Construction Starts on Huge Water Park in Dalmatia

Few places have seen as much change in Dalmatia over the last ten years as Dugopolje. Once a small sleepy town, the arrival of the motorway from Zagreb changed the fortunes of the town forever. As the closest point to Split from the motorway, there has been a surge in traffic. Just as significant is the huge out of town shopping complexes which have sprung up, and maybe people looking to shop in Split head out to the big stores by the motorway.

Work started this week on another project, and quite a cool one. Covering some 120,000m2, the Dalmatia Water Park will have some 14 slides from heights up to 12 metres, and provide employment for up to 150 people. The initial investment will be 220 million kuna, with another 80 million earmarked once the first phase of construction is completed in mid-2015. Central Dalmatia Tourist Board director Josko Stella told news portal Dalje that the water park would be the biggest tourism project in Croatia next year. 

In a sign of the more international world Croatia is about to enter on July 1, the investor is the Hungarian government via the Hungarian Investment Bank, and the company Margaritum doo who will constuct the park has its roots in Luxemburg, while a Turkish company Polin will provide the equipment for the park.

Lots of cool pictures of how the park will look. Check them out here.  

Celebrate Dalmatia's Heritage and Traditions This Friday in Split

Looking to enjoy a little Dalmatian culture and tradition? Split is the place to be on Friday from 1930, as a major fair celebrating the traditions, heritage, culture and indigenous products of the region will take place, an event supported by the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board..

It all begins at 1930 at Prokurative, and there will be something for everyone - see the programme below in Croatian (which will be updated with an English version shortly). 

Planning a Dalmatian Beach Holiday: Check the Sea Temperature Online

With swimming in the sea and lying on the beach an integral part of most holidays to Dalmatia, it would be useful to know the sea and air temperatures for your proposed stay. Additional information about facilities available at each beach, and an aerial map which you could zoom in and out to check the local area, would also be welcome.

You can have all this and more, with an excellent service provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which monitors the conditions of many of Croatia's beaches throughout the season, including several in Split.

Ministry officials visit the beaches every fortnight from May to September, and record information about the beach's cleanliness and condition, as well as the air and sea temperature. All these results are posted online integrated into a map which you can use to search for your ideal beach in Dalmatia.

So what are you waiting for? Get surfing and check out the sea temperatures from May to September 2012, as a guide to what awaits you for your 2013 holiday. Click here!

Croatian Gastro Vignette Opens in Diocletian's Palace

As part of its commitment to promote eco-ethno tourism and indigenous products, the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board is among the sponsors support the Croatian Gastro Vignette, which is taking place from May 30 to June 2 in the basement of Diocletian's Palace in Split.

Entrance is free, and there is an impressive array of products for sampling, including olives, cheese, prsut, wines, liqueurs, fish products, souvenirs and hand made products. If you are looking for a taste of traditional Dalmatia in a historic setting, this is the place to be...

Adventure Dalmatia: Take Part in the Cetina Adventure Race

Dalmatia is an adventure sporting paradise. With the Adriatic Sea, mighty Cetina River, moutains and wide open spaces, there is plenty to choose from for the adrenaline rush.

With not pit your body against the ultimate challenge - the third Cetina Adventure Race on June 8? In the words of the excellent Sinj Tourist Board:

"3rd CETINA ADVENTURE RACE 2013

The starting point of the race is near the Youth Centre in Sinj (disco club Piccadilly) at 06:00, and the deadline to finish is at 19:00 also near the Youth Centre. So you have a total of 13 hours to finish the 3rd Cetina Adventure race. The race will start with the MTB - around 50 km, and after MTB's comes kayaking - around 18 km, after the kayakimg comes trekking - around 26th km and the last discipline is canyoning - around 6 km.

The path is very interesting and not too challenging, but very long, checkpoints are plotted in the 5 topographic maps that you will receive during the briefing on the Friday June 7 at 19:00 (the exact meeting location will be announced by our administrator on the Facebook Cetina Adventure).

