All Makarska Riviera Beaches from Above: a Stunning 17-Video Collection
June 20, 2020 - As the Makarska Tourist Board director posts photos of beaches in Mozambique, a phenomenal private video project showing all the Makarska Riviera beaches from above.
The Makarska Riviera beaches are among the most popular summer destinations for those looking for a slice of Adriatic heaven under azure skies. The divine coastal strip is littered with outstanding beaches to suit all needs, from family to remote and romantic.
A new project from Vice Rudan and team at Makarska Riviera Beaches has brought all the Makarska Riviera beaches from above into one place, in the form of 17 videos, one for each of the 16 destinations location on the riviera, finishing with an general tour of the beaches along the entire Makarska Riviera coast.
Beautifully shot as always by young Rudan, if this does not have you heading to the beach this summer, nothing will. The project was fully supported by the Brela Tourist Board, with additional participation from the Makarska Tourist Board.
Let's take the tour, starting in the north of the Makarska Riviera, in Brela, and working our way south - one beach at a time.
Brela
Baska Voda
Promajna
Bratus
Krvavica
Makarska
Tucepi
Podgora
Drasnice
Igrane
Zivogosce
Drvenik
Zaostrog
Podaca
Brist
Gradac
And finally, a wonderful overview of the Makarska Riviera beaches from above.
You can see more wonderful photos and videos of Makarska Riviera beaches on the Facebook page - a great place to bookmark for dreamers on a rainy day in Manchester.
For more news from Makarska, check out the dedicated TCN section.
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Šolta
June 19, 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 Šolta.
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 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, Discover Rogoznica, Discover Stari Grad, Discover Omis, Discover Lumbarda and Discover Jezera.
Next up, Zorana Kaštelanac of the Šolta Island Tourist Board, who sent us some virtual tools to help us discover the island of Šolta.
Let's begin!
Šolta - the Island Closest to Split
Visit Šolta, promo video from 2018.
2014 promo video.
Official video
TCN's own Tash Pericic produced a video about Šolta as well
Meet the wonderful villages of Šolta
Gornje selo
Nečujam
Grohote
Rogač
Maslinica
Discover Šolta as Our Guests See it
A video by the Adriatic Waves
A 4K video by Ivan Mišak
Find out more about the Hotel, Marina & Restaurant Martinis Marchi on Šolta
Martinis Marchi promo video, 2018
Official Šolta Website & a TCN feature article on Šolta
Download more materials about Šolta from their tourist board website, where you can also discover Šolta's beaches, food and wine and active vacation opportunities.
25 Things to Know about the Closest Island to Split
When can Šolta 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)
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Jezera
May 20, 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 Jezera on Murter.
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, Discover Rogoznica, Discover Klis, Discover Trogir, Discover Omis.
Today, you get to read and see for yourself the small town of Jezera on the Murter island.
Let's begin!
Welcome to Jezera on Murter Island, an Ideal Port in Central Dalmatia
A wonderful introductory video, published last year.
Sail-Ho episode, Vodice - Jezera.
Jezera by Balázs Lajti
Carnival in Jezera & Murter; video by Pixsell.
Living & tradition in Jezera.
Story of Malaria in Jezera (weirdly appropriate for this time).
Drone footage of Jezera by a visitor (from 2017)
Croatian Radiotelevision documentary on Jezera (from 1996; in Croatian)
Follow Jezera Tourist Board on Instagram: visit_jezera.
Find out more about Jezera on their Tourist Board website, where you can also take a virtual walk of Jezera.
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)
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Lumbarda
June 13, 2020 - Tourism has been 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 Lumbarda on Korcula.
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, Discover Rogoznica, Discover Klis, Discover Trogir, Discover Omis, and Discover Stari Grad.
Next up, Ante Šestanović from the Lumbarda Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Lumbarda.
Let's begin!
Welcome to Lumbarda, Home to Thousands of Years of History and Beauty
Lumbarda, a small settlement on the south-western coast of the island of Korcula, is one of the true idyllic gems on the Adriatic. Winner of the prestigious 2019 Vecernji List Tourist Patrol award, Lumbarda is far more than just a sun and sea destination, and its history and wine story is truly unique.
In 1877 Božo Kršinić, a local Lumbardian, found on top of a small hill called Koludrt, the Psephisma of Lumbarda. Dating from 3rd or 4th century BC this inscription carved into a stone pillar, provided details about a Greek colony living in Lumbarda who originated from the island of Issa, today’s Vis Island. The Psephisma includes the names of 200 Greek families and the agreement between themselves and the Illyrians who had already settled in the area. It contractual agreed terms for the establishment of the new colony by the Greeks and the division of land. As one of the earliest discovered documents in Croatia, it provides valuable information about the Greek colonists, as well as the democratic way the people divided the land and harmoniously lived side by side. Learn more in the Story Behind the Logo.
Now get to know the beauty of Lumbarda through various promotional videos.
A tranquil destination of sun, sea, beach and chilled lifestyle.
An oasis of calm, where you can escape the pressures of the modern world.
A great escape for an active holiday, or a lazy one at the beach.
Lumbarda from the Air
We live in the era of the drone, one more tool to show the magnificence of Lumbarda from the air.
Discover Lumbarda and Its Wine Champion - Grk
Korcula is a great wine island, famous mostly for its Posip, but also for a very sought-after white wine variety which only grows on the sandy soil of Lumbarda - Grk. There are only about 33,000 bottles a year made, but it is one of the premier white wines of Croatia. One of my favourite (and true) stories about Croatia happened several years ago, when one of the powerful Kennedy family from the USA tasted Grk in a top Dubrovnik hotel. The next day they were on a yacht to Korcula, met the winemaker and tasted his range. They ordered two pallets of Grk.
"I am sorry," replied the winemaker, but we have a policy of selling just two bottles per customer, as we only have a limited supply."
"Don't you know who I am? I am a Kennedy, and I would like two pallets."
"I do indeed, Sir, but I am Mr. Grk. Two bottles only."
The Beaches of Lumbarda
Lumbarda has great beaches. If anyone has better videos on YouTube, please send me the links, and I will update. The city beach.
The kids beach.
An Active Lumbarda Holiday
Laze on the beach, or get active. Sailing the Dalmatian islands is a popular way to relax on an Adriatic holiday. Meet the Lumbarda marina.
Kayaking has grown in popularity in Dalmatia in recent years, a popular activity in Lumbarda.
Why not try a buggy safari for something a little different?
Or some coast hiking, perhaps?
The island of Korcula is a great cycling destination, and Lumbarda is a key part of that.
Traditional Lumbarda, a Destination of Klapa, Folklore, Fishermen's Nights & Donkey Racing
It may be a small destination, but Lumbarda maintains plenty of traditions, including the popular Fishermen's Nights.
And where would Dalmatia be without that romantic traditional singing - met Klapa Korda.
There are also regular displays of Lumbarda traditional folklore.
And don't miss the epic Lumbarda donkey races.
And, for something equally romantic at night, sky lanterns.
Lumbarda as It Once Was (1970)
Step back in time. Lumbarda as It Once Was, some 50 years ago.
Rick Stein and BBC Discovers the Gourmet Secrets of Lumbarda
And the secret is slowly getting out. Rick Stein and the BBC were delighted with the gourmet treasures of Lumbarda, where they filmed for a series on the BBC back in 2016.
Timelapse Lumbarda
Enjoy the magnificence of Lumbarda through timelapse, both the centre and the beach.
Official Lumbarda Tourist Board Website
Discover Lumbarda via the official tourist board website.
THIS. IS. LUMBARDA. 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)
One Minute Ludbreg, a Local Tourist Board Initiative for Virtual Croatia
May 24, 2020 - The world has changed, and so has destination promotion. Meet One Minute Ludbreg, a low-budget video project to make a destination's attractions virtually available in one place.
