February 10, 2021 – Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the fifth Solin Winterfest takes place in a virtual edition for the first time. Solin Tourist Board prepared 15 videos in four thematic units – Water, Grace, Heritage, and Love – to present Solin's rich cultural, natural, and religious heritage.
With its 30,000 inhabitants, there are 6,500 young people under 18 and positive demographic growth, and the city of Solin holds the title of "youngest" city in Croatia. Since it's the City of Families and Children's Friend, Solin shows to fellow citizens, visitors, and tourists the importance of family and life with the Winterfest project.
Besides educating its fellow citizens (children and adults) and designing cultural facilities during the winter months, this project aims to develop the off-season tourist offer. Following the strategic goals of tourism development in Croatia, the goal is to position Solin as a destination that lives 365 days a year.
Salona amphitheater / Photo: Romulić and Stojčić
The first unit – Water – presents the project "Jadro – the source of life" for sustainable use of natural heritage through valorization and transformation of previously degraded space into a unique visitor area of a special reserve of endemic species – Solin soft-skinned trout.
The Gašpić restaurant host, Zoran Kljaković Gašpić, better known as Medo, shows in a gastronomic workshop how to prepare trout in broth, a traditional Solin dish.
In a virtual walk through the old Solin mills, in Gašpina mill, one of the few preserved mills on the river Jadro built at the beginning of the 18th century, you can find out what they are and how many of them there were.
The second unit – Grace – is dedicated to the Solin's religious heritage. Find out more about Queen Jelena's reign through the Interpretive Walk "Royal Stories from Solin" – Our Lady's Island, the oldest Marian shrine in Croatia. There is also the Story of the Salonitan Martyrs, told by Don Frane Bulić, a priest and archaeologist, long-time director of the Archaeological Museum in Split, the father of Croatian archeology. Don Fran Bulić was embodied by Nino Švonja, curator of the Archaeological Museum in Split.
In the third unit – Heritage – with Don Frane Bulić, you can also get to know the history of Solin and the Salona site, the largest archeological park in Croatia. The heritage of Prince Trpimir leads to the archeological site of Rižinica, and there is also an Archaeological Workshop.
The fourth unit – Love – places particular emphasis on the family and children since Solin is the youngest city in Croatia due to its positive demographic growth. Also, this unit is associated with the upcoming Valentine's Day.
How many times have we heard that love goes through the stomach? In the gastronomic workshop "Taste the Love," Medo again presents an exciting recipe for your better half – Filet mignon with gnocchi and pancakes with fruit in a currant sauce.
The Solin City Theater held a workshop for children "Mouse in Love," and there is also a course of dance steps "Dance of the Heart" because – what is Valentine's Day without dancing?
"The events have so far been realized in cooperation with partners indoors in the city of Solin. They consisted of interactive workshops, mini schools, interpretation events, music programs, themed trips, and city tours for all ages," said Jelena Stupalo, Solin Tourist Board director, for the portal Turističke priče.
In recent years, the Solin Winterfest response has been excellent, although the event is regional. Visitors are mostly from the cities of Split-Dalmatia County and tourists who are in accommodation facilities.
All videos can be found on the Solin Tourist Board's website, as well as on YouTube.
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