The city of Split has been awarded again, as in last eight years, three blue flags for quality and clean beaches and marinas. One of the blue flag is awarded for ACI marina in Split, second one for beach at Hotel “Split” and third blue flag has been awarded for beach ” Bacvice” too.

To get an exclusive eco-label Blue Flag beaches or marinas has to satisfy twenty two criteria covering ecological, educational, security and service standards. For 2006 Croatia has been awarded by 103 Blue Flags for various beaches and 19 Blue Flags for it’s marinas.

The Blue Flag is an exclusive eco-label awarded to over 3100 beaches and marinas in 36 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean in 2006. The Blue Flag Programme is owned and run by the independent non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches/marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.

The Blue Flag Programme includes environmental education and information for the public, decision makers and tourism operators. More info about Blue Flag project: blueflag.org – Blue Flag -Copenhagen – Denmark.

The largest tourist region of Dalmatia was part of the greatest city of Split, which includes only one, Split-Dalmatia County. This is the center and the right to the heart of Dalmatia, where he lives most of its inhabitants, with the main Dalmatian islands and the most beautiful beaches. There is also the most valuable monuments of culture and two from a total of five Croatian sites get World heritage of UNESCO’s – historical center of Split with Diocletian’s Palace and the historic city of Trogir. If the Dalmatia, as many say, the real true Mediterranean, it is just the central part of Split, a heart in the Mediterranean.

Split Dalmatia shared part of the historical fate of the other parts of Dalmatia, but the very central position and a large hinterland protection was somewhat less exposed to the devastation in neighboring regions. Because of this, there lives so many people and particularly well-preserved primeval Mediterranean spirit. This particularly applies to the city of Split, Zagreb, after the largest city of Croatia and its main cultural center. In the vicinity of Split and other large coastal towns of Dalmatia, Trogir and Omis, while further south, offers picturesque Makarska Riviera. Split ranked ahead of the one to the other almost all the large Dalmatian islands – Brac, Solta, Ciovo, Hvar, Vis, and to Split focused a large portion of the interior of Dalmatia with Sinj, Imotski, Vrlika, Vrgorac.

Although all of these areas rich in cultural heritage from prehistoric times to recent times, what the central part of Dalmatia, makes the special is very well preserved ancient heritage. There are two most important ancient towns of Dalmatia – the Ancient Roman Issa and Salon and the largest ancient pearl of Croatia – the heart of the town – Diocletian’s Palace.

Famous Split song that says that the Roman emperor Diocletian built his palace on the “the most beautiful place in world, however much in center of Split” and not far from the truth. This is the Roman emperor at the end of 3rd century to his palace chose a secure and quiet bay at the foot of wooded Marjan hill in front of the islands provide a beautiful than the other and with you today and run through the water. It is a regular, almost square with the basic pages long about 200 meters in the time of Diocletian surrounded by high walls. How is this position was worth, says the fact that the area from then until today, almost constantly inhabited and there is still the center of life, the biggest Dalmatian town.

Today the Cathedral of St. Dujam, the city, from the 7th century is in the mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian, who was due to this function a valuable religious inventory in the interior. Before its entrance in the 12th century, was built in the Romanesque bell tower velebni. Its luxurious interior and is a place of gathering of the faithful, as well as the numerous tourists. In front of the cathedral is Peristil, once a space of expression adorable Diocletian, a day of gathering the faithful and tourists.

In Diocletian’s palace is today theatrical events take place, together Dalmatian singing klapa, this runs the daily life of Split. In the vicinity are famous monuments and Croats as the protector of the Croatian language, Bishop Gregory of Nin, and “father of Croatian literature” Marko Marulic. From here, it may come out through the four doors – Iron, Gold, Silver, which lead to the Split Square and through the Brass door through which one of the palace of water the Riva. There is, along the coast, most popular promenade and gathering place for Split and their guests.

Many valuable monuments of culture located outside the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. Among them a special place with Prokurative, neo-Renaissance Square along the Western edge of the palace. There has been taking place Festival of Dalmatian chanson that glorifies love Split by a beautiful song. In Split and other beautiful palaces and churches, and on the hill Marjan, the green lungs of town.

Many valuable monuments of culture located outside the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. Among them a special place with Prokurative, neo-Renaissance Square along the Western edge of the palace. There has been taking place Festival of Dalmatian chanson that glorifies love Split by a beautiful song. In Split and other beautiful palaces and churches, and on the hill Marjan, the green lungs of town.