It would be wrong to assume that all local tourist boards are the same in Croatia, and some are working very hard to promote their destinations. You can get an idea of who in the coming weeks from our new Virtual Croatia page, which is the result of an offer of a free promotional article putting all the destination's virtual tools in one place for the first time. So far we have done Zagreb, Hvar, Sinj, Klis, Trogir, Stari Grad, Opatija, Omis, Brela and Rogoznica. You can see these articles here. Time is my enemy at the moment, but I now have about another 25 from the submissions I have received. Next on the list are Lumbarda, Vukovar, Inland Dalmatia and the island of Brac, which will be one article, with all 8 Brac tourist boards contributing.
And there is another project from a local tourist board which predates corona that I want to tell you about. It is called One Minute Ludbreg.
Late last year, the town of Ludbreg invited me for a meeting to see how I could help the town with its promotion and tourism strategy. I had a productive meeting with the Mayor of Ludbreg Dubravko Bilic and Ludbreg Tourist Board director Andrea Horvat and agreed to work with on a number of strategies to try and boost tourism, as well as raise the profile of the town's successful economic story.
I have always liked Ludbreg, since my first visit with Elizabeta Dolenec, the then Varazdin County Tourist Board director back in 2016. You can read those initial impressions in Ludbreg, the Most Fascinating, Unusual Little Town in Croatia?
Andrea and I had a good chat about the destination and the possibilities, and we have been quietly working on a number of initiatives, some of which were interrupted by corona, of course. These include a project with Polish tour agencies to bring pilgrims en route to Medjugorje to Ludbreg. Unlike Medjugorje, Ludbreg has a Vatican-certified miracle which you can actually visit. In fact, it is the only certified miracle in Croatia that you can visit, which makes Ludbreg officially Croatia's miracle capital. I was shocked how few locals in Zagreb even knew this.
Another concept we decided to work on was One Minute Ludbreg. Ludbreg actually has lots to see, but many of these attractions take 5-10 minutes each. It is actually a very fun family destination just an hour out of Zagreb, with several good restaurants and three hotels. And if you are religious, why not come for Sunday Mass in a church with a certified miracle on view?
How to capture all the different attractions to present them to future guests? We came up with the concept of One Minute Ludbreg. A video introduction to each attraction, which would be available on the Ludbreg YouTube channel.
I have very little experience with presenting on video, and I have a lot to learn. We made a start, to see how it would go, more for Instagram than YouTube (hence the portrait v landscape) with our first One Minute Ludbreg video about the Sara Kolak javelin monument on the main square next to the Centre of the World. The video was shot and edited by Gustavo Vilera.
Corona came, and lockdown on Hvar meant that this aspect of One Minute Ludbreg would have to be put on hold.
But Hvar did give us the chance to get more experience, and I have been having lots of fun putting various parts of this gorgeous island online, with my local knowledge and anecdotes to give extra value.
We now have a concept finally, and I was delighted to be back in Ludbreg this week to resume filming.
I will be back again on Thursday with TCN intern Janja to spend the day filming with the mayor, the winemakers and other attractions, with the first video in the series due in a couple of weeks.
One Minute Ludbreg is a simple, low-cost concept that can be done by anyone. It gives potential tourists just a little bit more to help them get to know the destination and decide if they want to visit.
If you are interested in working with us on the One Minute Ludbreg concept in your destination (as a tourist board, hotel group or private individual), please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. subject 1 Min Ludbreg.
You can follow the One Minute Ludbreg series when it goes live on our Virtual Croatia section.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Stari Grad
May 20, 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 Stari Grad on Hvar.
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, Discover Rogoznica, Discover Klis, Discover Trogir and Discover Omis.
Next up, Jaksa Damjanic from the Stari Grad Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Stari Grad.
Let's begin!
Welcome to Stari Grad, Home to 2,400 Years of Tradition of Creating New Experiences
Released just a few days ago,
Remember Pharrell Williams? Be Happy, Stari Grad style.
Discover the old town and the secrets of 2,400 years.
Stari Grad from the air.
A spectacular birds eye view.
The relaxed evening atmosphere.
A one-hour national television discovery of Stari Grad and some of its most lovable characters.
A Small Place with a Famous Heritage
Stari Grad is perhaps best known in the minds of a sizable chunk of the population of former Yugoslavia as the location for the VERY popular show Malo Misto (Little Place), which characterised and satirised life in a small town in Dalmatia. Even with my limited ability to pick up the words of the actors, I find it wonderfully funny, and Stari Grad looks glorious. A sample episode is above.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a Sail Back to Ancient Greek Roots
Every travelled 5,000 years of UNESCO heritage in just 90 seconds? Fasten your seatbelts.
Learn more about the Stari Grad Plain with this reconstruction of how life was in the time of the Ancient Greeks.
From Faros to Paros. And in 2003, a rather unusual expedition was organised to retrace the steps of the Ancient Greeks all those years ago - a voyage in a traditional sailboat, from 'Faros to Paros', Faros being the name the Greeks gave to what is today Stari Grad, close as it sounded to their native island of Paros. The voyage included taking gifts including vines and olive trees which had brought som much prosperity and goodness to the residents of Hvar, and which had originally come from Paros in 384 BC. There is a documentary on the journey (in Croatian) which you can watch here.
It may not evoke comparisons with London Heathrow, but Stari Grad even has its own airport, located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to cultural considerations, the airport cannot be upgraded or expanded, but it does serve as a useful and convenient point for small aircraft and helicopters (the airstrip can accommodate planes of maximum six passengers), as well as providing a summer base for Hvar's popular sky-diving offer.
5 UNESCO Heritages in 1 Town, More than Any Island in the World
No other island in the world has 4 UNESCO heritages. The town of Stari Grad has 5. The official video of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stari Grad Plain.
The Mediterranean Diet was inscribed at intangible UNESCO heritage in 2013.
The 500-year-old Za Krizen procession (Behind the Cross) includes the village of Vrbanj, which is in the Stari Grad administrative district.
And one cannot leave Dalmatia without some unforgettable Dalmatian klapa.
The art of dry-stone walling is a rare skill, and one which has also achieved UNESCO status.
Discover Stari Grad, Where Wine and Song Meet
Stari Grad is fabulous, with something for everyone. A place where music and wine collide in different forms. The Jazz and Wine festival.
Dani u vali - Days in the Bay.
The Hvar Wine Association hosts wonderful evenings of wine tasting and song in the picturesque squares in the old town.
And a little wine always brings a little impromptu song.
For such a small town (the permanent population was less than 1800 at the last census), Stari Grad has an incredibly vibrant cultural scene. In addition to several excellent museums, two theatres (and two fabulous amateur theatre groups) and a host of other cultural activities, the male voices of Stari Grad are known throughout the land, and if you ever get the chance to hear the Faros Kantaduri, don't miss them. For a taster, check them out in the video above.
One of the world's most challenging swims, and other activities
Stari Grad is home to one of the most challenging international swimming races in the world, an annual event in August which attracts some of the globe's finest swimmers, including Olympic gold medal winners. Started in 1974, the Faros Marathon is a 16km race in the open sea, starting and finishing in the town's harbour, from where competitors race to the tip of the Kabal Peninsula at the top of the Stari Grad Bay - some 8km away - and back. A phenomenal physical effort for the increasingly international field, where the winner has yet to break three hours. Check out the race in the video above.
Also home to the start of the slightly less challenging Hvar Half Marathon, which takes place in August every year to Hvar Town along the old road. Surely one of the most beautiful races in Europe.
Biking heaven.
MTB heaven too.
Sail Croatia loves Stari Grad.
And if you are sailing into Stari Grad, with its new marina, here is some useful advice.
Of sunsets and plima
Some of the most beautiful sunsets in Dalmatia. But beware...
Ah, the deep Stari Grad Bay. It caused considerable distress to a poor dolphin, who inadvertantly swam into the harbour in 2005, and could not figure a way out for three days until expert help pointed the poor creature in the right drection. A scarier prospect for local residents is the 'plima', a raising of the water level cauased by particular climatic conditions and such a deep bay, which results in rapid rising of the water level. It is quite a spectacle to watch, as long as you are not a waterfront home owner. Check out the video above.
Local traditions, art and food
Starogrojski paprenjok is an original souvenir made as a homage to a traditional biscuit which the women and girls of Stari Grad on the Island of Hvar have lovingly prepared since 1167 for their sons and husbands, packing them in sailor's chests before their loved ones' departure on long and faraway journeys.
These cakes are prepared according to a carefully preserved recipe of the old island women and have retained the traditional shapes of amphora, fish, heart, clover and other imaginative forms lined with sweet stripes and playful dots.
The earliest mention of the famous cake from Stari Grad, Starogrojski paprenjok, was left by Petar Hektorović, in his famous poem, 'Ribanje i ribarsko prigovaranje', from 1556. The work is a description of a three-day fishing trip from Stari Grad to the island of Šolta and back. In it, the poet Petar Hektorović sailed in the company of two fishermen, Paskoje and Nikola. They took with them: good wine muškatil, sweet wine (prošek), turta (cake), honeycomb, kaškaval cheese, fruit and paprenakov.
The main ingredient for paprenjok is honey. In the castle, that is, in the flaunting park, the Hektorović family cultivated poultry, silkworms and bees.
Hektorović’s farmers cultivated wheat in the fertile Stari Grad fields; they milled it in the mill located in Tvrdalj. Another important ingredient was also olive oil. The Hektorović family's olive groves were located in the southern part of the town.
To prepare a paprenjok they also needed prošek. Prošek was made from good quality grapes in the tavern in Tvrdalj.
The only thing which could not be cultivated in Tvrdalj were the aromatic herbs – cinnamon, cloves and nutmegs.
But in that period they were easily obtained, as the port of Stari Grad was located on the route between Venice, Dubrovnik and the numerous Mediterranean ports with which trade took place.
Stari Grad even had its own honey festival at one point, and I understand that there are plans to resurrect its honey heritage this year.
Never eaten a dormouse? Don't miss the Puhijada edible dormouse festival in Dol.
One of the great attractions of Stari Grad are its quaint streets, which are lined with art galleries and boutique shops, selling authentic local products. Some of the artists are quite unique. Meet Fantazam.
Home to no less than two amateur theatre groups.
Mali Grad Faros - a wonderful initiative for the little ones.
And the magical night of Sv. Nikola in December is accompanied with the traditional burning of a boat.
And where else to go for the biggest live snake exhibition in Europe?
Stari Grad, the secret of a happy and healthy life - 104 years and still mending fishing nets.
Stari Grad has its own celebrities, including this man, who has seen them come and seen them go. Andrija Petric Muse is one of the icons of Hvar, a quiet unassuming man who can be seen most days oppostite Pizzeria Marko mending nets, as he has done for generations. An avid smoker for more than 80 years, he celebrated his 104th birthday this year. A survivor of the Spanish Flu AND corona, life of Croatia's premier island with its healthy climate and UNESCO Mediterranean Diet must have played a small part.
A wonderful town.
Official Stari Grad Tourist Board Website & 25 Things to Know about Stari Grad
Discover Stari Grad via the official tourist board website.
Learn more about Stari Grad with the TCN feature article, Stari Grad: 25 Things to Know about Croatia's 2017 European Best Destinations Nominee.
THIS. IS. STARI GRAD. 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)
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Trogir
May 11, 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 Trogir.
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, Discover Rogoznica, Discover Klis and Discover Omis.
Next up, Nina Misic from the Trogir Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Trogir.
Let's begin!
#TakeMeBack to Trogir, Marked by Masters, Inspired by Stone
Travel has the power to bring us all together. It allows us to explore it in compelling ways so that we can better understand each other, destinations, and their history and culture.
Collect Your memories and relive them.
We are waiting for You
Trogir, Marked by Masters, the new official video launched in November 2019 to coincide with Trogir's new branding.
Trogir, Inspired by Stone promo video.
Timelapse Trogir
Trogir by drone.
Discover Trogir magic by night.
Remember when the whole world was HAPPY, inspired by the Pharrell Williams hit song? The Trogir version.
Discover Trogir, among National Geographic's Top 10 Island Cities, and UNESCO World Heritage Site
The old town of Trogir became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and the official UNESCO video above is introduced as follows.
"Trogir is a remarkable example of urban continuity. The orthogonal street plan of this island settlement dates back to the Hellenistic period and it was embellished by successive rulers with many fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period."
