Skradin from 1990.

Marina Frapa, a top Adriatic sailing destination, complete with underwater cocktail bar.

Rogoznica is very well-known to sailors on the Adriatic, with its premier Marina Frapa. Official promo video above, introduced as follows:

We are glad to present You new Marina Frapa Official video 2019.

Marina Frapa is the most beautiful and awarded marina on the Adriatic and certainly one of the most beautiful on the Mediterranean.

It's located in the heart of Dalmatia in the middle of the Croatian coast, between Šibenik and Split, in the lovely and sheltered bay of Soline. The marina has been receiving the Blue Flag award year after year, an world-renowned eco-label.

The Marina Frapa resort covers an area of 170 000 m2, 500 berths in sea, 396 meters long transit pier and 150 dry berths. Includes: Gas station, Service, 2 hotels, 38 double rooms with balconies, 7 apartments with balconies, Restaurant Ancora, International cuisine, Konoba, Traditional cuisine, Teppanyaki, Asian cuisine, Sushi bar, Champagne & cocktail bar, Dragon's cave, Underwater bar, Captain's club, Pastry café, Pizzeria, Wine shop, Congress hall (capacity 300 seats), Conferences, Events, Weddings, Gala dinners, Fashion shows, Outdoor pool, Sport facilities, Tennis, Electronic bowling with 2 tracks, Squash, Fitness center, Boccia playground, Dragon's eye lake, a unique geohydromorphological phenomenon, Cristal Night club, Shows. 

Adrenaline Rogoznica: Red Bull Cliff Diving

Back in 2012, Orlando Duque visited Croatia and searched for the most attractive cliffs to dive. He found some very interesting spots where he executed a number of jumps. He was delighted with the Croatian natural beauties and executed a number of jumps from cliffs on lake Zmajevo Oko (Dragon's Eye) and the island Veliki Garmenjak.

And there are plenty of other activities to try in Rogoznica. Sailing. 

Scuba diving. 

Cycling. 

Tuna Fever.

The Awakening of the Dragon

Event ‘AWAKENING OF THE DRAGON’, is a unique staging of the ancient legend of the DRAGON’S EYE LAKE and the dragon Murin, which takes place along the Rogoznica seafront. It presents the story of true love that transforms the world. It is a story about courage, love, loyalty, and the triumph of good over evil. Visitors have the opportunity to experience and become a part of the legend about the creation of the magnificent lake Dragon’s Eye, the symbol of eternal and true love.

The Legends of Rogoznica

I first met Marijo five years ago as part of the Legends of Croatia tour of Sibenik-Knin and Dubrovnik-Neretva counties. He was an excellent host and presented his destination in a very engaging way. Three Rogoznica legends were reenacted.

First up, Legend of the fight for the land: Dragon’s Eye.

After the death of their parents, three brothers were to share the land. One of them was blind, but not foolish, and he knew quite well that the other two wished to trick him. In a fervent discussion and with tumultuous feelings the blind man cursed his brothers saying:

“If you tricked me, the land will turn into a lake and a dragon will surface and swallow you.” The lake from which the dragon emerged is known as the Dragon’s Eye.

Legend of St. John of Trogir (Cape Planka).

In the oldest part of the Croatian coast, Cape Planka, there is a natural dividing line between the Adriatic’s winds and currents which makes the sea dangerous for ships. Of course, this was not beneficial for the sailors who sailed the sea but in spite of that, on one occasion, during a shipwreck, a miracle occurred. Whilst walking across the waters, St John of Trogir saved the sailors and all the cargo on the ship, and they happily landed on the coast. As a sign of gratitude, a chapel was later erected at that exact location.

Legend of the Painting.

An old fisherman was at sea catching fish when all of a sudden he noticed an unusual light. It was a painting of Our Lady which he took home after fishing. However, the next morning, the painting was not there. He went fishing again and the same light took him by surprise, but this time he took the painting to the priest. The painting seemed every time to mysteriously find its way back to the sea where it would then be found by someone. On this exact location, the chapel of the Lady of Chapel was erected and this is where we will film the story.

Don't miss the stunning Lady of the Chapel procession each July.

Beaches, beaches, beaches

Rogoznica lies at the heart of the Central Dalmatian coast. Which means beaches!

Crljina beach. 

A general beach overview. 

Klapa Kopara - Rogoznica Moja Mila

Nothing encapsulates the romance of a Dalmatian holiday than the wonderful local klapa music. Meet Klapa Kopara.

Webcams in Rogoznica

If you can't be there physically, you can follow all the live action from Rogoznica on these live webcams. Gorgeous, isn't it?

Virtual tour of Rogoznica

Get to know Rogoznica, the 360 way.

Official Rogoznica Tourist Board & a TCN Rogoznica Trip Report

Discover Omis via the official Rogoznica Tourist Board website.

Marijo has also prepared a very handy Discover Rogoznica PDF guide of the destination.

So what is a visit to Rogoznica like? I was fortunate to visit with the wonderful Karin Mimica and her Gastronaut foodie group in April, 2017. This was my Discover Rogoznica experience - Rogoznica, a Dalmatian Sailing Gem North of Split.

THIS. IS. ROGOZNICA. When can we expect your visit? 

To discover more of virtual Croatia, you can follow this series in our dedicated section, Virtual Croatia. 

If you are a local tourist board in Croatia and would like your destination featured in this series for free, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Virtual Croatia (and destination name)

July 25, 2019 - A trip up the coast from Split for the latest Property of the Week, a quality apartment villa complex with pool and sea view in Rogoznica. 

A trip to delightful Rogoznica on the northern Dalmatian coast this week, for the latest Trgostan Property of the week. In the words of Split's oldest real estate agency:

A newer (built in 2015, modernized in 2019) villa of 334 sqm gross, on a 540 sqm land plot, at only 60 meters from the sea, with a fantastic sea view, overlooking the bay, consisted of :

LOWEST FLOOR: kitchen + dining area + living area, bedroom and bathroom (34m2)

GROUND FLOOR: kitchen + dining area, fitness room with sauna and 2 terraces (101m2)

1st FLOOR: kitchen + living area, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 terraces (104m2)

2nd FLOOR: kitchen + dining and living area, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, toilet and 3 terraces (one of them with jacuzi bath)  (106m2)*all units have their own separate entrance

The outdoor area provides 4 parking spots, pool area, chill out zone and a fire place.

ENERGY CERTIFICATE - B

For more information, photos, price and to book a viewing, check out the original listing. 

October 18, 2018 - Taking Google Street View technology to the seaside, a first for Croatia in Rogoznica. 

We've all seen and experienced the crowds during the summer, but just what effect are such large numbers of people having on consumption?

April 2^nd 2018, over Easter Weekend, Marina Frapa Resort Rogoznica took a journey to the past with a collection of oldtimer classic cars for the traditional season opening of the Marina and Resort.