Undiscovered Sinj: Birthplace of Football and Home to Adventure Tourism

One of the many advantages of flying into Split is the sheer wealth of holiday choice which awaits the arriving tourist. While the majority head out to the stunning islands of Hvar, Brac, Vis and Solta, and a large number savour the growing attractions of the Dalmatian capital, some of the real undiscovered treasures of Croatia lie just a short journey inland.

The town of Sinj is one such example. Last year, there were almost 12,000 overnight stays, down from 21,500 before the motorway from Zagreb opened in 2006 (Sinj lies on the old road). A town and surrounding area of 24,000 people (the town itself has 11,448 inhabitants), some distance from the sea. Why bother when there is so much Adriatic magic to enjoy at the beach? Why indeed?

Except...

There is something different about Sinj. It is a town rich in history and tradition, with its main tourist event - the Alka - one of the most interesting festivals in southern Europe, the annual knights' tournament which takes place every summer to commemorate the famous defeat of the Turks at Sinj in 1715. A town with a unique festival which takes place over a short period of time every year. Not so unusual.

Except...

Dig a little deeper. Did you know, for example, that there is evidence that football was first played in the Cetinjska Krajina region. Evidence which was put on the front page of the 1969 cover of official Fifa journal, FIFA News (issue 71). As the Sinj Tourist Board explains:

Photo: Nikola Belančić

A tombstone of a seven-year-old Roman boy Gaius Laberius holding a ball with hexagons joined in the manner of a net-like ornament. The symbol of a real leather ball, it is considered firm evidence that football in Europe was first played in the Cetinska Krajina Region. It was found in the Tilurium site, in the locality of Gardun, and dates back to the 2nd century.

Today the tombstone is built into the front wall of the Perković family-owned stone building in Vrlička Ulica at number 10 in Sinj. Made of limestone, the monument is 113 centimetres high and 46 centimetres wide. At the bottom there is a two-part inscription, the first part of the inscription being in a well-defined frame and informing about Gaius Laberius, whereas the second part is an inscription by an unkonown author dedicated to the boy.

The central part is a round medallion framed with ornaments, bearing a portrait of the boy who holds the ball in his right hand. At the top of the monument there is a frieze showing a kantharos (a large two-handle vase), a dolphin and the head of Medusa (in ancient mythology, the personification of evil) and a triangular gable with acroteria (plastic ornaments of tops and corners) in the shape of lion’s paws. The head of Atis is sculptured in the triangular gable.

Photo: Branko Čović

Even though football was played at Gardun among Roman soldiers and sons of the rich, originally the game was Illyrian and the Delmates had played it long before the Roman troops arrived. This is further proven by the fact that in no locality other than Gardun throughout the historical Roman Empire, a football-related pattern or image has been found.

In 1969, the international football association (FIFA) dedicated a cover of its official journal FIFA NEWS (issue 71), headlined Archaeology and football, to the archaeological discovery of the amateur archaeologist Josip Bepo Britvić. According to the FIFA, this discovery is a piece of information significant for both archaeology and football fans. (Delmates VS Romans match).

So, pretty town with some history, a claim to fame and a couple of traditions? Maybe a little interesting.

Except...

Photo: Sinj Tourist Board

There is plenty to do. Sinj is a perfect blend of heritage, tradition and activity sports. Supremely located just 30 minutes from Split and yet a world away from the tourist hordes, Sinj is the perfect place to discover the charm and unique aspects of traditional Dalmatian life, and for outdoor lovers, there is a wealth of choice.

With its own airfield, there are paragliding options.

Photo: Sinj Tourist Board

Sinj's hippodrome is world famous, and horse-riding holidays are available in the region, a perfect way to discover the real Dalmatia close up.

Photo: Ilija Veselica

The mighty Cetina river has some challenging days out, including white-water rafting and canoeing safaris.

Photo: Sinj Tourist Board

Tennis courts, an Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool, fly-fishing, climbing, paintballing, hiking, mountain climbing and Jeep safaris - the list goes on.

Photo: Nikola Belančić

All a 30 minute drive from Split. The home of football. For an inexpensive activity or outdoor holiday in inland Dalmatia's unspoilt nature, yet within a short drive of the amenities of the city and the beach, Sinj is surely one of the last quality undiscovered destinations in Europe.

And the food. We have not yet mentioned the food. Next time, or for more information, visit the Sinj Tourist Board online.

The 18th International GAST Fair Starts in Split Next Week!

In addition to its standard tourism offer, Central Dalmatia is becoming increasingly important as a conference and trade fair destination. With several quality hotels appearing in Split and elsewhere in the region in recent years, the ability of the region to host major events is increasing year by year.