Split is known as the City Museum. Among them special place is the Museum of Croatian archaeological monuments, which contain the most valuable remnants of the material and spiritual culture of the Croats, especially from the time of the early medieval Croatian state of IX. to XII. century. Split is also the most important of the three galleries dedicated to the greatest Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. In Split and many art galleries, and many valuable paintings and Museum preserves the city of Split.

The importance of Split as the largest Croatian coastal city and the third largest passenger port in the Mediterranean says the wealth of the maritime museum in Split. The museum has a number of models of ships which have sailed the seas of the various early Middle Ages and times of great sailing ships to modern periods. It is particularly rich part of the museum, which deals with military navy 19th and 20 century, and in front of the museum is the spacious outdoor area where you can see the original fleet.

Split has become the capital of Dalmatia after WWI, when the earlier capital city of Zadar it under the provisional Italian administration. The center of Dalmatia, in ancient times was Salona whose ruins are located near the city of Split, or in today’s Solin. Ancient salon was great metropolis of the Roman province of Dalmatia, which is then included space on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea is greater than the whole of today’s Croatia.

The importance of speaking Salone large ruins, which are often real surprise visitors with regard to the location in the mainly industrial suburb of Split. Somewhere to see the entire floor plan of individual buildings and arches preserved Roman palace of the former. However, most of the findings from the Salone stored in the most valuable among splitskim Museums – Archaeological Museum, the oldest Croatian Museum, founded in 1820. year.

The museum building was adorned by an attractive atrium, and the harmonious order of the interior
150 000 different exhibits. Apart from the sites of Salona and other Roman sites there and a lot of items from starogr?kog and ranosrednjovjekovnog period. Among the layouts are noted for their collection of ancient sarcophagi, stone sculptures, ancient clay lamps, and Roman glass, bone and metal, and precious stones.

Along the coast of Bay of Kastela, where there are Split and antique Salona is another great pearl of Croatia’s cultural heritage is protected as part of the World Heritage of UNESCO’s – Historic city of Trogir. It is located on an island between the mainland and the island of Ciovo which is connected by bridges, and kept almost unchanged appearance since the Middle Ages. What is special Trogir is the continuity of his existence since the time the old Greeks, so that in him one to the other monuments are located in the Hellenistic Age, ancient Rome, the early Middle Ages and late Middle Ages.

The most important historical monument in the Trogir Cathedral, St. Lawrence, was built from 13 to 15 century. Known for its impressive Romanesque portal, which was built by master Radovan and monumental altar with ciborium. In the northern nave church was built in the chapel of John bl Ursinija from 15th century, the luxurious plastic on the walls and the ceiling is considered a highlight of Renaissance architecture and sculpture in Dalmatia. Next to the cathedral is the town loggia from the 15th century, and the same time deriving tower Kamerlengo the west end of town, sung in melodioznim Trogir songs.

The largest part of the findings from the rich history of Trogir is included in the Museum of Trogir in the palace Garagnin – Fanfogna. The museum highlights the valuable painting and sculptural works, and has a well-equipped library. Valuable collection of highlights and female Benedictine monastery of Saint Nicholas from the 11th century. His most important exhibit, and a symbol of the city of Trogir is a Greek relief with the figure of Kairos, the god of opportunity in the 3rd century BC.

The immediate surroundings of Trogir also has many well-preserved monuments of culture. Among them a special place with a mill from the 16th century on the site Pantana, not far from Split airport and the tower from the 15th century in the town marina.

Starting with the coast of Dalmatia Split according to central islands, and it will meet plenty of ancient and medieval monuments, and lush green landscapes and picturesque towns and villages. Among these islands has a special place Hvar, which is well-known American magazine “Traveler” declared one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. On the beauty of most visitors are attracted to the capital city of Hvar, framed by the powerful medieval walls. With its fortress Spanjol high above the city there are magnificent views to the green Pakleni islands and open the open sea.

The island of Hvar is also known by ager Old Town, a former antique Pharosa, dividing up of land plots in their fields preserved from Hellenist times. Has on the island of Hvar, and many picturesque villages preserved the old architecture such as the Velo Grablje, numerous churches and small chapels. Small museums in the city suburbs island of Hvar and Stari Grad hide very valuable works of art. One of the most important among them is The Last Supper in the refectory of Franciscan monastery in Hvar from the 15th century. Tourists of the city of most of the time like spending on the main square in front of the cathedral and next to the old Arsenal, and the oldest Croatian theater. I am pleased to visit a monastery of Benedictine nuns, known for creating unique lace from agave fibers.