Take a tour of the rich cultural heritage of this remarkable Adriatic coastal town, which was named by National Geographic in its top 10 island cities in the world.
Trogir as It Once Was: A Journey Back to 1985
How was holidaying in Trogir in years gone by? Some wonderful snapshots of a family holiday in Trogir in this home video from 1985.
Activities and Things to Do in Trogir
Trogir is a delightful and compact little town, with thousands of years of history around every corner. Get to know it in detail through the eyes of its visitors. 10 things to do.
A walking tour of the streets of Trogir.
And another...
There are plenty of beaches nearby and across the bridge on Ciovo.
Nautical tourism is popular - meet the ACI marina in Trogir.
So how is the sailing experience to Trogir?
Or parasailing, perhaps?
UNESCO kayaking heaven.
A scuba diving paradise.
Mountain biking.
Climbing.
And there are of course plenty of day trips to enjoy - Krka National Park, Split, Ciovo all come to mind. But don't miss the fabulous Blue Lagoon.
Wine heaven, home of the original Zinfandel
Did you know that the original Zinfandel comes from Dalmatia? A DNA study by the University of Davis in 2001 concluded that California's iconic red was a 100% match for Kastelanski Crljlenak, which - as the name suggests - hails from Kastela, just the other side of Split Airport.
As well as the vineyards of Trogir.
One of the finest views from a vineyard in Europe (and with excellent quality wines to match) can be enjoyed at the Kairos vineyard in Trogir.
A dream wedding destination
Or perhaps you would like to tie the knot there...
Or perhaps you would prefer to celebrate your magical day in a fortress in a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Weddings in Trogir are on the rise. Find out why in this wonderful Trogir destination wedding video.
Truly Marked by Masters, in the past and the present day
One of the key concepts behind the new branding of Trogir, Marked by Masters is the outstanding artisan traditions of the town's population over the centuries, a tradition which is very much alive today. As destinations such as Dubrovnik have traded traditional craft shops within its UNESCO walls for the sale of cheap souvenirs, Trogir's old town has a number of family businesses which are carrying on the artisan tradition of several generations, such as coral jeweler, Misel.
Klapa Trogir
Nothing encapsulates the romance of a Dalmatian holiday than the wonderful local klapa music. Meet Klapa Trogir.
Advent and New Year in Trogir
Summer may be the main tourist season in Trogir, but Advent is also a lovely time to visit.
And there can be few more spectacular settings to welcome the New Year.
Official Trogir Tourist Board Website & 25 Things to Know about Trogir
Discover Trogir via the official tourist board website.
Learn more about Trogir with the TCN feature article, Trogir: 25 Things to Know about UNESCO Old Town Heaven.
THIS. IS. TROGIR. 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)
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Klis
May 8, 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 Klis.
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, Discover Rogoznica and Discover Omis.
Next up, Iva Kegalj of the Klis Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Klis.
Let's begin!
Don't Miss Klis, Live the True Experience
Klis, Live the True Experience.
2014 promo video.
Ashley Colburn's promo video of Klis.
Klis who? Welcome to Meereen and Game of Thrones
Klis may have one of the most famous buildings in Croatia and have existed for more than 1,000 years, but it is known by a totally different name by millions of people around the world.
Welcome to Meereen! The HBO hit show Game of Thrones has transformed Klis in the last few years, and tourism to its globally famous fortress has boomed thanks to its location as Meereen in GoT.
GoT tours are in!
Klis Fortress, the Gateway to Dalmatia
There is no question about what is the most recognisable thing in Klis. Take a walking tour of Klis Fortress.
In 2019, the brand new Interpretation center, the tourist attraction worth 1 million kuna, was opened. In the centre through the 3D hologram projections, visitors can learn about extremely rich historical and cultural heritage of the area. The project also includes possibility of 3D mapping on the exterior walls of the Interpretation center, which provides attractive visual content.
The Battle of Klis
The historical spectacle "The Uskoks' battle for Klis" is an international event organized by the Historical unit "Kliški uskoci". The two-day spectacle of reenactment history involving over 300 members of historical units and knights from all over Croatia and Europe brings visitors back to the Middle Ages and the era of defense of Klis from the Ottoman Empire.