Next week sees the start of the 18th GAST international food and beverage fair in Split. It is an extremely popular event, both for the visiting public and businesses in the hospitality industry. In the words of the official website (please click here for more details):

GAST 2013
Split,March  6th-10th, 2013.

The most significant gastro event in Croatia!

18th International Food fair
18th International Beverages fair
18th International Hotel and hospitality equipment fair
18th DIONIZIJANA – Wine fair
8th Coffee fair
8th FURNITURA - Furniture fair
7th SATURN - Tourism fair
6th GAST AROUND THE WORLD

GAST fair is a meeting point of numerous food, beverages, hotel and hospitality equipment producers and merchants, and it is recognized as a key spot of touristic season logistical contracting. This manifestation has a yearly growth trend of 35% for all elements included - the exhibition area, number of exhibitors and the number of visitors, as well as the number of contracts, which is an extreme rarity in Croatian fair industry.

Please find below a report from last year's fair, where there was a seminar on eco-ethno tourism in Dalmatia, including a presentation from current Central Dalmatia Tourist Board director Joško Stella.

Solta - Dalmatia's Most Accessible and Undiscovered Island?

The Central Dalmatian islands are a huge draw for tourists visiting the Adriatic coast. Beaches, nightlife, nature, heritage and the unending pleasure of one of the cleanest and most inviting seas in the world. Hvar, Brac and Vis are very popular destinations, and rightly so.

And then there is an island which is even closer to Split and usually overlooked by tourists.

The island of Solta can be clearly seen from the stylish cafes of the Split riva, one of the most popular places to check out the pace of life in Dalmatia. There are regular ferries and yet not so many people choose to visit the pretty island compared to its more distant neighbours.

As one of the UK's leading travel correspondents noted in an excellent piece on Solta in the Independent in 2010, the Lonely Planet Croatia guide devoted the same amount of space (16 lines) to cinemas in Dubrovnik, as it did to the whole of the island of Solta.

So why go to Solta at all?

If throbbing nightlife is your thing, there are other locations, but for natural beauty and an appreciation of the natural goodness and the slow pace of Dalmatian life, Solta is an excellent option for a short day trip from Split, or a longer relaxation. Foreigners are discovering the island, and several have bought property there and are living a relaxed retirement, with Split just across the water for all modern necessities and transport back to the UK and elsewhere.

For somewhere to enjoy and learn more about the natural products of Dalmatia, Solta is an ideal destination. The island is a leading quality producer of products such as olive oil and honey, and there are organised trips from the mainland, where one can learn more and see the process in action.

Olynthia Natura's olive oil mill in Gornje Selo is one such destination, and staff can show you round and you can learn all about the olive processing steps. Come in the autumn and experience the olive harvest first hand. Apart from being healthy and great fun, it is a fascinating insight into a Dalmatian tradition that has gone on for centuries.

Solta's rosemary honey is world famous, and the healthy natural climate is the perfect place for quality honey production. Why not make your learn more about the process and even make your own honey? Honey-making tours are available.

Solta is an island of natural goodness and, just as the view to Solta from Split is impressive, so too is the view back to the Dalmatian capital. What could be better than a few days in a natural paradise will one of Croatia's most vibrant cities on your doorstep?

 For more information about Solta, visit the Tourist Board website.

Discover Central Dalmatia with the Official Tourist Board Youtube Channel

As part of its concerted campaign to promote all aspects of tourism in the region, the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board recently launched a Youtube channel.

Over the coming weeks and months, there will be several videos added to the channel, where you can discover interesting aspects of this fascinating region. Although it was only launched recently, and currently has just three videos, the channel has already clocked up an impressive 230,000 views.



The first video, Hvar Timeline Stairs, documents the rich heritage of the island of Hvar over the ages, and features current Mayor, Pjerino Bebic.



Hvar Dynamic Postcard has been the most popular be far, with more than 170,000 views and many positive comments. Some information about the video:

Artist: Epic Soul Factory
Title: La búsqueda de Ianna
Year: 2011
Duration: 2 '39''
Country: Spain
Style: Instrumental music, orchestra, soundtrack, classic, epic atmosphere




The final video focuses on the rich history of one of the island's three UNESCO heritages - the Stari Grad Plain, which is the largest cultivated field on the Adriatic, and where farming practices have continued uninterrupted and relatively unchanged since the arrival of the Ancient Greeks in 385 BC. The concept for all the videos is based on an idea by Central Dalmatia Tourism Director Joško Stella.

Why not subscribed to the Central Dalmatia Youtube channel to receive all the latest updates? Subscribe here!

Discover the Wines of Dalmatia at Dalmacija Wine Expo in May

Plavac Mali grapes, such as these from the vineyards of  Caric in Svirce, are finding their way into bottles of wine all over the world.

The wines of Dalmatia are becoming increasingly well known on the international stage, and global interest in some of the 130 indigenous grape varieties of Croatia is increasing.