And once the main settlement of the island of Old Town, the successor of the Greek Pharosa after which the whole island got its name, features a rich cultural heritage. In the local museum, there is a special collection dedicated to ancient Pharos, maritime and ethnographic collection and the gallery, “George Plancic”. The most valuable part of the cultural heritage of Old Town is Tvrdalj, fortified Renaissance castle from the beginning of 16th century which was built and it stayed and created a great Croatian poet Petar Hektorovic. Slikovitoš?u are the other parts of the island, which is adorned with lavender fields, old, and Dry Stone shepherds. Resort Jelsa out the Renaissance-baroque square of St. John, while Vrboska known by a single church-fortress of St. Mary of Mercy from the 16th century.

The most important cultural monument of the island of Brac is Blaca desert, which are in the 15 century, deep in the mountains built a Croatian Glagolitic monks. The monastery is out mistic contemplative atmosphere, the old observatory and a museum collection. And the main island municipal museum is located in the interior of the island brdovitoj in the old tower in the picturesque village Skrip. Brac attract visitors and impressive churches, steeples of white stone from Bra?. Most among them is a bell tower in a small village in the 19th Lozisca century, the work of Croatian sculptor Ivan Rendic. The whiteness of the Brac stone adorned and attractive museum in the family Petrinovi? largest settlement Brac Supetar.

One of the largest middle island of VIS in the midst of the open sea is well known for its most valuable Hellenistic site in Croatia, but also by primordial Mediterranean atmosphere and crystal clear sea along the coast of their two cities and Visa Komiza. This is partly contributed to isolation of this island until 1991. year because of his role of military bases at the time of communist Yugoslavia in him could not stay strangers.

Authenticity is especially meaningful for Komiža in the south of the island, which dominates the picturesque center tower Grimaldi. The most important Komiza church of St. Nicholas rises above the city, which provides magnificent views towards the open sea and the most remote Adriatic islands Bisevo, St. Andrew and Palagruza. Even the beautiful view from another church over Komiza. More about Komiza is always rich in fish, which is why she is known as one of the main fishing centers of the Adriatic. Has a special fishing museum, and its fish restaurants are noted for their special atmosphere.

Vis town on the northern side of the island is located in a beautiful quiet bay and is the happy boaters docked. And Vis adorn the old church and harmonious stone houses, are there in the 4th century BC found the most important city in Dalmatia, the Greek colony of Issa. Findings from the Issa were stored in Arheološkome museum in the island known for its large collection of ancient amphorae and other ceramics. Its most famous exhibit, and a symbol of Visa’s bronze head of the Greek goddess Artemis.

With Vis as an important strategic point of the Mediterranean in 1866. held in one of the largest naval battles between the Hapsburgs and the Italian Navy, in memory of that day held anniversary. Vis Island had an important role in the Second World War, because it is in a cave in the interior of the island in 1944. he was the supreme headquarters located partisan army under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito.

And in the end times by the middle of Dalmatia’s time to peek in karstic interior, Dalmatian Hinterland, homeland proud mountaineer and a warrior, famous for keeping the old customs. The most famous usage is Croatian knight game carousel ring. It is every year in August, running in the greatest city of Dalmatian Zagora Sinju on anniversary of battle of 1715. year, when 500 Croatian soldiers in the attack refused Sinja 60 000 Turkish troops.

In this tender knight rider dressed in traditional costumes Alkars on horseback in full race tries to spear in three attempts to hit the center of a small Iron Circle “Alka” and collect the most points for victory. And second Alka participants dressed in traditional costumes, and traditional costumes are preserved and girls Sinja and surrounding areas. Except by alki, Sinj is known for its pilgrimage Miraculous Lady of Sinj as capital of Dalmatia, and has a fascinating museum.

Neighborhood Sinja has many archaeological finds from ancient and early medieval times, a specificity give Stecci – distinctive medieval mortuary monuments. On the way from Sinj Split is located and the most impressive monument of Dalmatian Zagora – a great fortress of Klis, known for its battles with the Turks in the 16th century. With its still-preserved walls and towers is one of the most beautiful views in the city of Split. Monumental fortress ornamented and second most important city Dalmatinska zagora Imotski below which offers magnificent Blue Lake.

The largest and highest Dalmatian island of Brac with so many ancient monuments as Hvar, but he attracts the attention of visitors magnificent views, beautiful beaches and the whiteness of their stone houses. From ancient Brac stone quarry comes from whom it was built a large number of palace in Dalmatia, Venice and part of the White House in Washington. The inhabitants of Brac is known by a peculiar character, which is indicated by creating monuments to people who have something special dirnuli. Thus, in the village of Selce, there are monuments of Pope John Paul II., German politican Hans Dietrich Genscher and Russian writer lav Tolstoj.

