August 3, 2019 - When the forecasts projected a change in weather this weekend, they weren’t kidding around. A look at how this summer storm swept through the Split area.

A rumbling thunderstorm with powerful and blustery winds ripped through the Split area around 10 pm on Friday. The air temperature dropped to just 19 degrees Celsius in a short time - for comparison, the highest daily temperature on Friday was 32 degrees Celsius, Slobodna Dalmacija reported.

“It came from the northwest and descended to Dalmatia. The announced front is crossing our area,” confirmed DHMZ in Split on Friday evening. 

The highest recorded wind gusts in the Split area were 104 km/h, according to DHMZ.

People were warned not to go outside, and those who found themselves outdoors were asked to seek shelter as soon as possible. 

However, on a Friday night in the peak season, we know that’s an impossible ask. 

A look at the scenes on the Split Riva on Friday.

"There was panic in the city. The outdoor terraces were cleared within minutes. Guests ran away without paying their bills," one reader told Slobodna Dalmacija.

The storm also turned one building in the Pujanke area of Split into the house of horrors!

At the nearby Star Village of Mosor, Crometeo measured hurricane-like gusts of wind up to 148 km/h!

The wind carried garbage containers into parked cars.

And made everyone in the warmth of their homes thankful they chose not to go out that night.

After the storm, the Center 112 received numerous calls from citizens reporting fallen trees on the roads, while some reported that they were trapped in an elevator because some parts of the city briefly ran out of power, reported Slobodna Dalmacija.

Some facilities were left without roofs, and most of the calls came from Split, Solin, and Kaštela.

Many calls for help from the sea were also received Friday night.

“We have a lot of calls, and just in the area of ​​Split we have reports of five accidents, and maybe 20 in the whole Adriatic,” said the Port Authority of Split on Friday. No injuries had been reported on Friday night, though more information will be known on Saturday morning. 

The KulaKula festival was also held in Trogir on Friday night in Kamerlengo castle. The storm hit as local favorite Vojko V was on stage. The storm cut out the sound, but Vojko boldly continued his concert in an unplugged version. 

However, the storm became worse and started to pick up chairs, umbrellas, equipment, and branches. The audience then began running away from the concert venue, and as one Dalmacija Danas reader said, there was a lot of panic on the way out.

Fortunately, the weather forecast for Saturday is looking much more favorable.

You can follow the weather report here.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

August 2, 2019 - Just one week after Croatia’s favorite jewelry team introduced a brand new collection that vows to do its part in reducing plastic waste (you can read more about the #reCYCLED by Break Time nautical jewelry collection here), the bosses at Break Time haven't quite taken a break themselves, and are busy keeping their beloved fans on their toes with the release of yet another collection.

A perfect addition to your summer wardrobe, meet the new and exclusive Yacht Club collection by Break Time nautical jewelry! 

“We are proudly introducing our first external collaboration, with two multi-awarded architects/designers: Attila Kim and Bogdan Ciocodeica,” announced the BT team to their fains.

Namely, the Yacht Club collection features an original stainless steel anchor, which is available in four colors (silver, rose gold, yellow gold, and black).

"Taking its inspiration from the classical anchor form, the Yacht Club Collection is a minimalist reinterpretation. Simple lines, clean surfaces for a more contemporary feel, yet embracing the history behind the symbol and - at the same time - upgrading the functional needs of the object, thus forging a timeless piece that invites you to be part of The Club,” added Attila Kim & Bogdan Ciocodeica, the Yacht Club Collection designers.

The new Yacht Club anchor bracelets can also feature an engraving of up to 15 characters on the curved part of the bracelet, and up to 10 characters on the anchor body - because who would miss the chance to show off their signature and truly one-of-a-kind arm candy?

Even better, Break Time knows how to put your helping hands to use, and if you engrave a marine animal on your new bracelet, the price of engraving will be donated to the Blue World Institute, as part of BT’s #SAVEMARINELIFE campaign.

You can get your hands on the new Yacht Club collection online, or check it out in person at the Break Time shop at Zadarska 1 in Split or Illica 14 in Zagreb. 

