Trilj is a city in the Cetina region, located on the southeastern edge of Sinj Field. The position on the direction of the communication between the coast and inland, the natural features of the river Cetina and the nearby mountainous landscape, contributed to the continuity of life in Trilj region from the earliest prehistoric times.
In the area of Trilj there are many archaeological findings dating way back to Mesolithic. The first ethnic group that inhabited this area are the Illyrian tribe Delmati. Delmati people lived in a hill forts along the communication lines that connected their capital Delminium with Adriatic coast. Hundred and fifty years of fierce fighting against the Romans (165 BC.- 9. AD) ended in defeat of Delmati people, after which Romans built legionary fortress Tilurium on the hill above Trilj.
At the top of the hill of Gardun, just 1 km south of Trilj, remains of legionary fortress at Tilurium can be found. Tilurium guarded the entrance to the Cetina valley from the south and the approach to the provincial capital at Salona.

Area: / m2 / / sq mi
Population 2011
- City: 2.110
- Urban: 10.799
Elevation: 315 m / 1.050 ft
Tourist Board:
- +385/21/ 832 510
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

City suburbs:
Bisko, Budimir, Čačvina, Čaporice, Gardun, Grab, Jabuka, Kamensko, Košute, Krivodol, Ljut, Nova Sela, Podi, Rože, Strizirep, Strmendolac, Tijarica, Ugljane, Vedrine, Velić, Vinine, Vojnić Sinjski, Voštane, Vrabač i Vrpolje

Traditionally, every year in the middle of August a festival of old Roman games takes place in Trilj. Organised by the sports association Gaz, it is a time, when the Romans play football against the Delmats, when gladiators battle and horse riders show their skills in spear throwing. Much fun for all the family, accompanied by the unique local gastronomy (ever tried a frog risotto before?), it is a great event to visit and travel in time back to the good old days of antique.

Here is a short video from 2013 made by the Croatian National Television:

More information at trilj.com.

There are a lot of interesting events during the Carnival season in Inland Dalmatia. People like to costume themselves and have fun during this time. And what I like the most about it, it is not to entertain any tourists, it is because they have fun doing it. This is why it is authentic and beautiful.

Here is one such event from today - it is a unique tradition of this area, the Vedrine costumes, called Vedrinske Mačkare. A long parade consisting of "didi" (old men) wearing sheepskin on their heads and "babe" (what should represent women, but appears to be men as well) wearing long black dresses making all sorts of loud sounds as they go.

Enjoy this short video and photos from the Slike Cetinskog i Triljskog Kraja FB page:

For additional information, please contact Dama (099 5010302) or Bobe ( 098 602089).

(photos: Dalmatinski Portal)

 

An interesting article published at the Dalmatinski Portal, part of a series about ancient fortresses - conservator Ivan Alduk writes about the interesting Nutjak Fortress near Trilj. Here is a part of the article. Read the whole article here.

The Trilj area is where the Cetina river ends its peaceful flow through the fields and starts its second part, through the canyon to Omiš. Prehistoric ruins, like Križina in Vedrine, Stražbenica at Gardun, Svalina fort in Čaporice and numerous other finds, primary those from the bed of the river testify the importance of this area during the earliest period of human history. To control river crossings, but even for much broader strategic political issues, the Romans placed the camp of their VII. legion right here, i.e. at the nearby Gardun (Tilurij) in the first years after Christ. Even a bridge was built over Cetina river (Pons Tilurii).

 

Trilj is mentioned by the medieval sources for the first time in the early 13th century and later becomes part of the estate "Brodarić" or the "Trilj Boat" within the Cetina principality. This possession was given to an aristocrat Petar Dražojević in 1456 and the area to Gradun became the northernmost part of the Poljica Principality. Thirty years later, precisely between 1482 and 1492, Petar´s son Žarko built the castle "Nutjak" to defend the northern entrance to Poljica from the Turks and guarded the bridge near the fortress. Nutjak was the only real fortress in Poljica. In the next few decades, Žarko Dražojević with his stratiots (lightly armed horsemen) became one of the most prominent Croatian leaders in the fight against the Turks. The fortress was also serving as a base for incursions deep into the Turkish territory.

On January 15, 1508 was Žarko Dražojević riding with his escort to Sinj carrying aid for the city, but behind Klis stormed into a Turkish ambush, where he died. He was 70 years old. He was buried in the Split Cathedral and there is a ledger above his grave (today in front of the baptistery), which shows him as a medieval knight-rider. The Nutjak fortress was offered to the Venice Republic to manage and was then known as the "tomb of the poor guys, who were sent to defend it". The Turks conquered the Nutjak fortress in 1513 and kept a small military camp for a short period of time.

In the first half of the 17th century, there is a little village nearby and a few smaller villages and hamlets. Nutjak was left by Turks in 1685.

Nutjak Fortress was built downstream from Trilj on the edge of a smaller rocky plateau, that rises high above the right bank of the Cetina river. The entrance is at the western rampart and was further defended by a low pre-wall and loopholes preserved at the rampart. Beyond the entrance, there is a little courtyard and a passage, which was leading to three rooms on the cliffs in the southern and eastern part of the fortress. Stairs lead to the access road of the tower and to the entrance to the largest room of the fortress. A circular tower dominates the entire structure and protects it from the north (land) side.

The fortress can be reached from the Trilj-Bisko road, by a path from the Živaljići hamlet - 15 minute walk to the edge of the canyon and the fortress. Be aware, that by visiting the fortress, you are doing it at your own risk.

(photo: Meat Shopping in Croatia / Travel Channel)

It is finally here. The full episode of Bizzare Foods with Andrew Zimmern on Croatia, including Strmendolac and Trilj (approx. from the 16th minute). I am just so hungry after watching it. The show is absolutely fantastic. I want to taste all of the fabulous food they prepared, it looked so delicious. Food prepared in the old traditional way is just the best. As Andrew said, you actually can´t eat this kind of food anywhere else in the world. There is not a place in the world like Strmendolac.

This promo video shows the beauties of Trilj city and its surroundings. In less than 15 minutes, you can enjoy its beautiful landscapes, historical sites, little villages and churches. And while there might be the famous Strmendolac missing in this one (Bizzare Foods filming location), the overall feeling of an untouched nature with a peaceful slow dalmatian life style is something to look for in the Trilj area.

We have been waiting for this moment for several months now and it is finally here. After the filming in April last year, the episode of Bizzare Foods about Croatia will finally hit the Travel Channel on January 18, 2016. Here is a piece of the episode, a video published at the Travel Channel website about Andrew Zimmern´s visit to Strmendolac, called "Croatian Meat Locker":

There are many, who would like to see some snow falling from the sky during winter, but it is mostly rain these days and according to the weather forecast, the temperatures should keep the snow far from the most part of Dalmatia. But, there are places in Inland Dalmatia, where there is at least some snow. Enough for the journalist of Slobodna Dalmacija to make a short video for the rest of us to enjoy. To watch the video from Vostane near Trilj, click on here.

(Voštane near Trilj, photo: Slobodna Dalmacija)

There is no such thing as too much Christmas music in this festive period. And so, after a great performance in Vrbanj on Hvar island yesterday, the famous Klapa Sinj was a guest in Trilj tonight. Together with the Church Choir of St. Michael Archangel Trilj, they were in Trilj to help raise money for covering treatment cost for Siniša Zubac. Here is a glimpse of the atmosphere in the video shared on the Trilj Tourist Board FB page: