1st Day: Split – Trogir
(29.2 km)
Arrival to Split early in the morning by a farry
boat. Start of the panoramic tour with the village of Dalmatia, the second
biggest in Croatia. Founded like a Greek colony, the very first person from
Split was still considered the imperator Diocletian who in 293 year AC started
to build his residence just to move in there after abandoning the
throne. The palace of Diocletian is in fact one of the principals
attractions of the city which walls were closing the centre of the city. It was
built with white stones derived from the Brac island so the imperator wanted
also to be used marble from Carrara and sphinx derived from Egypt like the
granite one that stands on the entrance of the temple of Jupiter. The San
Doimo’s Cathedral, by origin was mausoleum of Diocletian; converted in a
cathedral in the VII century from the bishop then when the sarcophagus that
contented the remains of Diocletian were sostituited with the remains of San Doimo.
From the top of its bell tower you can admire a view of all the city. In the
undergrounds, in origins stores there are today exhibitions and permanent
markets. The Peristil square is the central square of the palace and from there
the imperator went out to show himself to his subjects. Today it is often used
like a theatral stage thanks to the great uqualities of the sound. From the
1979 year the Diocletian’s Palace was declared for an UNESCO Patrimony. Before
going away from Split it is recommended to take a walk to its seafront that
from the centre will take you to the navy admiring fascinating perspectives of
the city. Around 29 km from Split there is a small village nominated for an
UNESCO patrimony, Trogir which is connected to the land with a bridge.
Considered one of the architectonic jewels of Dalmatia, the visit of the city
includes the City Hall’s church to he cathedral of San Lorenzo, from Venetian
era. In that point arrival in the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Curiosity: Every year in Trogir during summer from the 21st of june until the
end of august it is organized “Trogir summer” spectacles and events from
classic and folk music making beautifull the evenings of the city. In Trogir
until few decades ago every night the gates were closed so that no one could
come in or get out until the next morning. A little out of the Split’s walls
there is the statue of Gregory of Nin (Grgur Ninski) a bishop from around the X
century and it is known that by touching his big toe brings happiness, because
of that the statu has been nominated like the statue of the shiny big
toe.
2nd Day: Split – Dubrovnik (230 km)
Arrival at Dubrovnik in the morning and start of
the panoramic tour of the city. In Italian Ragusa, facing the Adriatic Sea,
Dubrovnik is called “A pearl of the Adriatic Sea” for its beauty. During the
years it became one of the must visit destinations for the tourists that arrive
in the southern part of Croatia in summer and in winter. Dubrovnik is
surrounded by 1940 m of medieval walls that were good conserved during the
years in their original shape. Its erect walls between the X and the XVII
century defending the city also the historic centre are from the 1979 year
protected from UNESCO. Through the Gate Pile we will enter into the heart of
Dubrovnik passing through the “Stradun”, its principal street. Originally
precisely because of medieval origin there was also a lifting bridge on the
fosse which today have become green area. “Stradun” the stroll which passes
through whole historic centre from Gate Pile to the square of Loggia rises up
in 1468 year and build in calcareous white stone. Between the most famous arts
of the city there is the Grand Fountain of Onofrio from fifteenth century.
Still in function although the terrible earthquake in 1667 year originallu was
projected by Onofrio della Cavain order to stock the citizens of the water in
the River Dubrovacka. The same Onofrio de la Cava projected in 1435 the Palace
of the Rectors, once a residence of the city’s rector and today historic museum
of the history of th republic of Ragusa. After that we arrive in the Square of
Loggia, meeting for the citizens of the place and the heart of the old city
from where stands out the Clock tower and the Loggia of the Campane from which
the square gets its name. In the centre of the square of Loggia stands out the
church of San Biagio, the patron of the city from the beginning of the
eighteenth century. Its relics make part of the treasure of the Cathedral of
the Assumption in the end of seventeenth century projected by the Italian
Andrea Bufalini. Very interesting are also the paintings of the Italian and
Croatian school inside the XVI / XVIII century and the big altar of the
Assumption of the virgin of Tiziano. In the end of the visit very suggestive is
walking freely along the street between small souvenir shopsand for the most
fearless to arrive to the fortess of Lovrijenac just to enjoy the panoramic
view from a highness of 40 m ASL climbing up around 200 stairs. The fortress
was built in the beginning of XI century for a protection of the attacks of the
venetians and like a tower for lookout post. On the entrance of the tower there
is written in Latin “Non bene pro toto libertasvenditur auro” (the liberty can
not be bought for the entire gold in the world). Dinner and overnight in a
hotel of the zone of Dubrovnik.
Curiosity: Dubrovnik from the 2014 year was attacked by the fans of the TV
series “Game of thrones” and the fortress of Lovrijenac is the “red fortress”
of the same series. Today this fortress is place where weddings and other
events happen. In the Square of Loggia the Clock tower is also famous for
its “zelenci”, “the green twins” two bronze figures that make a sound of the
2-ton 500 bell rings at the stroke of the hour.
3rd Day: Dubrovnik – Islands Elaphiti –
Dubrovnik
A day for a relax with an excursion in the
islands Elaphiti by a local boat. Composed by 13 islands and only 3 of them are
populated. Kolocep unites the beach and the profume of the pines centuries-old
with the culture. The capella of Saint Antonio hosts one of the works of Ivan
Ugrinovic, one of the most famous between the artists of Dubrovnik. Sipan, the
biggest one, well-known by its peaceful beaches. Lopud with its Franciscan
monastery of the XV century and the famous sand beach Sunj 30 min on foot away
from the port. Fish picnin on the boat and return to the hotel in the late
afternoon. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Curiosity: The people of the island of Lopud had a fame of being a sea
experts, and because of that were hired on the Spain boats to fight
during the wars for example against Portugal England.
4th Day: Dubrovnik – Sibenik – Split (317 km)
Departure from Dubrovnik to arrive in the
evening on the port of Split to catch the ferry-boat for a return to Italy. Not
so far away from Split we will visit the wonderful village of Sibenik, one of
the first villages founded by the Croatians on the Adriatic Sea around 1066
year. Between the most representative works we can admire the cathedral of
Saint Giacomo part of the UNESCO patrimony from the 2000 year is a seat of the
bishop of Sibenik. The works of realization were from the beginning leaded from
Venetian masters then from Toscanians and in the end from Croatian mastrers
from which has been derived the perfect intersection of different cultures. It
was consecrated in the 1555 year. Another representative work of the city is
without a doubt the Fortress of Saint Nicolo’, also a patrimony of UNESCO from
the 2017 year. It took the name of the Benedictian monastery of San Nicola and
was realized in bricks only because they were considered the most resistant to
cannon shots than stone. In the afternoon departure to the port of Split for
the fulfillment of the practices of the boarding.
Curiosity: The fortress of Saint Nicolo’ was never used
like one in the eyes of the enemies it looked exactly impregnable that wasn’t
even close to the enemies. From 2014 year in the superior court of the fortress
there are often concerts and operas under open sky.