You can find Break Time’s five Croatian locations below: 

Ilica 14, ZAGREB

Zadarska 1, SPLIT

Trogirska 8, SPLIT

Antuninska 5, DUBROVNIK

Via Arsenale 10, ROVINJ

To make sure you never miss a Break Time beat, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

August 2, 2019 - Split continues to impress this summer!

According to eVisitor data, in July, 189,547 arrivals and 630,467 overnights in the area of Split were recorded, which is an increase of 5% in arrivals and 4% in overnights compared to the previous year. The largest number of arrivals was achieved by tourists from the United Kingdom, the USA, France, and Germany. Split is indeed one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Croatia, as evidenced by the fact that from January to July, 517,422 arrivals and 1,484,138 overnights were achieved, which is an increase of 9% in arrivals and 10% in overnight stays. 

One of the main motives for the arrival of tourists is the many manifestations that enrich the tourist offer of the city throughout the year. The entertainment program continues this weekend, which will include a special celebration for Victory Day and Homeland Thanksgiving Day. 

Below you can see a list of upcoming events. For the complete program and hours, visit the Split Tourist Board here.

FRIDAY, August 2, 2019

Riva

Entertainment group POP ART

Peristyle

Changing of Diocletian's Guard

Roman Life (8 pm)

Nocturnal on Peristyle

Diocletian's Basement 

Summer charms of classical music

Exhibition program in Diocletian's cellar and public space

Ethnographic Museum Split 

Exhibition  "Majka grbava, dica lipa, unučad manita - o lozi, grožđu i vinu" - About rakija, grapes, and wine 

Emanuel Vidović Gallery 

Exhibition about “Marjan”

Đardin 

6th Revival of Urban Culture - Evo RUKE   

Meštrović Crikvine Kaštilac 

65th Split Summer Concert

Milesi Palace

Goran Trbuljak's exhibition: "Self-portrait painted by another"

Bačvice 

Summer cinema: “Fast and Furious”, “Hobbs and Shaw”

Saturday, August 2, 2019

RIVA

Entertainment group POP ROCK CABARET 

Peristyle

Changing of Diocletian's Guard

Nocturnal on Peristyle

Diocletian's Basement 

Summer charms of classical music

Exhibition program in Diocletian's cellar and public space

Đardin 

6th Revival of Urban Culture - Evo RUKE   

Milesi Palace

Goran Trbuljak's exhibition: "Self-portrait painted by another"

Fotoklub Split

Jadran Lazić: Split – Paris – Los Angeles

Kula Gallery

Exhibition: Peter Halley and Lauren Clay - QUBE

Bačvice 

Summer cinema: “The Accused”

Sunday, August 4, 2019 

Riva

21:30 Concert Marko Perković Thompson

Peristyle

Changing of Diocletian's Guard

Nocturnal on Peristyle

Diocletian's Basement 

Summer charms of classical music

Exhibition program in Diocletian's cellar and public space

65th Split Summer Concert

Đardin 

6th Revival of Urban Culture - Evo RUKE   

Meštrović Crikvine Kaštilac 

65th Split Summer - Drama, All About Women

Fotoklub Split

Jadran Lazić: Split – Paris – Los Angeles

Milesi Palace

Goran Trbuljak's exhibition: "Self-portrait painted by another"

Bačvice 

Summer cinema: “The Lion King”

For Victory Day and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veteran’s Day

Sunday 04. 08. 2019.

21:30 concert of Marko Perković Thompson

Monday 05.08. 2019.

21:00 concert Nenad Vetma and band

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

The 7th edition of Ultra Europe 2019 closed its doors in July for what will be remembered as one of the best yet. Record numbers, a new location, four destinations, hundreds of performers, spectacular production, thousands of visitors, including many celebrities, and lifelong friendships made can quickly sum up the 7th edition of Ultra Europe - and on the heels of that success, Ultra has announced the new release. Namely, from July 10-12, 2020, Split will host the 8th edition! 

But before we get ahead of ourselves, here’s a look at the 7th edition of Ultra Europe, in numbers. 

