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Sailing the Croatian Islands

Kornati

The archipelago consisting of 147 islands, islets and reefs, named after the biggest island Kornati. Mostly built of chalk lime-stone,  there are no springs or other sources of water. Most of the island is covered with sparse grass, and the sea around them is full of fish. Many bays on the islands can serve as protection for small ships. In recent times there are no permanent settlements. Kornati were declared a national park in 1980.

 On the hill Toreta, there are discoveries from the Roman times, and under it are the remains of the early Catholic church. On the hill itself is the square tower from the beginning of the Middle Ages, while on several spots on Kornati are traces of mostly Medieval settlements.

Kirka
Close to Šibenik is the estuary of the river krka. Along the 72 km long path from its spring under the mountain Dinara to the sea the Krka flows forming many waterfalls. With its seven plaster waterfalls: Biluši¥a buk (22 m), Škori¥a buk or Brijan (15 m), Manojlova¥ki slapovi (a row of waterfalls 60 m high, with the main step of 32 m), Rošnjak (8 m), Miljacka slap (26 m) and Skradinski buk (17 steps, 46 m high), and its total difference in altitude of 242 m, the Krka represents natural, Karst phenomenon, so this territory is under protection as a national park since 1985. Its total area is 111 km2 by the river, or more precisely 2 km downstream of Knin, and the lower part of the ¥ikola river. This territory is characterized with especially abundant flora and fauna. There are 860 species and subspecies of plants, among which there are also Illyric-Adriatic andemic ones. In the Krka there are 18 species of fish, 10 of them endemic.  There are numerous traces old ancient settlements, as well as historical and cultural monuments.  On the waterfalls Roški slap and Skradinski buk are numerous mills that have historical and cultural importance as monuments of the rural architecture and economic history.

Vodice and Zirje
The settlement and the port are situated near a shallow bay. The occupations of Vodice are agriculture, fishing and tourism, helped by nice beaches and rich vegetation. 

 Of the ancient wall, only one tower is still preserved. The parish church from the 18th century has the baroque bell and one painting of the Holy Family. In the 17th century a small church of the Holy Cross (Sveti Kri¥) was built on the graveyard.
The island of  Zirje15.4 km2. It is covered by underbrush, and the coast is indented with a lot of bays. The only settlement is ¥irje, by road connected to the bay Muna where is a pier.

Primosten and Trogir
The settlement and the port of Primosten are situated on the small peninsula, protected from the northern winds. The main occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture, wine-growing , fishing and tourism.   The parish church of Saint Juraj was restored in 1760. The church of Saint Martin from the Middle Ages was preserved in a hamlet Kruševo.
TROGIR: The town and the port, is the older part  which is situated on the islet. By a stone bridge it is connected with the mainland, and with ¥iovo with what used to be a suspension bridge.    The old core of the town, on the islet, was built in the period between 13th and 15th century and recognized by UNESCO. Trogir used to be one of the most prominent centers of Dalmatia.   The picturesque streets, where several pretty palaces are situated, lead to the square Narodni trg, on which northern side is a three-nave cathedral of Saint Lovro (13th-15th century), one of the nicest examples of the Romanesque and Gothic Architecture in Croatia. The main entrance, the portal by master Radovan, is a superb work of Romanesque plastic, that dates from 1240. Inside the forecourt is the baptistery from the 15th century, and in the cathedral the octagonal stone pulpit from the 13th century, the Gothic sarcophagus, Gothic chorus benches, the collection of paintings by old masters, and the rich treasury of church clothing and pottery. In the northern nave is the chapel of the Blessed Ivan Ursini, the work of Nikola Firentinac from the 15th century, the nicest monument of the Renaissance in Dalmatia. On the top of the bell-tower are the sculptures of the four evangelists. The tower is a good example of mixed architectural styles in Dalmatia because every level is done in a different style - from the Romanesque and heavily decorated Gothic, to the Renaissance.   On the southern side of the square is the city loggia from the 15th century and the city tower with the clock. The three-nave early-medieval little church of Saint Barbara from the 11th century is the oldest church in Trogir preserved in its original form.   On the western side of the square is the palace Cipiko, that consists of the big and the small palace separated by the street. On the coast is the Romanesque church of Saint John the Baptist (Sveti Ivan Krstitelj) from the 13th century in which the vault of the Cipiko family is, the Renaissance city doors and the Benedictine nunnery founded in 1064. Further down the coast is the stone pillar for the flag from the 17th century, and the Renaissance palace Lu¥i¥. To the west from the palace is a monastery and the church of Saint Dominik, one-nave Gothic church from the 14th century.   On the south-western part of the islet is the castle Kamerlengo, built around 1420, and it acquired its present form in the 15th century. At present it is used as the theatre in the open. To the north of it is the round tower of Saint Marko from the 15th century. The relief of the Holy Father is on the city graveyard.

