Although it is best known for its impressive architectural backdrop, the noisy and dynamic Town of Split is much more than that!
Of course, Diocletian's Palace and the old Town center that have been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979, are just a few among the many amazing landmarks for sightseeing, but culture lovers are not the only ones to enjoy staying in the Mediterranean Flower, as the Town is called (cro. Cvit Mediterana), since the Town of Split and it surroundings offer an increasing variety of activities for the ones looking to spend an active holiday, such as a very popular cyclotourism or a zip line over the River Cetina canyon, and owing to the world-famous youth festivals, its old stone narrow streets are bursting with life!
This 17 centuries old town is still young, like a boy, and a visit to the green market and the fish market, as well as a must-have cup of coffee on the Riva Promenade will make you feel like a real local! The Prokurative Square, Peristil (Peristyle), Marjan Hill Forest Park, the Bačvice Beach, the famous Marmontova Street etc. are just a few among the characteristic sites you should not miss, located only 30 km away from the Town of Okrug.
In order for you to arrange a visit that will suit your needs and wishes, please visit the Official Website of the Tourist Board of the Town of Split www.visitsplit.com.
The Town of Okrug is only a 5-minute drive by car from the Town of Trogir which, above all, represents a centuries-old monument complex. Numerous monographs of the Town, such as the one written by Ivo Babić, have shown us that connoisseurs rightly consider it a monument-town, since one can clearly discern all the previous historical epochs within it.
If you are a lover of valuable architecture, you must not miss the masterpiece and the most monumental building in a Romanesque and Gothic style in Croatia – the main portal of the Church of St. Lawrence (cro. Crkva Sv. Lovre) in Trogir, named after its sculptor, the local master Radovan. Experts say that this masterpiece is of major importance for the entire Adriatic region and can match any of the monuments across Europe pertaining to this period! The bas-relief of Kairos, a Greek god from the 4th century, is also fascinating, conserved at the Monastery of St. Nicholas (cro. Samostan sv. Nikole) in Trogir, which has become a sort of a symbol of Trogir – as Kairos is the god of the fleeting moment, so one is to catch a tuft of his hair in order to be able to seize the opportunity, otherwise it will go away. Don't miss the opportunity to seize the happy moment and to visit the Town of Trogir while staying in Okrug. For additional information, please visit the following website: www.visittrogir.hr.
Okrug is some 26 km away from the Town of Solin, also called the Cradle of Croatian History.
It has gone a long way from the ancient Town of Salona to the period of the reign of Croatian kings, as evidenced by the stone witnesses of its turbulent past – from the ones from the antiquity, such as the majestic walls with towers, the Roman forum with temples and the amphitheater, to the ruins of the so-called Hollow Church (cro. Šuplja crkva), the coronation basilica of the King Zvonimir!
The Croatian Queen Jelena also walked along the picturesque Our Lady's Islet (cro. Gospin otok), and in recent history the beloved Holy Father, John Paul II, also visited the Town. Discover the attractions of the youngest town in Croatia – from the endemic species of Adriatic trout (cro. Mekousna pastrva) and the natural monument of Swamp Cypress (cro. Močvarni čempres), to the Gašpina mlinica watermill dating back to the beginning of the 18th century, the River Jadro and the Nove Starine Stone Park.
For all the necessary information, please visit:www.solin-info.com/hr/.
The Town of Hvar, situated on our sunniest island, is called the Croatian Saint-Tropez by many, and if we take a look at its guest list consisting of the Hollywood A-listers, world-famous athletes and the members of England's royal family, we will see that this comparison is accurate, since you never know who will be having a cup of cappuccino at the table next to yours! The Town of Okrug is only 93 km away from the Town known for the lavender grown on the Island, as well as for its party scene. In addition to its excellent seafood menu and wine list which attract food lovers (also known as gastro-nomads), it offers many historical sites for the lovers of cultural heritage! If you fall in this group, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the Cathedral of St. Stephen (cro. Katedrala sv. Stjepana) with the Renaissance bell tower, the Public Theater and Arsenal, the Franciscan Monastery inside of which there is a valuable religious heritage, as well as the Fortica Fortress over the northern part of the Town with a valuable collection of amphorae and the artifacts pertaining to the Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as a fascinating view of the Town and the Pakleni Islands. For additional information, please visit: www.tzhvar.hr/hr/.
One of the nearby destinations which is definitely worth visiting is the Town of Bol! In addition to being the host of the prestigious WTA women's tennis tournament, it naturally exudes elegance, and its legendary Zlatni Rat beach which changes its shape and position depending on the wind has been a symbol of domestic tourism for many years. You can play tennis there (which, owing to ITF Futures tournaments, has been returning to this touristic destination in a big way), try your hand at water sports, explore the cycling paths which are becoming ever more popular these days, or enjoy the unique cuisine of the Island of Brač – in addition to traditional cuisine, you can taste the old traditional dishes which have been gradually introduced into the menus by the locals, and you can spice up your stay with a glass of the extraordinary local wine made of grapes which ripened in the beautiful and sunny vineyards of the Town of Bol! You will find all the information you need on the following website: www.bol.hr.