Over the seven-day experience, more than 155,000 fans arrived from a record 143 countries to Ultra Europe this year, mostly from Spain, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Austria, the US, Canada and the Netherlands. There were more than 35,000 local fans, which is the highest ever, and the festival’s millionth visitor was recorded this year, making it by far the largest international event in Croatia. More than 2,000 people took part in the organization, more than 250 DJs played on 12 stages in 4 destinations, and more than 300 accredited local and foreign journalists closely followed the event. 

Ultra Europe saw a total reach of 10,000,000 + on social channels. More than 20,000,000 impressions were generated, over 500,000 likes, and official hashtags were popular - #UltraEurope was used over 150,000 times. The festival was also live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, recording over 300,000 minutes of views, and the best moments can still be viewed on all official channels of the festival.

What sets ULTRA apart from all other festivals in the world is the way it connects music and destinations. The experience for visitors takes on a whole new dimension, and the promotion of Croatia is hardly measurable by any number. ULTRA takes its fans on a journey from Omiš, via Split to Brač, Hvar and Vis. However, festival guests are also happy to travel to Dubrovnik, to the Krka waterfalls and Plitvice Lakes, the places they have chosen in the official survey as those that are definitely worth a visit. Ultra guests stay almost seven days in Croatia on average and take pictures and memories with them to all parts of the globe. The destination adventure started on the island of Brač, at the 585 Club, before the madhouse moved to the sunniest Croatian island of Hvar. The music program began in front of the cascading pools of the Amfora Grand Beach Resort and continued at the Carpe Diem Beach Club. In the intimate and exclusive atmosphere of the 200-year-old Fort George Fort on Vis, better known as Fortica, the seventh ULTRA adventure came to an end. 

It was also the most talked-about news in recent months as many considered the famous festival leaving Poljud the wrong solution and a reason why Ultra could ultimately leave Croatia. Those behind this decision were silent yet wise as they eagerly waited to open the doors to their new home. So, is Ultra Europe moving to Park Mladeži for good? Fortunately, Park Mladeži did not disappoint and powerfully kicked off a new four-year festival period that is growing and evolving. Some 15,000 square meters larger than Poljud, representing three football fields, it has opened up new opportunities for organizers to use 30,000 square meters, which is accompanied by an increase in capacity for 55,000 visitors. Together with the City of Split and the Split Sports Facilities Public Institution, this location will develop into a leading sports and event location in the region. It is important to note that no major incidents were recorded during the festival in Split, and the seventh edition will be remembered for the smallest number of interventions by all services in history.

“This year we had only one goal - to fulfill all that we promised you at the beginning of the year! That we have succeeded in this is not only spoken by figures and facts, but also by the numerous positive comments we receive daily from our fans, and also from the performers themselves and the American festival owners. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this, and I would especially like to thank the residents of Split. We asked you to believe us and thank you for that! We have done everything necessary to make the festival the safest venue in the country, with the lowest number of interventions ever, confirming the success of the new location. Without cooperating with the local community and surrounding residents, this would not be possible, and I am sure that in the coming years we will further develop this location to further improve their living conditions during the festival and also make all Split citizens proud of Park Mladeži,” said Joe Bašić, Managing Director of MPG Live, the exclusive organizer of ULTRA Europe, adding:" Considering that the festival generates more than €20 million in free marketing promotions each year to the city of Split and Croatia, we will agree that this is one of the most important events in the history of the Croatian music and entertainment industry, and in order for this figure to be higher, it requires further solid and high-quality cooperation with the representatives of the authorities, local and tourism sector, as well as the support of all citizens of Split.”

