The final program for these very busy days in Sinj has been released and we thank the Sinj tourist board for the nice brochure. Find all events, activities and happenings for the unique time of Sinj Alka as it celebrates its 300th anniversary this year.

We bring you a short note from Kristina Križanec, the Deputy Mayor of Sinj from the brochure. Everything else you need to know, you can find inside the brochure.

Even after almost a year now, watching the seaplane land and take off is still not a boring activity for me and my 4 year old. There were so many days during this winter, when our afternoon walk included the visit of the Jelsa airport. Waiting for the plane, watching the sky, turning our heads in all possible directions, wondering where it will appear this time. And we stayed all the way to watch it take off, even in strong wind, not taking our eyes off until it disappeared around the corner. 

Of, course not everyone is so lucky to live in a town with a seaplane service, but not to worry, there might be even something better for you close by. Aeroklub Sinj (main picture if from their FB page)is organizing The Sinj Air Show 2015 to take place on July 26, 2015 (next Sunday) starting at 10:00.

Program as announced by the Sinj Tourist Board as follows:

- Parachute jumps

- Model program

- Formation flying

- Flight demonstration of a motor glider

- Flight demonstration of a recreational sports aircraft

- Flight demonstration of an old-timer

- Glider towing

- Glider pairs flights

- Glider acrobatic flights

- Acrobatic plane flights

- Military aviation demonstration with the akrogroup "Krila Oluje"

The whole program will start at 10:00 and is planned to end at 14:00 with an entertainment program and F&B offer available.

Take your kids, or somebody else's kids or just bring your inner child to watch the show in Sinj.

An historic event tonight as the Alka Parade entered the Split waterfront to present their 300 years old tradition to both Split people and tourists. A great moment for many, touching hearts, bringing up feelings of joy and pride for those from Sinj to be a part of this amazing tradition.

But Alka is not just a local event. It is THE EVENT for the whole Croatia this year and now, during the last few weeks of Alka being 299 year old, there will be more and more attention, promotion and events around Alka for everyone to enjoy.

There were 120 Alka men and boys, members of the Alka Knights Society with 25 horses walking and riding through Split today. Sinj tourist board was on spot with more information on Alka and Sinj, encouraging tourist to take advantage of the new free Sinj town walking tour every Thursday at 18:00.

If you missed today´s parade, here is a video from the Sinj tourist board Facebook page.

The 4th Cycling race "Up to the Source of Cetina River" took place on Sunday June 21, 2015 and 300 cyclist from the Cetina area, but also from Split, Šibenik, Solin, Omiš, Trogir, Dubrovnik, Livno and Mostar cycled the route from Sinj town all the way to the Source of Cetina River and back to Sinj. No competition, just getting together to cycle along the beautiful Peruča Lake and through lavender fields and magic roads of the Cetina river area.

This area (as many others in Inland Dalmatia) is just absolutely perfect for cycling and other outdoor activities and I am amazed by the amount of work and enthusiasm of the organisers (Cycling Club Vlaji-Sinj) and participants, who started this tradition four years ago and are passionate about cycling in Sinj region and beyond. They live what they love. You don´t get much better promotion of cycling in Inland Dalmatia than this. Sinj tourist board is aware of that and is supporting and promoting the race by any means they can. These stunning pictures were made by Ivan Alebić for all of us to enjoy.

This is how a normal road in Inland Dalmatia looks like - cyclist on one side, horse-back riders on the other..

And there is always time to make a picture at the Peruča Lake, or a selfie for that matter..

..and to have a friendly conversation while driving..

..and for some sightseeing.

Finally there - hope everyone got to be in the picture, the Cetina Source looks too little for this years participants. Looks like there was enough food for everybody, though.

Some evening fun with live music and band Stella waiting for those cyclist to get back.

The picture below was taken from the Dinarides Trails website - which offers a variety of cycling trails in Dalmatia for everyone to explore.

Great event, wish you many more to come!!

The Tourist Board of Sinj in the heart of Central Dalmatia is one of the most progressive tourist boards in the region. Director Jelena Bilic has been in the job about 2 years and has embraced social media and other forms of modern communication to entice tourists away from the beach, just half an hour north of Split. Total Split went to meet her.