The Uskoks' battle for Klis revives medieval and renaissance history with various cultural, musical, entertainment and stage performances. Medieval archery and sword tournament, fire juggling, archaic folk songs, tambourines, bagpipes, drums and fiddles playing live, oriental music with belly dancers, knight camps set in the northern foothills of the fortress, depicting warriors' life in the Middle Ages, various schools and workshops... All this in the archaic ambience of the old trades and crafts fair, domestic dishes and drinks, authentic handicrafts, autochthonous souvenirs and other Mediterranean products, with numerous exhibitors from Dalmatia and Croatia.
The central event is the reenactment of the historical battle between the Uskoks and the Ottoman Army of 1532. At a time when the Renaissance blossom in western Europe and at the same time fear of the mighty Ottoman army that had steadily advanced in conquering Europe, Klis and his defenders Uskoks bled for the benefit of the whole of Europe and became the first line of defense. The battle from this heroic period of history is re-enacted by trained members of historical units and knights from various parts of Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic. Scenes of siege, invasion, negotiation, conquest, defense, punctuation, individual and collective battles with swords, spears, maces, axes, along with firing cannons, rifles, firelocks...
The 2019 Battle of Klis reenactment.
The battle promoted by an international travel agency.
Training for the battle.
National television feature on the Klis Uskoks.
5 Fun Facts about Klis
The Uskok legends are everywhere. My favourite concerns the name of the parking place below the fortress, Mejdan, as Filip explains in the video 5 Fun Facts about Klis, above. A young Uskok, Milos Parizevic, was in love with a general's daughter, and to prove his love and win the girl, he took on the terrifying Ottoman, Bakota. An underdog in the duel, true love won the day, with our young Uskok hero first slicing the legs off his Ottoman opponent, then his head. He went on to marry the girl. In his honour, the candlesticks in the local church are the same height as him.
Stella Croatica - Healthy, Natural Dalmatia as It Once Was
Stella Croatica, which was crowned Croatian Rural Tourism Champion in 2018, is a multi-purpose complex offering many aspects of the traditional Dalmatian way of life. These include a Mediterranean garden with more than 500 herbs and plants; arboretum; olive and fig groves, vineyard and chef's garden; traditional Dalmatian tavern and original Dalmatian stone buildings around a village square; a factory producing traditional food products; exhibition and museum; and taste and buy option.
Active Klis
Klis has worked hard in recent years to develop its credentials as a cycling destination - and with considerable success.
Klapa Klis
Nothing encapsulates the romance of a Dalmatian holiday than the wonderful local klapa music. Meet Klapa Klis.
Klis lamb - a meat lover's paradise
Klis is home to the very best lamb in all Dalmatia, and locals from Split often make the short journey from the city to get their share. Here's what awaits.
Klis at Christmas
There has been a growing trend in recent years to put on more events at Christmas, with Advent in Zagreb the best and most successful example of that. Things are a lot cosier in Klis.
Klis Webcam
For the latest live action from Klis, click here.
Virtual tour of Klis
Get to know Klis, the 360 way.
Official Klis Websites & a TCN feature article on Klis
Discover Klis via the official websites - Historical Unit Kliski Uskoci, Klis Municipality, and Klis Fortress.
Klis, a Dalmatian Tourism Success Timeline Beyond Game of Thrones & Meereen
THIS. IS. KLIS. 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)
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Rogoznica
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)
Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Omis
May 3, 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 Omis.
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 and Discover Brela.
Next up, Petra Bartulovic, Director of the Omis Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Omis, one of the most fascinating destinations on the Adriatic.
Let's begin!
Discover Omis: Small Town, Big Adventure
Omis is a small town, but one which will offer you a very big adventure.
Love Omis!
The very best of Omis. In 90 seconds!
Omis by drone.
Timelapse Omis.
Omis as It Once Was
Timeline 1990.
Timeline 1986.
The capital of UNESCO Dalmatian klapa
Omis is well known as the hometown of a capella singing and is famous for Klapa Festival that was established in 1967.