The production of a festival this size is also no easy task, especially when you change the location just one month before the festival begins. However, among the many records broken at the 7th edition is the main stage. The length of the whole stage stretched 67.50 meters, which was also one of the longest stages in Europe and never before seen in our region. One pillar weighed more than 10 tons, and the roof had ballasts that, when filled with water, weighed about 50 tons. The Swedish House Mafia performance was an additional challenge - in just half an hour the existing scenery had to be dismantled, a special riser appeared, which looked like a 14m x 4m stage, with 88 meters of additional LED screens, additional lighting, and landings for pyrotechnics. More than 450 people worked at the festival and the equipment arrived in 50 trucks, including more than 1,800 light fixtures and more than 1,200 square meters of LED screens. There were also 240 meters of bar space, and to minimize the effect of noise, special attention was given to sound. A high-performance directional audio system was selected, and using the Cardioid Subwoofers, the sound wave coherently propagated only to the north of the stadium. Advanced Array Processing technology was also used to direct the sound waves into the dance floor to minimize the dissipation of the shielded zones and further limit the volume to 100 dB.

Last year, the Government of the Republic of Croatia declared the festival a strategically important project because of its large positive multiplier effects on the Croatian economy and the promotion of Croatia as a tourist destination. The realized GDP of the festival is approximately 0.08 percent of the total GDP of Croatia. It is not surprising, therefore, that this year many politicians and representatives of the tourism sector wanted to feel the magic of Ultra firsthand. Visitors included Minister of Culture Nina Obuljen Koržinek, Mayor of Split Andro Krstulović Opara, Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić, State Secretary Tonči Glavina, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Zagreb Tourist Board Martina Bienenfeld and Alijana Vukšić, Director of the Split Tourist Board.

Many celebrities like Vanna, who came with her husband and daughters, Ivo Radić, Anamarija Asanović, Ivan Tandarić from ELFS, Petar Grašo, Luka Nižetić, Damir Kedžo, Ivan Pažanin, Domenica, Hana, Ivan Huljić, Jole, Radovan Stošić, model Luna Valas, Paula Puškaš, Patrick Cvetko and Drago Pežić didn’t miss the fun at Park Mladeži.

Tickets for the eighth edition, which will be held from July 10 to 12, 2020, at Park Mladeži in Split, can be purchased on the official website.

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

August 1, 2019 - Want to learn the secrets of a fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site but have your small children in tow? Now you can with Explore Split With Your Kids, a new Diocletian's Palace by Ivica Profaca.

As parents, we have all been there.

On holiday in a historic and cultural place and desperate to explore the heritage and learn more of the fascinating history of the city we are visiting. 

But we are on holiday with the kids... 

There is absolutely no chance of you being able to enjoy a fascinating 2-hour walking tour of a historic place with bored kids pestering you every 5 minutes for ice cream or to do something more interesting. 

Until now. 

Meet Ivica Profaca and his (relatively) new Explore Split with Your Kids 2-hour walking tour of Diocletian's Palace and central Split. 

Longtime followers of TCN will be familiar with the name Ivica Profaca. He was arguably the most popular contributor to the TCN project during his time as the main writer for Total Split, and it was with heavy heart that we agreed to part due to his increasing commitments elsewhere. He taught me more about Split than anyone has about any city in the world, and I doubt there are many people alive who know their home town as well as young Ivica. 

Although busy schedules have prevented a catch-up cold one for some time, we keep in touch by Messenger, and I often send him things about Split he might not know about, but he always does. And then one day a few months ago in the bank in Varazdin, I came across a rather unusual painting of Diocletian's Palace surrounded by water. No, he knew nothing about it. Ha! Finally, after 6 years, I had found something about Split that was unknown to Profaca.

I digress.

Ivica's new direction was tourism and he took all the exams to qualify for a tour guide. With all that knowledge, a journalist background, time spent in the States, a great sense of humour and a great personal rapport with people, now he could make a living talking about the thing he loves as much as anything - his native city of Split. 

A few years ago, a friend asked me to organise a private walking tour of Diocletian's Palace for a world-renowned cathedral architect. He was gushing in his praise after Ivica's tour. Young Ivica is also a lot more proactive than most, offering the Expats meet Split group a free walking tour, so that they could learn more of their new home, meet new people, and fall in love with - and recommend - Ivica's tour. It was a hit. 