Wines from the region are now being exported to countries as far away as Canada and China, as more wine enthusiasts become interested in the 'new' wines from Croatia. There is nothing new about the wines, however, as the wine-making tradition in the region dates back several centuries BC.

Leading the pack in terms of interest is the noble Plavac Mali grape, a relation of the better-known Zinfandel, but other varieties such as Pošip are winning gold medals in international competition.

An increasingly important wine fair for the promotion of the wines of the region is Dalmacija Wine Expo in Makarska, which will this year be held on May 3 and 4, with a party of journalists from the event then heading to Hvar on May 5 to visit the island's wineries. In the words of the official Dalmacija Wine Expo website:

"Dalmatia Wine Expo will once again provide visitors with the opportunity to try the best wines and gastro specialties Dalmatia has to offer. Apart from the winemakers, exhibitors from other parts of Croatia and abroad will also participate in the Expo. Dalmatia Wine Expo has undoubtedly become a place where real wine and gastronomy lovers gather, offering a true overview of Dalmatian wine and gastro scene. This year’s festival will be the home of over 150 producers of wine, specialties and olive oil, some hundred representatives from top restaurants and hotels, culinary stars and numerous esteemed guests from the business, cultural and political world."

The Makarska fair has some influential and enthusiastic supporters:

“I salute the efforts of the organizers who, with their dedication and effort, managed to bring to life a significant enogastronomy event. Being acquainted with one of the leading enogastronomy festivals in Dalmatia, I have decided to become the patron of the festival.”
IVO JOSIPOVIĆ, President of the Republic of Croatia

“This festival is very significant to promoting the wine culture of Dalmatia.”
MIKE MILJENKO GRGICH, renown Californian-Croatian wineproducer

For more information, check out the official website (there is a section in English).

Authentic Dalmatian Tourism: Eco-Ethno Villages

Velo Grablje on Hvar, home of the annual lavender festival in June

Dalmatia is rightfully famous for its stunning coast, plethora of islands and fantastic beaches, but the region has a lot more to offer to the visitor interested in exploring more of the local traditions and culture.

With its picturesque stone villages and close affinity with the land, Dalmatia has some fascinating and truly unique customs and heritage, which local authorities are now trying to promote as an integral part of the regional tourism offer.

At the heart of this strategy is the rise of the eco-ethno village, where locals and tourists alike can appreciate the beauty of the past through the preservation and promotion of some of Dalmatia's hidden treasures.

The development of the eco-ethno villages concept is an important one for rural tourism in Croatia, and there are several important components at its core: the preservation of nature, architectural heritage, promotion of traditional Croatian products, the return of inhabitants to abandoned villages, the revival of traditional crafts and goods, the renovation of traditional Dalmatian stone houses, schools and churches.

The abandoned shepherd's village of Humac in central Hvar

The most developed villages for this type of tourism currently are on the island of Hvar, with the abandoned shepherd's village of Humac, 6km east of Jelsa, being the most striking example aesthetically. In terms of what has been happening in the almost abandoned village of Velo Grablje, however, progress has been impressive.

Once the centre of lavender production for all Dalmatia, the pretty village lies just a few kilometres from the glitz of Hvar Town, but it is a world away. Nowadays, there is a full-time population of just five people in Velo Grablje, a shadow of its glory years.

The younger generation from the village decided to do something to address the decline, and they formed an association (Udruga) called Pjover, with the stated aims of reviving the traditions and heritage of the village, with the lavender theme at its heart.



In a very short space of time, the transformation of the village has been impressive. This June will see the fifth Lavender Festival in the village, Croatia's most aromatic event and one which is attracting increasing international attention. Apart from celebrating the lavender itself (including a demonstration of the distilling process), there are many related events to village regeneration, such as dry stone walling and traditional methods for baking bread.

Such festivals and visits to authentic places are becoming increasingly popular with locals and tourists alike - unique events and locations in an increasingly globalised world.

The importance of eco-ethno village tourism was underlined at last year's GAST trade fair in Split, where there was a headline presentation on the subject, including a presentation from Central Dalmatia Tourism Board director Joško Stella, and this video presentation by Otok Hvar on the projects in Velo Grablje.