1. Central Dalmatia. Sun, beach and the pristine Adriatic. Why should tourists head inland to visit Sinj?

Tourists should visit Sinj because of its rich cultural heritage: it possesses real historical jewels - the clock tower Kamičak, Old Town Fortress, the magnificent Church of the Miraculous Madonna of Sinj, the greatest Marian shrine in southern Croatia; a tombstone Gaius Laberius built into the front wall of a house, the Sinj boy holding a ball, proof that the Cetinska Krajina Region is the cradle of the second most important thing in the world and the place where football was first played; The Archaeological Collection of the Franciscan Monastery; the Museum of the Cetinska Krajina Region, the central place of research and exhibition of its rich cultural and historical heritage; the Alka Knights Court, the former barracks (Kvartiri), today a splendid complex and the home of the Sinjska Alka, in which the Alka Museum is waiting to be opened to the public in 2015; untouched nature clear and cold waters and mysterious mountains, gastronomy, there are countless opportunities for active holidays – from hiking, horse riding, cycling, canoe safari on the river Cetina, hunting, fishing, parachuting and paragliding.

(photo by Filip Ratkovic)

2. The region north of Split is virtually unknown. What does it possess for the curious tourist?

All info about Town of Sinj curious tourists can find on www.visitsinj.com and social network: Facebook Sinj Tourist Board, Twitter Visit Sinj, Pinterest Visit Sinj and Youtube channel Visit Sinj. Mobile app Sinj Guide will be also finished before summer 2014. All info about the region north of Split tourists can also find on the brand new portal Total Inland Dalmatia with interesting blogs about events and interesting places for visiting in Knin, Drniš, Vrlika, Trilj, Imotski, Vrgorac and Sinj.

3. How do you see the profile of tourism changing in Dalmatia in recent years?

In the last 2-3 years in Dalmatia there have been many individual tourists who are booking accommodation by themselves and finding info about destinations online, mainly through Tripadvisor. The sea, sun and sand is not enough for them, they want to experience something traditional, want to be active. They are visiting islands or national parks and they do not have enough info about Inland Dalmatia which is still undiscovered. But, Inland Dalmatia also has its pioneers in tourism operating like Mustang Ranch (Horse Trails), Adventure Zagora (kayaking, paragliding, paintball); Dalmatia Explorer (Photo Jeep Safari and Cycling Tours through Dinaridic springs ) and Tourist Agency Potissimus is organizing ATV-Quad Adventure in Vrdovo.

4. Next year sees the 300th anniversary of one of Croatia's most important events - the Alka in Sinj. Tell us more, and what plans are there to mark this specialevent and what is new for 2014?

Next year Town of Sinj is celebrating 300 years of Alka Tournament of Sinj which is under the protection of UNESCO as world intangible heritage. We are expecting the promotion of EU funded project Medpaths, cycling paths whose primary objective is the protection and revitalization of local heritage (cultural and natural) along the Adriatic coast. Another EU funded project is in progress „Our Lady of Sinj Route“ which has been approved according Programme IPA Croatia-BiH and its implementation started in 2013. The project will last for 24 months. The aim of the project is to enhance joint tourist offers based on common cultural identity in the Croatian-BiH space in order to improve competitiveness of the local tourism economy.

The pilgrimage trail The Our Lady of Sinj Route will connect Rama (BiH) to Sinj and Solin. The Town of Sinj has the support of the Ministry of Tourism for the renovation of the - clock tower Kamičak and Sinj Tourist Board is finalizing the project of installation info plates and tourist signalization supported by Croatian National Board. We will organize lots of events throughout the year, and the biggest tourist attraction will be opening of the Alka Museum.

5. It must be frustrating to be director of such a fascinating tourist region that few tourists visit? What efforts are you making to attract more people to the region?

I am are aware that the growth of the tourist arrivals should increase slowly because tourist infrastructure should also follow up, last year overnights increased 30%. We are producing promo videos, organizing events like the Rural Products Fair, The 1715 Siege of Sinj - history revival, hosting foreign journalist and bloggers, promoting the destination through social networks, distributing promotional materials through info points in Split and Trogir,developing new projects like free climbing.

(photo by Ilija Veselica)

Thanks Jelena. Sinj is a fantastic place, so do check it out - more info on www.visitsinj.com