But his latest move is genius. Explore Split with Your Kids. Before I tell you about it, here are a couple of the several 5-star reviews so far: 

Ivica's tour was wonderful. We took the tour he offers aimed for children and it wasn't just the 8 and 6-year-olds who loved it; myself and my husband found it fascinating too. We definitely felt like we got to see parts of Diocletian's Palace that we would never have seen on our own. Ivica engaged our kids really well during the tour, not only using age-appropriate language and examples but also maps and tick charts for them to follow along; he also had personalised certificates for them at the end (plus a sweet treat). I cannot recommend this tour highly enough.

We organised this tour for our 8-year-old son. We got to see the city and keep the boy busy and engaged. We would not be able to interest him in a city tour otherwise...which I believe is quite important for kids development/education. It was equally interesting for us, as adults. Would recommend for anyone visiting with children.

As a loving father, Ivica knows all about dealing with children and how to make things more interesting for them. Here is how he introduces his tour:

It can be difficult to make children interested in historical tours, and Split is no exception. This is one of the very few children-friendly tours. I will give you an insight into historic attractions in a more simple and children-suitable way. As a father myself, I know stories and legends connected with Split. We will look for ancient hidden wall inscriptions and Egyptian sphinxes, pass through Roman gates, make a wish by rubbing a toe of Bishop Grgur's giant statue. Depending on when the tour takes place, we will attend the re-enactment of the Roman guard ceremony and Emperor Diocletian's salute, which takes place every day at 12. At the end, we will visit the oldest pastry shop in Split, tasting traditional homemade style treats. 

You can learn more about the tour and how to book it here.

Ivica has lots of other tours, of course, and you can follow Ivica Profaca's guide Facebook page - it is a great way to learn more about Split. 

And if you do go on the tour, tell him to contribute an article to TCN from time to time... 

The first shipment of 14 solo buses for Promet Split, purchased as part of the "No Regret" project, which is 100% funded by European Union funds, has arrived at the MAN service center in Dugopolje, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on July 31, 2019. 

The new vehicles won’t be handed over to the public transport company just yet, as they need to be registered before hitting the Split city streets. It is anticipated that along with 20 other Mercedes articulated buses, which are expected to arrive in August, on September 4, all 34 will be operational on the Split streets.

In addition to the announcement of new buses in just over a month, on Wednesday, a contract was signed between Promet and Autobus for the purchase of eight new buses by the "Iveco" brand.

“This is a continuation of that series, and according to the announcement, these eight vehicles should arrive by the next Sv. Duje celebration. This will be followed by ten more buses, for which we are waiting for the decision of the State Commission to sign the contract,” said Miroslav Delić, director of Promet. 

In addition to the Split public transport company upgrade at the beginning of May next year, a contract to purchase several dozen new buses should also be signed.

“So these 52 buses we are talking about now are not the end, but part of the process. This will reduce the age of our fleet from 14 to seven. There is no need to say how much more new buses will mean in terms of improved service and quality of transport,” Delić said.

Throughout Promet’s technical and technological recovery process, the head of the city's public transport company confirmed that they would also procure an e-ticketing system, for which EU funds should be approved by the end of August.

“As a company, we are moving towards a better position in the public transport system, and we hope that the business will not show losses at the end of this year,” concluded the Promet director.

Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara also participated in signing the contract for eight new buses, and said that everything that will happen in the coming weeks and months would be the best confirmation of what started a year and a half ago when it was announced that Transport would assume an important role, not only in the provision of its services, but in transforming public transformation in Split. 

Robert Vrhorski, a spokesperson for Autobus on behalf of Iveco, announced the delivery of eight solo semi low-floor buses like Promet already owns.

These are EURO 6D vehicles with the highest environmental standard.

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

A new tunnel in Split will eventually connect the Ferry Port and the exit below the Koteks skyscraper, which should relieve the traffic unloading from the busy harbor.

Dalmatinski Portal reports on July 30, 2019, that on Tuesday morning, Minister of Transport Oleg Butković was stuck in traffic as he left the port of Split. Namely, as Butković was returning from Korčula and on his way to visit the County Prefect Blaženko Boban, he too had to experience the crowds when leaving the ferry port, which is routine since the new one-way traffic regulation was introduced. Despite all this, Butkovič praised the new regulation, claims Split's Deputy Mayor Nino Vela.