Split and Solta
The town and the port of Split is situated on the peninsula. On the western part of the peninsula is the mountain Marjan covered with planted forest. The climate is Mediterranean, and the vegetation evergreen and Mediterranean, and even the sub-tropical vegetation, like palm-trees, agaves and cactuses. In the west part of the town, on the little square, is the monastery and the church of Saint Frano, and beside in the Gothic Klaustar (cloister). On the slopes of Marjan Veli Varoš is situated - a thick cluster of streets and picturesque environment. Here is the church of Saint Nikola from the 12th century, and nearby is the parish church of the Holy Cross (Sveti Križ) with the baroque bell-tower. Up the slopes of Marjan is the little church of Saint Nikola from the 13th century, and to the right from it is the Museum of Natural History, and from there the path leads to the top of Marjan. Downhill to the west is the little church of Saint Jerolim (15th century), by which is a former cave. On the little peninsula Sustipan is a graveyard that originattes from the 19th century. The road to the west leads to the little castle (kaštelet) of the Meštrovi¥ family, inside which is the chapel with a collection of wooden relieves by Ivan Meštrovi¥. 

The island of Solta is 57 km2, 9 km long and 3 km wide. The climate, as well as the vegetation are extremely Mediterranean. The average temperature in January is 7.80C, and in July 28.30C, and the average temperature of the sea is 22-250C. The average yearly precipitation is 850mm, and happens mostly during autumn and winter. There are four ports and 24 bays on the island, and was civilized from the Illyric times. In Roman times it acquires the role of the stationary-crossroads of the naval routes, of protecting and supplying of the coastal towns, and, above all, of the safe exile. There are over 200 archaeological finds, beginning from the earlier Stone age (Roman sarcophaguses, mosaics, early Catholic buildings, fortified country houses).

Milna (Brac)
The settlement is inside the long bay with the same name. The bay Milna, with the big outer and smaller shallow inner part, is the best port on island Bra¥. On the surrounding coast are nice sand and pebble beaches. Even in Roman times it offered protection for the fleet of the emperor Diocletian, who used it as a prime port during the building of his palace in Split. Nowadays, here is one of the best marinas on the Adriatic. The settlement developed in the 17th century, and in 1783 the baroque parish church was built, decorated with stucco work inside. In the bay Osibova are the ruins of the little Gothic church, as well as the little church of Saint Joseph.

Bol and Hvar
The only coastal settlement on the southern part of island Bra¥. It is situated in fertile area with constant resources of fresh water springs). The occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture, wine-growing and fishing, and tourism is well developed (Dugi - Zlatni rat). Due to the natural circumstances, Bol is one of the most popular resorts for windsurfing. The place was inhabited as early as the Roman times. In the church of Saint Ivan (probably from the 11th century) fragments of wicker-work are preserved from early Croatian times. A palace with decorated baroque scenes was built near the pier in the 15th century. The house of the Jeli¥i¥ family dates from the Renaissance (early 17th century). A rare horticultural monument from the 17th century is preserved only partly in the park of the Martinis-Marchi family. On the cape Glavice is a church of the Dominican monastery with the Gothic ceiling. A collection of cultural and artistic artifacts is kept in the monastery.
Hvar: The town and the harbor are situated on the western side of the island. Because of its marked Mediterranean climate and rich subtropical vegetation, Hvar is attractive throughout the year. Around 1920 tourism starts developing, and nowadays Hvar is one of the biggest tourist resorts in Croatia. An old town Hvar still awaits you.  The building of the most distinguished monument of civil architecture, Arsenal, started in 1579. Croatian duke Pietro Semitecolo built a building with a big terrace (Belvedere) near the Arsenal. In 1612 it was used as a warehouse for wheat and other grocery. In the same year he ordered another floor on the Arsenal to be built, in which he arranged the place for the theatre hall, in which dramas and operas were performed until 1796. Among others, Hanibal Luci¥ worked here. At present, the building houses the modern art gallery.  The cathedral of Saint Stjepan, which was built in the 16th and 17th century in the place of anold Benedictine abbey, there is a pseudo-Romanesque bell tower from the 17th century. The baroque stone altars are decorated with paintings, and to the left from the entrance is the late Gothic relief from the 14th century. Above it is the relief "Flogging of Christ (Bi¥evanje Krista), a variant of the work by Juraj Dalmatinac. In the treasury, apart from old paintings and liturgical objects, the cane of Bishop Priti¥ from 1509 is kept. 
 In front of the cathedral, in the middle of the square, is the city well from 1529. On the north side of the square is the Paladini palace. The building of the tower with the clock, Leroj, started in 1466 in the late Gothic style, and was finished in the 16th century in the Renaissance style, with the bell tower from 1562. The city loggia, built next to the bell tower, was finished in 1479. There is another bell tower on the coast built around 1550. On the peninsula Sv. Katarina there is a fortress from 1811. Two little churches of Saint Kuzma and Damjan (15th to 16th century) and of the Holy Spirit (15th century) are situated in the old part of the town.     Outside the city walls, on the eastern side of the town is a Renaissance summer villa from the 16th century that belonged to Hanibal Luci¥. On the cape between two bays is a Franciscan monastery with the church of Gospa od milosti, where, underneath the main altar, is the grave of Hanibal Luci¥. The collection of needlework (13th to 15th century), illuminated manuscripts, documents and paintings are kept in the monastery.