Krka National Park is a green oasis covering an area of 109 km2 of the most beautiful flow of the River Krka and the downstream of the River Čikola, with an impressive number of 860 plant species, 221 bird species and as many as 10 endemic fish species which are evidence of the value it represents! A particular treasure of the Park is a series of impressive locations, from the Roški waterfall with the complex of water mills, to the beautiful islet of Visovac in the middle of the eponymous lake the Franciscans take care of, to the most beautiful among the seven travertine waterfalls of the River Krka – Skradinski buk. In order to make your experience complete, taste some of the traditional specialties at some of the local restaurants – smoked ham from Miljevac and wine drunk from a jug, and you can learn more about these unique natural treasures which are almost within your reach from the Town of Okrug if you go to: www.npkrka.hr.
All the guests staying in Okrug who wish to invigorate their spirit will gladly visit the Town of Međugorje which is 100 km away from Okrug, and is one of the most famous Marian shrines in the region. Until June 24, 1981 it was a typical Herzegovian town with a large parish church, but since on that day, according to the testimonials of the 6 young parishioners, the first apparition of the Mother of God occurred, the Town has been part of travel itineraries of religious tourists across the world. Although the authenticity of the Međugorje phenomenon has not been officially recognized yet, it receives more than a million visitors each year, and what cannot be disputed at all is the fact that this place really evokes a special atmosphere of peace and serenity. For additional information, please visit:www.medjugorje.hr/hr/
Some 259 km separate the Town of Okrug from the true pearl of the domestic tourism which has been attracting visitors from all over the world – the Town of Dubrovnik! Owing to an almost endless list of cultural treasures, it is an ideal place for the lovers of sightseeing as well as for the ones who love fine food and drink and will be delighted with sophisticated culinary delights on the menu, such as dried seafood, or freshly caught oysters, mussels and fish, the green stew (cro. slang zelena menestra) and Dubrovnik-style macaroni (cro sl. šporki marakuli), as well as a Dubrovnik-style panna cotta (cro. sl. rozata), quince pudding (cro. sl. kotonjata) and candied orange peel (cro. sl. arancini)! The vicinity of the Peninsula of Pelješac guarantees a luxurious wine list, so for many the specialties of Dubrovnik present a more than enough motive to visit the Town. However, Dubrovnik cannot be separated from its magnificent cultural heritage, so all the visitors, regardless of their preferences, will gladly take a stroll along the famous Stradun Street, visit beautiful religious buildings (such as the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church of St. Blaise – cro. Sv. Vlaho - the patron saint of the Town), The Rector's Palace (cro. Knežev dvor), the Sponza Palace, Orlando's Column (cro. Orlandov stup), as well as the famous, world-renowned city walls which once used to be part of the defensive system of the Town, such as the Fort Lovrijenac and the Fort Revelin. As all the prevously mentioned attractions are just a piece of the treasures of Dubrovnik, make sure to visit:www.tzdubrovnik.hr and to learn about all the must-see sites of this unique tourist destination!
Only an hour and a half drive by car from the Town of Okrug, there is the ancient Town of Iadera – which translates as the "white town" – the present-day Town of Zadar. Stone narrow streets of this remarkable town which is more than 3.000 years old, as well as its modern tourist attractions, such as the Sea Organ (cro. Morske orgulje) and the monument dedicated to the Sun named the Greeting to the Sun (cro. Pozdrav Suncu), are always bursting with life – namely, this is a town with a long university tradition (since the year 1396!) so you will often see a lot of young people there who give the old town center a particular serenity. The true symbols of the Town of Zadar are certainly the Church of St. Donat (cro. Crkva Sv. Donata), the Cathedral of St. Anastasia (cro. Katedrala Sv. Stošije) and the popular Kalelarga, known as the Wide Street, together with other pieces of architecture worth visiting (don't miss the Forum in front of the Church of St. Donat, the People's Square (cro. Narodni trg), which has been the center of the public life of the Town since the Renaissance period, the picturesque port of Foša, the Five Wells Square (cro. Trg pet bunara) etc. The Town is also known as the cradle of the national basketball, as well as the town in the surroundings of which the most delicious indigenous variety of sour cherry (cro. maraska) ever grows! Find out where to drink the best maraschino, as well as other information you may find useful for your holiday at: www.zadar.travel/hr/.
At the mouth of the River Krka, within a sheltered natural bay, lies the Town of Šibenik. This Town attracts tourists by its unique combination of a rich history and modern tourist attractions, so both the lovers of sightseeing and families with children will enjoy there. Among the numerous cultural sites, the Cathedral of St. Jacob (cro. Katedrala Sv. Jakova) is certainly worth visiting with its fascinating frieze containing 74 head sculptures representing prominent individuals from the former historical periods, as well as the nearby City Hall built in the Renaissance style, and the four fortresses in Šibenik: The Fortress of St. Michael (cro. Tvrđava Sv. Mihovila), St. John (cro. Tvrđava Sv. Ivana), The Šubićevac Fortress and the Fortress of St. Nicholas (cro. Tvrđava Sv. Nikole). These fortresses, which have protected the old Town center for centuries against attacks, today represent a must-see attraction with a magnificent view of the Town and its surroundings which has also attracted the scriptwriters of The Game of Thrones, a globally popular series! The 4 wells in Šibenik, the impressive aquarium at the very center of the Town are also worth visiting, and you can also take a stroll along the long-awaited Promenade of St. Anthony (cro. Šetnica Sv. Ante) leading to numerous cultural sites. In order for you not to miss any of them, please visit: www.sibenik-tourism.hr/hr/.