"The new regulation has had positive effects. The city is less congested than last year. That's a fact. But the port is overloaded. No capacity can handle ferry traffic. When it is at its peak, unloading passengers is very difficult, and people have to wait. First, we had to make sure that the city functions, and now we have fought so that the port has an additional road. Thus, a 200-meter tunnel (Tunnel Toć) will connect the port and the exit below the Koteks skyscraper,” says Vela. Recall, the Koteks skyscraper is located on Ul. kralja Zvonimira.

Vela explains that it is an idea about ten years old, which will be 'refined' with details from the master plan.

“The intervention not big, but it is difficult to perform since it is in a tricky place. The Ministry of Transport would finance the project, i.e., Croatian Roads. They would be the promoters of the project. Everyone understood that it was crucial for this project to be realized. If the procedure is to be initiated in the autumn, and if it is not necessary to make significant changes to the spatial planning documentation, the tunnel could be completed by the end of 2022,” said Vela.

There was also talk about the metro and connecting the Split Airport and Ferry Port.

“Not all segments are connected, so there aren't many passengers. Everyone is aware of this. The track through Kaštela to the airport needs to be coordinated. That's seven, eight kilometers missing. HŽ has put a new station and access at Kopilica, but the more important thing is that the project to connect everything is prepared even before the track is built. Thus, HŽ Passenger Transport and Promet agreed on a joint ticket from the Ferry Port to Kaštel Stari, where passengers would board buses to the airport. That could be working next week,” Vela concluded.

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

The legendary Oliver Dragojević was honored around Croatia with concerts and song on July 29th, one year after his passing. 

An intimate concert was held in Oliver’s beloved Vela Luka, accompanied by an orchestra performed by his friends and colleagues - Gibonni, Zorica Kondža, Tedi Spalato, Dupini, Antonio Serrano, Klapa Ošjak, Alan Bjelinski, Ante Gelo and Nikša Bratoš, reports Jutarnji List on July 29, 2019. 

Oliver’s celebration in Vela Luka was attended by members of his family, as well as several hundred lucky fans who succeeded in snagging tickets for the instantly sold-out event. 

The atmosphere was glorious, and the emotions reached a peak that could only be reached at one of the singer’s famous concerts. The intimate spectacle was attended by about 450 lucky guests who were given a CD at the entrance.

The citizens of Split also honored Oliver by gathering at the central Pjaca for the first anniversary of the singer's passing.

Like last year, they paid tribute to the music giant by singing his songs for a full two hours, with a sizeable spontaneous Split choir led by members of Marjanke.

The young Zadar singer Jure Brkljača also decided to pay his respects to Oliver by doing a rendition of 'Ajde zbogom'. Brkljača said Oliver had been his role model from a young age.

“We will miss him forever, but his music will live forever. He is the one and only,” Jure said. 

Another young Croatian singer, Dino Petrić, paid tribute to the singer by singing 'Galeb i Ja'.

American TV producer Ashley Colburn and her singing partner from the hit TV show 'Singing with the Stars', Bojan Ambrošić, also remembered Oliver as a 'true inspiration'.

The famed and favorite Split musician forever closed his eyes in the early morning hours of July 29, 2018, following a tough battle with lung cancer discovered in August 2017. Oliver Dragojević left behind his wife Vesna, sons Dino, Davor and Damir, and five grandchildren, as well as numerous bereaved colleagues and fans. The day of his death was proclaimed a national day of mourning, and for his final farewell in Split on July 31,  2018, tens of thousands of people paid their respects in a spectacle that will be remembered and recounted for many years to come.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Residents of the Split Old Town, especially those who live inside Diocletian's Palace and the narrow area around it, will be granted free parking.

The proposal was unanimously adopted on Monday, and residents of the Old Town will soon have free parking in the first zone. Thus, instead of the parking lot in Stari Plac, they will use the parking lot at Trg Hrvatske bratske zajednice. The amendment also introduced a measure that would not allow cars to be left for more than 24 hours in one place, reports Splitski Dnevnik on July 29, 2019.