Pakleni otoci and Komiza
The archipelago of Pakleni  is a stony and bare islets. They are covered with underbrush and low forest, apart from the coastal part. On the islet Sveti Klement are three hamlets, not permanently inhabited. The passages between the islets are mostly shallow, and the currents strong. Only the port Palmi¥ana, and the passages between islets Planikovac and Marinkovac are protected form winds. The settlement and the port situated by the north-eastern side of the bay of Komiža. The occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture, wine-growing, fish-processing and seamanship. On the eastern side of the bay are spacious sand and pebble beaches.   Komiža is first mentioned in the documents from the 12th century. The site of the monastery of Saint Nikola with the church and the defence tower dates from the 18th century. The church of Gospa Gusarica consists of three churches connected with arches, the oldest one being from the 16th century. 

Stari Gad and Vis
The settlement and the port of Stari Gad are situated in the bay of Stari grad (Starigradski zaljev). Smaller bays within the main one are suitable for anchorage and are protected from the winds (Zavala and Tiha from bora, Gra¥ište, Saint Ante and Maslinica from southern wind).  The settlement and the port are situated at the bottom of the bay of Vis. The occupations of the inhabitants are wine-growing, vegetable-growing, fishing and tourism.    The ruins of the town surrounded by thick walls are situated on the eastern and western part of the necropolis Vlaška njiva and Martrilo. On the peninsula are the remains of the Roman theatre. The parish church of Gospe od Spilice was built in 1500, and the church of Saint Ciprijan with a richly decorated wooden pulpit in the 16th century. In the port there is the church of the Holy Spirit (Sveti Duh) from the 17th century.

Bisevo and Vela Luka
Islet of 5.8 km2. The central part of the islet is a fertile field, while the rest is either stony or covered with underbrush, with the exception of the northern part which is under Alpine pine forest. A little pier is situated in the port of Biševo, protected from bora and southern wind. The occupations of the inhabitants are wine-growing and fishing. By the sea there are caves, and among them the most famous is Modra spilja (Blue Cave), which is opened for visitors since 1884. The approach to the cave is possible only by boat.  The town and the port are situated in the bay with the same name, protected from northern and southern winds. The occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture, olive-growing, wine-growing, fishing, fish-processing, shipbuilding and tourism. The islets in front of the settlement are suitable for fishing, and the islet Ošjak is a protected park-forest.    The church of Saint Ivan from the 15th century has a distaff bell-tower and Gothic ceiling.



vela luka
Korkula and Lastovo
The town and the port of Korkula are situated on a small peninsula connected with a narrow strip of land with the rest of the island and the surrounding area covered with pine forest. At the beginning of the 16th century the inhabitants lived in the old part of the town inside the city walls. Near the town there is a small island Badija famous for it's sport events like rope climbing, running etc.
The main settlement of the island with the same name. The pier of Lastovo is in the small and shallow bay Sv. Mihovil.    The ruinous little Romanesque church of Saint Ivan is the oldest architectural monument in the settlement. The church of Saint Kuzma and Damjan is situated in the oldest part of the square dates from the 14th century. On the main altar is the painting of Saint Kuzma and Damjan. Out of the rest of the paintings "Pieta", the work of an anonymous Venetian painter from 1545 can be distinguished. The church of Saint Vlaho from the 12th century is on the entrance of the settlement. Beside it the chapel of Saint Ivan was built in 1607, and around the church a defence wall and a tower. On the graveyard is the little church of Gospa od polja from the 14th century, and above the settlement are the remains of the castle demolished after the riot on Lastovo. The traditional clothes are preserved and worn for the festivities.