The full list of places involved in the eco-ethno village project is below:

1. Općina Baška VodaTopići
Bast

2. Općina Baška Voda
Topići

3. Grad Hvar
Zorače

4. Grad Hvar
Malo Grablje

5. Grad Hvar
Velo Grablje

6. Grad Hvar
Brusje

7. Općina Jelsa
Humac

8. Grad Komiža
Podhumlje

9. Grad Omiš
Tugare Ume

10. Grad Omiš
Čažin Dolac

11. Općina Postira
Dol

12. Općina Proložac
Gornji Proložac Podi

13. Grad Solin
Blace

14. Općina Šolta
Grohote

15. Grad Trilj
Podi Grab Bugar.

16. Grad Trilj Gornje Voštane i Grubišići

17. Grad Vrgorac
Kokorić

18. Grad Vrgorac
Veliki Godinj

19. Općina Zmijavci
Karoglani

20. Općina Bol
Murvica

21. Općina Podstrana
Gornja Podstrana

22. Grad Split
Lolić i Mijanovići

23. Općina Podstrana
Stara Podstrana

24. Općina Lećevica
Brdaci (Zec)

25. Općina Lećevica
Divojevići

26. Općina Lećevica
Radošić

27. Općina Prgomet
Botić-Opor

28. Općina Lokvičići
Naklo-tavnice

29. Općina Dugi Rat
Jesenice

30. Općina Dugi Rat
Duće

31. Grad Stari Grad
Mala Rudina
32. Općina Brela
Bekavci Kričak


33. Grad Trogir
Rušinovići (Drvenik Veliki)

34. Grad Trogir
Drvenik Veli (Kačine)
 

The Colourful Lakes of Imotski and the World's Most Unusual Football Pitch

Water is never far away from a typical holiday in Dalmatia, and with the region's stunning coastline, beaches and islands, the Adriatic Sea is by far its most popular water attraction. Look a little further, however, and discover some of the most popular day trips from places such as Split - Krka waterfalls and Plitvice Lakes.

Look a little further, a little more off the beaten track, and discover something truly magical and unique - the Red and Blue Lakes at Imotski. Imotski is a fascinating hilltop town close to the Bosnian border, about 90km and an hour and a half drive from Split, relatively undiscovered in a region full of surprises.

Where else in the world, for example, does a deep lake become a football pitch?



The Blue Lake (Modro Jezero) on the edge of town is a fascinating natural phenomenon of a lake with a depth of up to 147m (in 1914) which completely disappears in the summer, leaving a base dry enough so that the annual football match between the Elves and the Werewolves can take place on the flat lake basin on a dry, solid pitch.

The deep blue of the lake has its own magic, and it is guarded by a large crater which is up to 800 metres long and 500m2 wide. It is the natural swimming destination for the local people, a place to enjoy and respect nature.

As the summer wears on, the water level reduces and eventually becomes bone dry, at which point the lake is transformed into a stunning hiking destination with spectacular views all around. The depth of the lake from the upper rim is some 220m and a helpful hiking trail was built in 1907. To get a flavour of the dry lake, the video below filmed the football match at the bottom of Blue Lake.

The lake remains dry until the snow melting in the Spring, and the underwater springs begin to fill again, raising the level of the lake with its gorgeous blue.

In stark contrast to the fluctuating wet and dry spells of the Blue Lake, the Red Lake has an entirely different feel and history.

The first recorded description of the Red Lake is attributed to the Venitian military commander, Ivan Zuane Franceschi  in a letter to a friend, after the liberation of Imotski from Turks in 1717:

I think I was more terrified and impressed when I saw the second abyss (first, was Blue Lake, auth. Remark). On, almost flat top of the hill, in living stone, as if the hand of an artist carved a big circle, with sound of hammer and chisel, and dug it vertically like some very deep well. Crater has more then half a mile in circumference, it is cut downright in volume with no bottom. It is a red stone, with no bush or sprig to give comfort to these dreadful cliffs. When you see these chasms, you ask yourself in fear; how did they become? Were they made like this from their first creation, or is it some underground volcano, now at rest, with its mouth wide-open spewing lava and underground rocks? (La Dalmazia, 1846, no. 10)

According to local legend, Gavan's estate collapsed into the lake after an angel - dressed as a beggar - warned Gavan's wife about righteousness and charity, to be met with the reply:

“I don’t have need for your God, while I have my Gavan!”, and refused to give him alms. At that moment, the ground shook, and Gavan and his estate fell in the abyss. The abyss filled with water and the howling of evil supernatural beings can still be heard today. The legend was recorded in 1937 by Friar Silvestar Kutleša, and there are local folk songs related to the event.

A more scientific explanation for the appearance of the lake is attributed to the collapsing of underground water caves in a region which suffers from occasional earthquakes. The first geological research of the lake was conducted in 1937 by Academic Josip Roglić, but it was not until the 1950s when Milivoj Petrik discovered the lowest part of the lake at just 4.1m above sea level, and the highest point at 274.5m. It is one of the deepest speleological caves in the world, of Dinarides karst, and was placed under protection in 1964.

Both lakes are stunning natural attractions, and just some of the surprises which await the visitor interesting in exploring inland Dalmatia. There is plenty more to discover in the Imotski region, just a short distance from the coast and a world away from the crowds. Why not find out for yourself, starting with the Imotski Tourist Board website?