Split is an important transport centre for Dalmatia and the wider region. In addition to the Zagreb-Split motorway (A1), all the road traffic along the Adriatic coast on the route Zadar–Dubrovnik flows through the city. The city also has an impressive series of expressways and avenues, enabling efficient, fast transit by car around the city and its suburbs.

The Split Suburban Rail netwrok opened in early December 2006. It currently has one line, running from Split-Harbour to Kaštel Stari, but is being revamped with brand-new stations and reconstruction of existing ones. The line is expected to get a 2nd track and be fully electrified starting in 2008.
New, low-floor trains are expected as well. This line will also be lengthened, to encompass the aforementioned Split International Airport and continue on to the city of Trogir and Seget Donji. Split has a mini-metro that is to be operational by 2009.

Croatian tourism is back on its feet after the war a decade ago. One popular gateway to Croatia is the city of Split in Central Dalmatia, the heart of which is synonymous with an incredible Roman palace.

Diocletian, Roman Emperor and a passionate builder, created the vast palace for his own retirement, suitable for a man considering himself the god Jupiter’s representative on Earth. His deceased body disappeared at some point in history, presumably a supernatural act of an immortal half-god: himself. In this particular story, Diocletian reappears to see how his palace in Split has stood up to 1700 years of wear and tear.

On his retina, Diocletian has the image of a glorious rectangular structure measuring 215 by 180 meters, containing imperial apartments, temples, a mausoleum and quarters for servants and soldiers, with 16 fortifications on its defensive walls. His eyes are straining to adjust themselves to today’s patchwork of red-roofed buildings in all shapes and sizes, spreading along the sea onto the green Marjan peninsula in the west and terminated in the background by high-rise blocks against the bluish Dinaric Mountains.

Remains of former glory are very visible. Those who arrive by ferry and then walk to the center have the eastern and southern walls right in front. The south side faces the harbor promenade – the famous Riva, lined with cafés, waving palms and white benches, undisturbed by cars. Diocletian’s private quarters once faced this way. To his amusement, he sees how people made the old arches and columns part of their houses; now framing balconies and hung with washing.

Three elderly gentlemen, so well-dressed that one of them brought a piece of cardboard to sit on, are chatting on a bench. Diocletian joins them to be updated about basic historic facts. He learns that in 615 AD, refugees from nearby Salona, a Roman settlement supposed to be Diocletian’s birthplace, sought protection in the abandoned palace, which gradually developed into a medieval town. Ironically, the first settlers brought with them the bones of St Domnius, former bishop of Salona, whom Diocletian had beheaded for his Christian faith.

Peristyle
Proud that his palace has been appointed a World Heritage site by Unesco, Diocletian rushes to enter it. Crossing the Riva to reach the Bronze Gate, he is faced by an even more precious metal: jewelry in pure gold shining in one shop window after another. That inspires him to look for Roman coins imprinted with his own portrait; they seem to be out of use, though. There is more finery inside where little stalls for handmade souvenirs occupy the low passage to the square of Peristyle.

Diocletian is more attracted by the halls to the left and right, Podrum, referred to as his cellars. Actually, they are the substructure carrying the palace. In the labyrinth of vaulted rooms, Christians were locked up and punished until renouncing their faith and accepting the Emperor as their only deity. Podrum is also frequented by Christians nowadays, organized in tourist groups with guides calling out loudly in French or Italian. Diocletian is tempted to raise his voice to tell the true and painful version of what happened here, but he chooses not to.

The Peristyle, dark with patina, was the central meeting place, both for the residents and for two colonnaded streets, one traversing the palace from south to north, the other from west to east. Diocletian ascends the stairs on the south side, then disappears between the columns into the domed Vestibule, once the entrance to his private quarters. He dwells a minute at the columns, for this is where he made his seldom appearances, dressed in a silk toga and with his worshippers kneeling and prostrating themselves before him. Spectacular performances still occur at the Peristyle, in the form of opera and theater.

A black Egyptian sphinx holds its head high while guarding Diocletian’s Mausoleum on the eastern side, today the Cathedral of Split. They are marking its 1700th anniversary, forgetting that the octagonal building did not become a church until the 7th century, dedicated to the beheaded Bishop Domnius. Diocletian’s body used to rest in the center of its circular interior, surrounded by columns carrying a dome to symbolize his divine nature. To his joy, there are still relief portraits of himself and his wife Prisca beneath the cupola. On the opposite side of the Peristyle, Diocletian finds a temple more suited to his taste; the Temple of Jupiter.