Some say that the first and the oldest konoba in Dalmatia opened in Omis in 1969 and is placed in a 400-year-old stone house. This is also the cradle of the famous Festival of Dalmatian Klapa Omis. Konoba „U naseg Marina“ was the inspiration for the very well known song in Croatia: Konobo moja (My konoba) written by Tedi Spalato and performed by Meri Cetinic.
The capital of pirates!
What to say that hasn't been already said about Omis pirates? Some approve this part of Omiš history, some don't. I like it! They were brave, cunning and bold, great sailors and shipbuilders who were taking right to their land and their sea, annoying powers ruling the Dalmatian coast at the time. People from Omis, led by the Kacic dukes, controlled the Adriatic Sea all the way from Split to Dubrovnik during the 12th and 13th century, charging a fee for safe sailing. It was actually a very good business, for the part of the sea they controlled was the route for merchant ships and Crusaders sailing to the East (Constantinople, Palestine...). Merchant powers of those times like Venice, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Split, whose ships were sailing on this route didn't like the idea of paying and I guess Omiš people weren't being very polite and civilized as most in the Middle Ages. One thing led to another and the Omis people became pirates!
The Omis Pirate Battle, which has been taking place for 13 years in a row in the Omis City Port, has grown to one of the traditional and most important cultural events of the summer season in the area of Omis, the Split-Dalmatia County as well as entire Croatia.This unique event is a re-enactment of the battle between the Omis pirates and Venetians which took place in the 13th century. Being based on historical events, the Pirate Battle contributes to the branding and promotion of Omis as the pirate town. A couple of hundred armed „pirates“ and „Venetians“, as well as members of historical honor guards „Kumpanija“ from the town of Blato on the island of Korčula, „Trombunjeri“ from the town of Dubrovnik and „Uskok“ from the town of Klis.
The capital of freedom: the Poljicka Republic.
Poljica is a historical region that covers most of the Inland Omis today, once known as the Principality of Poljica. The story of Poljica is so extensive that it asks for its own article. So, in short, the process of forming Poljica as an autonomous region began at the latest in the 13th century and lasted until the beginning of the 19th century. Poljica covers 250 km2 and consists of Upper, Middle and Lower Poljica. The statute of Poljica is one of the oldest and most significant Croatian legal documents. I have to admit, I love Poljica very much. It is hard not to love it due to its history, legends, tradition, stone houses and churches, karst and mountain landscape.
Soparnik is a yummy traditional dish from Poljica made of dough, swiss chard, onion, olive oil and garlic baked on Dalmatian open-hearth fireplace - komin, directly under hot embers and ashes and served on huge wooden board – sinija. Soparnik is protected and issued by the EU geographical origin label and declared as intangible cultural heritage of Croatia.
The statue of Mila Gojsacic was made by famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Mila was the heroine of Poljica, who sacrificed her own life for the freedom of Poljica in 1530. Thanks to our world-famous sculptor Ivan Meštrović, Mila is standing on the cliff above the canyon, making sure her Poljica stays safe.
An unforgettable adventure tourism destination
Zipline.
Paragliding.
Rafting.
Free climbing.
Dalmatia Ultra Trail.
Omis Half Marathon
Windsurfing.
Aqua aerobics.
Mountain biking.
Moto.
Beaches, beaches, beaches
Omis lies at the heart of the Central Dalmatian coast. Which means beaches!
A walking tour of Omis
Take a tour of the streets of Omis.
St Leopold Mandic theme trail
The St Leopold Mandic theme trail is the first theme trail open in the Omi region. It starts next to the sanctuary of St. Leopold Mandic in Zakucac. It circles on the 2.6 km long part of the canyon and thanks to the 9 educational boards visitors can get to know more about the nature and culture of this area. There are also 11 rest stops and 5 magnificent viewpoints.
Virtual tour of Omis
Get to know Omis, the 360 way.
Official Omis Tourist Board & 25 Things to Know and Dalmatian Klapa and Pirate Heaven
Discover Omis via the official Omis Tourist Board website.
To learn more about Omis, check out the TCN article Omis: 25 things to know about Dalmatian Klapa and pirate heaven.
THIS. IS. OMIS. When can we expect your visit?
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