Mijet and Sipan
The present name of the island was derived from former names Melita and Meleda, that probably originates from the Latin "mellitus" (of bees, of honey). The cultural heritage of this part of Mljet are mostly localities in the settlement Pola¥e from the Roman times and the Benedictine monastery with the church of Saint Marija on the islet in the lake Veliko Jezero, which were built by the Benedictines in the middle of the 12th century, after the duke Desa gave them the whole island in 1151. The original Romansque buildings were later expanded, especially during the Republic of Dubrovnik, which ruled Mljet from 1345 to its fall in 1808. In this monastery many a discourse, chronicle and literary work was recorded during those six centuries.

Sipan, an island of 16.5 km2. The main settlements on the island are Šipanska Luka and Su¥ura¥, situated in bays with the same names, and in the inland of the island are few smaller villages. The ruins of the church of Saint Petar from the 16th century, the small church of Saint Ivan in Šilovo selo, the early Catholic church of Saint Marija and the pre-Romanesque church of Saint Mihovil, are the monuments from the Middle Ages. Many feudal families from Dubrovnik built summer villas on the island, and the most famous are the summer villa of the Sorko¥evi¥ family from the 15th century, the Gothic duke's palace built above Šipanska Luka and the ruins of the summer residence of archbishops of Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik
The town, the port and the tourist centre registered in the UNESCO's Register of the World Cultural Heritage. Dubrovnik is situated under the Sr¥ mountain, on a smaller cliff where the oldest part of the town is. By filling up the valley between the bay of Gruz and Stari Porat (Old Port), and by building of Place (Stradun), the older part was connected to its outskirts, and so Stradun became the centre of the town and its main street. Later Dubrovnik stretched further to the peninsula Lapad and beyond the city walls. The climate is mild, and vegetation sub-tropical and rich. Dubrovnik has the city port, the port Gruž and the marina Dubrovnik.   Dubrovnik was probably founded in the 7th century, and since then was under protection of the Byzantine. In the 13th century it comes under Venetian rule, and in 1358 it becomes the sovereign state, at which time it reaches its peak of development. In 1806 the French enter Dubrovnik (the Napoleon wars) and in 1808 annul the Republic of Dubrovnik, which in 1815 fell under the Austrian domination. The main city wall that surrounds the town is 1940 m long, fortified with three round and 14 square  towers, 5 bastions, two fortifications at the corners of the wall and the fortress Sveti Ivan (Saint John). The most prominent of the towers is the round tower Min¥eta. Lower fortification that stretches along the main wall has one bigger and nine smaller bastions, and the fortress Bokar, which is the oldest of that kind preserved in Europe.
The fortresses Revelin and Lovrijenac are self-standing. The city walls are preserved in their original form.   The centre of public life is the square Luža. To the west from it is the palace Sponza, and in the middle is the pillar of Orlando with a statue of the warrior from the 15th century.   On the southern side is the baroque church of Saint Vlaho built between 1706 and 1714. The builder was Marino Gropelli, and it was built in place of the old church from the 14th century, from which originates the silver statue of Saint Vlaho plated with gold holding the scale model of the town from the 15th century, situated on the main altar. The stone statues of Saint Vlaho and Saint Jeronim are of the same origin, the work of Nikola Lazani¥, the sculptor from Bra¥ from the late 16th century. In the churches there are plenty of paintings, most of them by anonymous authors.
 The eastern part of the square is closed by the city bell-tower and the buildings Luža zvonara and Glavna straža (Main guard). By the building Glavna straža is the building of city hall - a Lombard-neo-Renaissance, and the National theatre from the same period. Beside the city hall is the duke's palace (Knežev dvor), the Gothic-Renaissance building. On the eastern side of the square Poljana Marina Dr¥i¥a is the bishop's palace. The church of Gospa od Karmena is a baroque building form the 17th century.
