April 27, 2019 - Our favorite time of the year is right around the corner! Sudamja, better known as Sv. Duje, is traditionally held each year on May 7 to celebrate the patron saint of Split. This year, the people of Split and their guests can enjoy a plethora of events from April 26 to May 9. 

Today, we have the full program for you, in English, courtesy of the Split Tourist Board. Mark your calendars!

Sv. Duje 2019

15 March – 5 May 2019:  10 am at Lučica Spinut - Boules Tournament ‘In honour of St. Domnius of Split’ 

26 April 2019:  8 pm on the Riva - Majorettes of Split, Elektrodalmacija Mixed Choir, Trio Sol group Concert

27 April 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Majorettes of Split, Bye, Bye group Concert

28 April 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Klapa Kontra, Pop Art group concert

28 April - 5 May 2019: 7 pm  to 8 pm at th Cathedral of St. Domnius: Novena in honour of St. Domnius: - holy Mass and Sermon - spiritual music concert

29 April 2019: 5 pm at the Bol-Plokite Library - Opening of the exhibition Diocletian's Palace and the Historic town Centre

29 April 2019: 8 pm on the Riva: Filip Dević Folklore Society concert 

29 and 30 April 2019: 10 am at the Croatian Maritime Museum Maritime: Split in the Time of Emperor Diocletian - workshop

29 April – 5 May 2019: Poljud bowling club 2nd International bowling tournament St. Domnius

29 April - 10 May 2019: Banovina atrium - Exhibition of Split kindergarten children's works ‘My Town In My Heart’

30 April - 5 May 2019: All day on the Riva - Domestic Split Festival

30 April 2019: 10 am at the Ravne njive library - Model of the palace ‘The city was born out of the palace’

30 April 2019: 10 am on the Riva - Children's programme ‘Let the waterfront be decked with flowers’

30 April 2019: 4.30 – 9.30 pm on the Riva - Waste is not garbage!

1 - 7 May 2019: Brda Chess Club - Open Chess Tournament Sudamja 2019

1 May 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Brodosplit Folklore Association concert 

2 May 2019: 10 am at the Marulić Department for Children and Youth - The story of the Cityeducative presentation

2 May 2019: 12.00 pm at the Ethnographic Museum Split - Opening of the exhibition HUNCHBACKED MOTHER, BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, FRANTIC GRANDCHILDREN - on VINE, GRAPES AND WINE Authors: Ida Jakšić and Ivana Vuković

2 May 2019: 6 pm at the City Youth Theatre - Promotion of J. Škare's book Druge beside

2 May 2019: 7 pm in Diocletian’s Palace south-eastern tower (Hrvojeva) - The opening of the photo exhibition New Horizons

2 May 2019: 8 pm at the Art Gallery: Inauguration of the sculptor's setting in the museum environment: Slavomir Drinković, Knot, 1987, 1999 Gorki Žuvela, On behalf of myself, 2014 Kosta Bogdanovic, Hephaestos pillar, in 1987

2 May 2019: 8 pm at the Croatian National Theatre Split - Evening of Dalmatian Klapa

2 May 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Providenca group concert 

2 and 3 May 2019: 8.30 pm at Uvodića širina - The Feast of the Holy Cross

3 - 5 May 2019: 9th International Cup of St. Domnius in sport fishing

3 May 2019: 9 am at the Croatian rowing club Gusar - Open Championship of Split-Dalmatia County for Primary and Secondary Schools

3 May 2019: 10 am at the Dioklecijan Gallery - Opening the exhibition Churches in the Historical Core

3 May 2019: 11 am at Matejuška - Inauguration of the sculptor's setting in the natural environment: Slavomir Drinkovic, Let me pass

3 May 2019: 8 pm in the Diocletian Palace substructures - The opening of the Festival of Flowers

3 May 2019: 8 pm at the Medical School Hall - Concert of the Symphony Orchestra of Students at the University of Utrecht, Kingdom of the Netherlands

3 May 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Jedinstvo Folklore Society concert

3 May 2019: 9 pm at the Meštrović Gallery - Opening ceremony of the 18th International Rowing Regatta of St. Domnius

3 and 4 May 2019: 8 pm at the Croatian National Theatre - Operetta Spli'ski akvarel

4 May 2019: 9 am at the Croatian Rowing Club Gusar - International Rowing Regatta of universities

4 May 2019: St. Domnius Regatta 

4 May 2019: 10 am on the Riva - The Srce Association Programme on the National Day of Cerebral Paralysis "Heart on the Waterfront"