Community leader Damir Ordulj stated that about 1000 permanent residents are living in the Old Town, and that their lives should be made more accessible. The project amounts to around 600,000 kuna per 200 vehicles and 1.5 million kuna per 500.

“The residents of the Old Town, especially those who live within Diocletian's Palace and the narrow area around it, cannot access their cars at their doorstep because of the great pressure from other residents, especially tourists. Because of this, they are forced to leave their vehicles far away or pay daily for parking lots and are at a disadvantage compared to other citizens,” Damir Ordulj said.

According to official data from 2001, 3235 residents lived in the historic city center, with about 1000 remaining. Thus, this measure should keep tenants inside the historic core.

"Given the many aggravating circumstances that have affected their quality of life in the old town, an initiative has been launched to grant these tenants free parking," Ordulj said.

Thus, the privileged conditions and parking would apply to tenants within the conservation "Zone A" bounded by the streets of Trumbićeva obala – Šperun – Ban Mladenova – Bana Jelačića – Matošićeva – Teutina – Sinjska – Zagrebačka – Poljana Kneza Trpimira.

However, the housing unit mustn't be registered to provide business services. A lengthy debate ensued, as part of the councilors believed that owners living in expensive squares should not have free parking, while others wanted to keep tenants within the old town who live there and don’t perform business activities within their home.

“I support measures that will make the lives easier for residents in the city center, including this enactment of privileged parking conditions. The city derives an enormous financial benefit from activities located in the city center. A lot of it destroys the quality of life of the citizens who live there, and this is a way to make it a little easier for them,” said Josko Markic, SDP councilor. 

Tomislav Prljević, however, does not agree with this decision.

“You say free parking? It's not free because someone has to pay for it. We are talking as if something bad happened in the Old Town with tourists. Real estate prices are up, not down. The content that happens in the center is by no means negative but positive, and if there are a lot of cars on the road, it is not negative but positive, because obviously, people can drive their cars. I do not want to make a decision that will pay for parking for someone who owns a square meter worth two or three thousand kuna,” the HDZ councilor said.

In the end, Ante Zoričić, one of the proponents of this initiative, said that it is indisputable that they are by far the most disadvantaged compared to all tenants in the city. He added that this is a temporary measure until a garage is built.

"This will be the most beautiful gift to the residents of the Old Town to celebrate 40 years on the UNESCO list,” Zoričić added.

Martin Mladen Pauk pointed out that this would be an excellent sociological experiment and would reveal how others would respond to giving free parking to one part of the public.

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

29 July, 2019 - TCN is delighted to welcome Kit Pepper to the team. An American wine writer living in Split, Kit's first piece is a very useful journey into Croatian wine - 10 great bottles for under 100 kuna. 

We all have the same trouble buying wine: it’s the risk of getting something you don’t like. And that risk is sky-high when you’re standing in a foreign supermarket staring at a wall of bottles labeled with grapes you’ve never heard of. But with a native guide (native to wine, that is) you can avoid expensive mistakes and start to build a personal wine list of favorites.

Here are 10 Croatian bottles from various Tommy, Konzum, Spar, Studenac and Victa stores around Split that are great quality and value for less than 100 kuna. The key to buying supermarket wine is to keep an eye on freshness. For white wines in this price range, avoid buying if the vintage year on the bottle is more than two years ago, and for reds, more than three. By summer of any year, you should be able to find whites and rosés from the previous year. If it all seems older than it should be, try a different store. (The store may have an overstock and the wine will sit there until it sells.) Also, avoid stores whose wine shelves are in the window—you don’t want baked wine!

The prices below are what I paid; they may be slightly different where you shop.

WHITE WINE

1. Adžić Graševina, Kutjevo, 75kn This is the kind of white wine the critics call “pretty,” because it’s fairly delicate, with a floral and pear aroma. If you could see smells, this might look like lace. It’s not sweet at all, but has a nice perfume and is great for sipping. The Graševina grape is a real star in Kutjevo, in Croatia’s eastern wing.