At the briefing, you will receive T-shirts, team numbers and maps and directions. A race director will explain in detail everything about the race and behaviour during the race. The race has a total of 7 control points, on each of them live controls will await you with water, juice, food, etc.

On the checkpoint where you leave your bikes do not worry because we have organized transportation of your bikes to the finishing line where they will wait for you.

During the race you will have a task that is secret until the briefing day and all teams have to perform it.

Regarding kayaking, you will have identical boats with equipment (paddles and vests) and they are all the same except for two or three - difference in color.

Through canyoning is prohibited to jump, competitors will have the opportunity to go down in a diaper like last year or to bring their own belts and descend by abseil - it is your decision.

Competitors are required to have mandatory equipment: (equipment will be controlled at the start of the race)

1 MTB for both parties, if someone can not get mountain bike can ride a bike trek. (Max. 1 per team) with min tread width 2.0 and the largest distance is 30 meters between competitors in the same team. Racing bike is forbidden.

2 Headlamp or hand lamp that works correctly

3 First aid, min 1 per team, or at least patch and one compression bandage if you do not have pack of hiking first aid.

4 Map of the race with instructions.

5 Helmets (which you will get at the start) you should have it during cycling, kayak and canyoning. Please return it after the race.

6 Spare shoes "who wants to" after the canyoning. "

Mob: +385 98 601 533 (Petar Mandac)
Email: adventure.cetina@gmail.com
Date: 08 Jun 2013

One team consists of two people.

For a taster of what is in store, check out last year's event in the video below.

Pučišća on Brač Named in Top 15 Prettiest Villages in Europe

Some global recognition for one of Central Dalmatia's prettiest towns today, as Pučišća on Brač was named by travel site Global Grasshopper in its article 15 of the prettiest villages in Europe for travel snobs. The article said of Pučišća:

Pučišća is a small and gorgeous harbour town located on the northern coast of the island of Brač. Sheltered by a protective cove and filled with attractive Mediterranean style white and terracotta houses, this kind of place is the reason why Croatia is such a popular travel destination.

As the article states, Pučišća is just one such beautiful town, and the island of Brač alone has several other stunning coastal towns, including Milna, Sutivan, Supetar, Splitska, Postira, Povlja and Bol.

Why not take a video tour of Pučišća below and discover its beauty for yourself?

   

The Undiscovered Dalmatian Hinterland: Visit Vrlika

Just 44 miles north of Split lies the pretty and peaceful town of Vrlika, as different to the bustling Dalmatian capital as is imaginable, and one more example of the diversity and richness of the choices on offer to holidaymakers coming to Central Dalmatia.

Situated an hour's drive north of Split on the old road to Zagreb, Vrlika is an ideal day trip to escape the crowds and get a taste of the real Dalmatian hinterland, while enjoying some of its breathtaking scenery.

With less than 1000 people live in Vrlika today, the town has extraordinary heritage, with evidence of human habitation dating back some 30,000 years. First mentioned in written records in 1069, Vrlika has had a turbulent history, with much of it under occupation by, among others, the Ottomans and Venetians, and its proximity to the source of the Cetina and its fortresses is one of the nearby heritage attractions. Don't miss also the oldest bell tower in Croatia, dating back to the ninth century.



Vrlika is famous for its traditional costumes, which are regarded as among the top ethnographical treasures in the country, and the local population do not need much of an excuse to get dressed up. For an additional treat, check out the traditional dance and music provided by the Vrlicko Kolo - see the video below for an example.


It is impossible to escape the natural beauties and adventure tourism opportunities in and around Vrlika. Nearby Perucko Lake, gateway to the mighty Cetina, for example, is a natural paradise, and an ideal destination for various water sports such as rowing and sailing, as well as fishing, while the wide open spaces and mountainous terrain bring their own activity possibilities.

And all this just 44 miles from Split... To learn more about Vrlika, visit the town's website here.