4 May 2019: 11 am at the Old City Hall - Opening of the exhibition Behind the Closed Doors Motives of Split from the holdings of the Art Gallery

4 May 2019: 12 pm at the Croatian National Theatre Split - Celebration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Craftsmen Split

4 May 2019: 3-7 pm at Matejuška - Gastro offer of Croatian craftsmen

4 May 2019: 8 pm at the Medical School Hall - Concert of Brodosplit and Gladsaxe Folkekor choirs

4 May 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Disco Inferno Magic group concert

4 and 5 May 2019: Poljud Swimming Pool - Swim Contest ‘Grdelini sv. Duje’

4 and 5 May 2019: Regatta Split 1700- class optimist

4 May 2019: 8.30 pm Peristil - Sudamja Fest - concert of spiritual music in honour of St. Domnius

4 May 2019: 9 pm at Gat sv. Nikole - Announcement of the winner of the university rowing racing in Spinut and Lighthouse disco

5 May 2019: 12.30 pm at the City Port -18th St. Domnius International Boat Race of the Legends: OxfordCambridge-Split

5 May 2019: 1.30 pm at Peristil - Announcing the winner of a rowing legends race

5 May 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Flores Aquestic group concert

6 May 2019: 10 pm at the Croatian National Theatre Split - The City Council's solemn session and the city awards ceremony

6 May 2019: 12 pm at Banovina - Anniversary celebration 

6 May 2019: 6 pm at the Cathedral of St. Domnius - Opening of the reliquary of St. Domnius and the festive Evening Mass

6 May 2019: 7 pm at thee Marko Marulić City Library - Opening of watercolor exhibition St. Duje, the star over Split

6 May 2019: 7.30 pm at Peristil - Festival of historical forces and organizations of intangible cultural heritage

6 May 2019: 8 pm on the Riva - Classical Evening: Music Forever and Spalato Quartets

6 May 2019: 9 pm at Peristil-HrvojevaMarmontova-Trg Gaje Bulata - Parade of brass bands, historical forces, and organizations of intangible cultural heritage

6 and 7 May 2019: All day on the Riva - Sudamja (St. Domnius Day) Fair

7 May 2019: 10 am at Peristil - Riva - The ceremonial procession and the holy mass at Riva

7 May 2019: 12.15 pm at Matejuška - Dubrovnik thrombus salvo

7 May 2019: 12.30 pm at the Fish Market - Food and Drink Feast

7 May 2019: 5.30 pm on the Riva - Humanitarian Swimming Marathon from Island Šolta to Split 'Dina for Basketball Players'

7 May 2019: 5.30 pm on the Riva - Concert of Filip Dević Mixed Klapa

7 May 2019: 6.30 pm on the Riva - Traditional Split Tombola

7 May 2019: 8.05 pm on the Riva - Humanitarian Concert for the City Day The Key to Life Fireworks

8 May 2019: 8 pm at the Croatian National Theatre Split - Ivo Tijardović Mala Floramye, operetta

9 May 2019: 9 am at Marjan - Raising the European Flag on the Day of Europe

9 – 13 May 2019: All day on the Riva - Spalatum Expo-Festival Destinations

9 May 2019: 7 pm at the ‘General-Major Ivo Jelić’ House of Croatian Army - The program of the Split's National Minority Folklore: "The home is where the song is"

9 May 2019: 8 pm at the Croatian National Theatre Split - Leo Delibes Coppelia, ballet

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

The traditional concert for the celebration of Sveti Duje, the patron saint of Split, has a strong note of generosity this year. Namely, for Split’s 'City Day', the Riva will host the first humanitarian concert aiming to collect donations for the Children's Traumatology Department of Physical Medicine, reports Dalmacija Danas on April 26, 2019. 

For the musical and humanitarian spectacle, which is presented under the title ’Key for Life’, some of the biggest names of Split show business have been confirmed, including Neno Belan, Gibonni, Tedi Spalato, Doris Dragović, Goran Karan, Jole, Giuliano & Diktatori Buđenje, Tiho Orlić, Domenica, and Dalmatino.

The concert is, of course, free to all Split citizens and their guests, and donations will be collected through a call center by direct transfer to HTV from 8:05 pm. A unique phone number has been opened for the event (060 9002), and knowing Croatia’s big heart, it will continuously ring throughout the concert. 