2. Krauthaker Sauvignon Classic, Kutjevo, 65kn Vlado Krauthaker is one of the most prominent winemakers in Kutjevo—all of his wines are solid, but I particularly like his Sauvignon Blanc because it’s not trying to be from somewhere else. This isn’t your tropical-flavored Sauvignon. Instead you’ll get a combination of fresh-cut grass, lemongrass and lemony herbs. Try it with smoked salmon crostini with herbed cream cheese and cucumber.

3. Lipanović Vugava, Vis, 70kn Vis island is pretty isolated out there, so it’s not surprising that the Vugava grape hasn’t gone traveling much, although you can find it growing here and there on other islands in Dalmatia. But for a true taste of Vis, you can’t do better. It makes a rich, ripe wine with yellow apple and herb aromas that goes well with shrimp and shellfish, or Asian ingredients like coconut, ginger, creamy curries. Pad Thai, anyone?

4. P.Z. Pošip Pošip, Korčula, 85kn During Croatia’s communist period, wine grapes had to be brought to one of many co-operative wineries at harvest. A respectable number of these remain, and some are very well regarded for making superior wine. Pošip is Korčula’s renowned white grape, and the co-operative P.Z. Pošip, in Čara, makes a great version, with ripe apricot flavors and a satisfying weight in your mouth. A super sipper.

5. Zlatan Otok white blend, Hvar, 42kn Smell this wine and it’s likely to remind you of driving across Hvar in summer: dusty, sun-roasted roadside brush, wild thyme, a little rosemary. There are also whiffs of golden apple and quince here, and maybe some melon. It’s a full-bodied blend of local grapes including Bogdanuša and Prč. All that in a 42-kuna bottle—impressive!

ROSÉ WINE

6. Skaramuča Rosé, Pelješac, 50kn A lot of rosés from Plavac Mali end up in the Opol style—more like a light red, without the refreshing nothingness of a true pink. This one is a real rosé, and it somehow manages to taste like the landscape: touches of sea brine, wild herbs and scrub brush plus a light cherry-cranberry fruitiness. With zero sweetness, this wine goes with virtually any summer food you could think of!

RED WINE

7. Bartolović Merlot, Kutjevo, 80kn This Merlot is one of a few exceptions to the “don’t buy cheap, old wine” rule. I tasted the 2012 and it was great, with generous aromas of black cherry, oak wood and a touch of vanilla. This one has a refreshingly bitter finish (think radicchio or unsweetened chocolate) and hearty tannins, so it’s best with meats.

8. Testament Babić, Northern Dalmatia/Šibenik, 90kn One of the best things about Croatian wine is all the local grapes that grow nowhere else in the world. Few sommeliers in New York or Paris have tasted Vugava or Babić, but here you can casually sip any of Croatia’s hyper-local, exclusive varieties. Babić is at home near Šibenik, where Testament grows organic grapes for a wine that tastes like a salad of blackberries, cherries, and blueberries with a touch of lily perfume. Fruity and easy to drink.

9. Vina Palihnić Dragon’s Blood Plavac Mali, Pelješac, 50kn A goofy name, but a very well made wine from one of the regions you want your Plavac to come from. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser red just for sipping, this is it: it’s juicy but not heavy, easy on the tannins, with rich blackberry and red delicious apple flavors. It’s also great with lamb and a tomato-cucumber-feta salad.

10. Vinarija Dingač Peljesac, Pelješac, 40kn If the wine right above this one is best described as fruity (and it is), this Plavac Mali is on the earthy end of the spectrum. And if the word “crowd-pleaser” leaves you cold, this wine might seem more dignified. Here, earthiness tastes like red cherries rather than sweet black ones, like autumn leaves, a touch of black tea, and pine or resinous wild herbs. This is less for sipping, more of a food wine—have it with lamb, roast pork, stuffed cabbage.

Katherine “Kit” Pepper is an American wine writer living in Split. She first came to Croatia on wine business in 2007 and was a strong proponent of Croatian wine at her New York City wine shop, Kit’s Underground Wine & Spirits. Her writing appears in U.S. wine publications and she is a specialist editor of books on wine and spirits after an earlier career in book publishing. She holds the WSET Diploma and is a Certified Wine Educator.

You can connect with Kit by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.