New Disciples
Diocletian turns eastwards to the Silver Gate, beyond which the fruit and vegetable market, Pazar, creates a colorful contrast to the dark Peristyle. It takes him by surprise how complete the eastern palace wall is, and he decides to follow it northwards to the main entrance, Golden Gate in the northern wall, the most monumental of the four gates. Right outside, he is confronted with another bishop, cast in bronze; Gregory of Nin, whose left big toe has become a good luck charm that everybody wants to touch, except Diocletian.

Inside the walls, a sign points to the City Museum, housed in the smaller Papalic Palace, which Diocletian would not mind making his own home. It is built in the Venetian Gothic style with a courtyard surrounded by a loggia and with an outdoor staircase to the first floor, where the lifestyle of the aristocratic Papalic family unveils like it was in the 15th century, although it looks quite modern to Diocletian’s mind.

Back at the Peristyle, the Emperor climbs the Cathedral’s bell tower, and standing 60 meters above the ground, he knows he picked the perfect location for his palace; a beautiful bay protected by mountains and elongated islands. That is of course the reason why it has developed into a modern city of 200,000 inhabitants. He spots a square just outside the western gate, the Iron Gate, crowded with people and canopies in bright colors. It turns out to be Narodni Trg or People’s Square, also known as Pjaca, the most beloved square in Split.

In a fine old coffee house right on the Pjaca, Gradska Kavana, Diocletian contemplates his own near future. The cost of living in Croatia is higher than expected, so he needs to find employment. At the Peristyle, he did notice a place called the Tourist Guides Office. He should perhaps go there to apply for a guide job. After all, he must be top qualified when it comes to making history alive, and it would suit him quite well to stride along followed by a flock of disciples rejoicing in his wisdom.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia, with just under 200,000 inhabitants, and is the largest city on the Adriatic coast. Emerging from a Greek settlement founded between the 3rd and 4th centuries, the height of Split’s history came in 295 AD when Roman emperor Diocletian ordered a residence to be built there for his retirement. It took ten years to build this magnificent palace and Diocletian lived there until his death in 313 AD. After that, many Roman rulers continued to use it as a retreat. In the 7th century, when the Roman colony of Salona was abandoned, many of its inhabitants sought sanctuary behind the palace’s high walls and their descendants lived there until the present day.

The city enjoyed a good degree of autonomy between the 12th and 14th centuries before it was conquered by the Venetians in 1420. After the fall of Venetian rule in 1797, Split was ruled by the Austrians, and briefly by the French, before becoming part of the Yugoslavia that was formed in 1918. Much of its development occurred after 1920 when Zadar, Dalmatia’s official capital, became an Italian enclave. In 1941, the city was occupied by the Italians and a very strong resistance movement soon evolved and the city was first liberated in 1943, after the capitulation of Italy, and then finally in October of 1944 when the first people’s government of Croatia was formed.

Split is not only an urban, cultural and traffic centre of Dalmatia with road and sea connections to Dalmatia’s numerous summer resorts, but it is itself often a tourist and excursionists destination. A city with a 1700-year old tradition, a variety of archaeological, historical and cultural monuments, among which the well-known Palace of Diocletian . Split has a variety of restaurants and wine cellars, offering domestic specialities. There are many beaches and public beaches in the city and its surroundings, the most popular of them being Bacvice, a sand beach almost in the very heart of the town. City Split The cultural and entertainment offer of Split is extremely rich, particularly in the summer, when the city squares, yards and other areas turn into a large open-air stage. The Split Summer, a traditional festival in the middle of the summer season, includes dramas, operas and concerts. Split has several theatres, among which the Croatian National Theatre, established in 1893, deserves a special mention as a house hosting theatrical festivals, the Split Summer and the Days of Marulic. There is also the Youth Theatre, and the Split Puppet Theatre. Split has four marinas: City SplitSplit ACI Marina in the north-western part of the City Port the sports boats pier Spinut on the northern coast of Marjan the sports boats

marina Poljud in the Poljud Port the sports boat pier Zenta on the eastern coast of Split .

The City Port of Split in the centre of the city is used only for passenger and ferry traffic. So to conclude City split offers all what a big city has to offer but it also kept its soul and essence. Unlike some other tourist destinations. If you visit city Split remember it is a city of history, culture, and tradition but it is also a city of fun party’s and great nigh life.