Tomislav Mrduljaš, the organizer of the 'Key of Life' concert, revealed that the idea was born at the initiative of Dr. Dinko Pivalica, head of the Institute for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology at KBC Split. Hospitals are a necessary means, and through conversations, in cooperation with the City, they came to the idea to organize a humanitarian concert for Sv. Duje. The name of the valuable action 'Key to Life' is more than symbolic. Namely, the ‘key to life' is most often in the hands of good people; those that are ready to provide their hands when needed.

"The performers did not doubt playing the event for a moment; they were happy to respond as they are always willing to give their contribution when needed. The musicians will perform for free, and all donations from the call center will go directly to the Children's Traumatology Department of Physical Medicine,” Mrduljaš said.

The phone number will be open already from Saturday, April 27, for those interested in donating. 

Mrduljaš believes there will be a great response to the concert and that phone calls will be received from all over Croatia.

"I'm sure the concert will be spectacular because it's the biggest humanitarian event this year," concluded Mrduljaš.

For more news about Sv. Duje events, stay tuned! 

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

April 25, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 33 of this incredible 2011 adrenaline trip covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 33 of this 2019 appreciation of one of the finest tourism promotion projects ever in Croatia.  

The plan? To showcase the diversity and fabulous offer of adventure tourism in Croatia by following a GPS route the length of the Croatian coast in the shape of the word 'Welcome' - thereby creating the biggest welcome in the world from a hospitable tourism country. 

After an off day in Šibenik for Day 32, Day 33 explored Split for the Sv. Duje celebration. 

Lacko and his crew spent Day 32 of the journey with a much-needed day of rest.

And what better place than Šibenik?

Lacko even walked the tightrope!

Lacko & Co. made it to Split just time to celebrate Split's patron saint - Sv. Duje. But first, they had to hit Bačvice for a game of picigin.

And then the Sv. Duje celebrations began. Ivica Matkovic climbing on the church of Sv. Duje.

Lacko abseiling down Sv. Duje.

The 'Welcome' flag even made its mark on the famous cathedral! 

The day continued with pints. 

Hajduk.

And Sv. Duje games. 

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. 

Split.

You can see the entire project on the Welcome website, as well as much more of Luka Tambaca's stunning photography on the Welcome Facebook page. 

Tune in tomorrow for Day 34, as Lacko moves from Sinj to Dinara.

To follow the whole project from the start, follow the dedicated TCN page. 

One of the symbols of Split, the Saint Domnius bell tower, known to locals as Sveti Duje, will be restored. But what is so exciting about this project is that it is the first time the bell tower will be restored in 110 years, reports Dalmacija Danas and Slobodna Dalmacija on February 8, 2019. 

Nevertheless, one of the greatest city attractions, the view from the top of the bell tower, will still be open to eager visitors. But there is one catch - while visitors will still be able to enjoy the magnificent views from the tower, the restoration will last for three years, meaning an alternative way to walk to the top will be designed. 

This start of reconstruction, says the main conservationist in Split, Radoslav Bužančić, is logical after completing the interior design of the cathedral. The project is funded by the Split-Makarska Archdiocese, Kaptol and Mother Parish, as just the preparatory works are estimated at one million kuna. 

The last time the Saint Domnius bell tower was restored was 110 years ago, the conservation works lasted for 23 years. 

The bell tower of Saint Domnius is considered to be the most original on the Adriatic coast. Its construction began in the 13th century and lasted until the middle of the 16th century, which is reflected in its Romanesque and Gothic style.

It was thoroughly and radically restored from 1890 to 1908 when numerous stone figures were removed, and the last floor was stylishly aligned with the rest of the tower.

This time, the twirling stairs to the top of the bell tower will be changed, as they were set in 1908 when the Austro-Hungarian reconstruction was completed. 

Radoslav Bužancic, when asked whether three years is enough time to change the stairs in the bell tower, replied:

“The coincidence is that at the same time as the bell tower of St. Duje, the restoration of another world landmark, the Big Ben Tower, a symbol of London, will continue until 2025.”

As is already known, the heritage in Split needs to be taken care of regularly, and changing the decrepit staircase is primarily due to the safety of visitors. 

To read more about Split, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Join Dina on May 7th to support her in a humanitarian action where she will swim from Solin (14:00) to the Split Riva (17:30).

Of all the Sveti Duje events going on this weekend, one of the most exciting is the Oxford-Cambridge-Split Regatta. Here's a look at what you can expect this year. 

The Split Tourist Board announces the Sudamja 2018 program.

Are you ready for the Sv. Duje celebrations this year?

Just further confirmation of how lucky we are to be in Split. 

Just because the big Sv. Duje celebration has ended, doesn’t mean that we can’t continue celebrating! Here’s a look at the events going on today.