 The western part of the square Poljana Marina Dr¥i¥a is closed by the baroque cathedral of the Holy Mother (Gospe) built between 1672 and 1713 in place of the old Romanesque cathedral according of plans by A. Buffalini from Orbino. On the main altar is a big polyptych "Marijino Uzašaš¥e", the work of Titian from 1552. In the cathedral are also the paintings by J. Palma, Parmigianini, Andrea del Sarto, Padovanini, C. Caliari, G. G. Savoldo, L. Cambiaso, G. Salviati and other by unknown  authors. In the treasury of the cathedral golden and silver relics are kept. Among them, of special interest are the "hand of Saint Vlaho", "leg of Saint Vlaho" late-Gothic crucifix with relieves of saints, "head of Saint Lovrijenac", with "a part of the skull of Saint Vlaho" and a big silver wash-basin with with a jar plated with gold, on which the flora and fauna of Dubrovnik is shown.
 In the street Ulica od Rupa is a two-storey building, so-called Rupe (Holes) which served as the ware-house for corn grain, under which are fifteen big dry wells drilled in stone. Today the building houses the museum with the same name. On the north side of the square is the palace Sponza, built in the 16th century. On the ground floor is the Renaissance portico, on the first floor Gothic, and on the second floor Renaissance windows, while the yard is surrounded with corridors with arcades.
The street Ulica Sv. Dominika leads to the Dominican church and monastery founded in the 13th century, and the building of which was completed during 14th and 15th century. The church of the monastery was rebuilt several times after the earthquake in 1667. The only preserved Romanesque portal from the 13th century used to be the main entrance to the church. In the church are two altars painted in the 17th century with paintings by Francesco di Maria, one altar with the painting "Sv. Magdalena sa Sv. Vlahom i donatorom" (Saint Magdalene with Saint Vlaho and the donor) by Titian from 1554, one with the painting "¥udo Sv. Dominika" (Miracle of St. Dominic) by Vlaho Bukovac from 1912, and the painting "Silazak Duha Svetoga" (Decent of The Holy Spirit) by Giorgo Vasari from the 17th century. In the church is also kept the "Navještenje" with paintings from the history of the Dominicans in Dubrovnik. The monastery library keeps 217 manuscripts, 239 incunabuae, around 16.000 printed books, as well as the collection of important charts from the history of the town.
 In front of old city doors of Saint Jakov is the little church of Saint Jakov na Pelinama from the 13th century. From Peline downwards stretches the street Židiovska ulica (Jewish Street) to the territory of the Jewish ghetto which existed in the town from the 14th century. Here is also the synagogue from the 15th century, one of the oldest in the south-eastern Europe. In the street Sigurante is the nunnery in which the oldest votive painting of the ship from Dubrovnik is kept, as well as embroidery "Pranje nogu" (Washing of the Feet).
 The monastery and the church of the Franciscans from the 14th century is in the square Placa. The building started in 1317, on the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. In the monastery the apparatus and equipment of the old monastery drug-store that existed as early as 1317 are kept. The monastery library keeps more than 30.000 books, 22 incunabula, 15 illuminated choral books mostly from the 15th and 16th century, as well as a lot of old pieces of local music.
 On the square Poljana Paskoja Mili¥evi¥a is the big well Onofrijeva ¥esma, actually a tank with the sixteen-angle ground plan, covered by dome. Under the city wall, beside the door Vrata od Ribarnice, is the little church of Saint Luka, and near it the church of the Announcitation (Navještenje). Above the inner doors Vrata od Plo¥a is the statue of the protector of the town, Saint Vlaho, the oldest of all such statues in Dubrovnik. The stone bridge leads to the base of the fortress Revelin from the 15th century, and beside it are the outer doors Vrata od Plo¥a, the main eastern entrance to the town. In the vicinity of the staircase Uz Posat in the direction of the street Zagreba¥ka ulica, is the chapel of Saint Feli¥e and the church of Saint Andrija. In front of the doors Vrata od Pila, towards the sea, stretches the area Brsalje with plate-trees, on which right hand side, on the rock, is the fortress Lovrijenac, the building of which started in 1050. Behind the graveyard Tri crkve a path leads to the most beautiful summer villa in the town, Sko¥ibuha-Bond from the 17th century. Along the coast in Gru¥ are many summer villas of the local gentry.  In the centre of Lapad is the old church of Saint Mihajlo from 1290 with the graveyard. Nearby is the church of Gospa od Milosr¥a, and above it is the small church of Saint Vlaho.