Every Mile a Memory ( Part 7 ) Solin and Trogir

From Ivan Masetrovic Gallery we went to two more locations in Split.

First stop... TROGIR

TROGIR   is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia and has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. As you enter the old town of Trogir, you will see that Trogir has kept its original early Middle Ages urbanistic shape. Along with town walls, the tower and the entrance gate, the streets give impression on how people would live in the past.  It's like walking around the film set of an old Roman movie.

St. John is the patron of the town. His monument is erected on the North Town Gate, as you enter the old town of  Trogir.

Follow the main street into the town's main square which is dominated by the Cathedral of St Lawrence and its belfry on one side, the Town Hall on the other and the clock tower opposite the cathedral.

The Catherdral of St. Lawrence is considered one of the finest architectural achievements in Croatia. Finished around 1500, it is most known for its Romanesque door carved in the 13th century by Mater Radovan.

The entrance door of St. Lawrence is a beautiful masterpiece. Carved in stone are apostle scenes and the figures of the lions done with some of the most extraordinary detail I have ever seen. 

Inside the Cathedral of St. Lawrence

Just outside the Catherdral of St. Lawrence this little square takes you back in time, with all the different architectural styles all jammed into one space. If you hang around for a while, you will soon be entertained by a some Croatian singers.

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 next stop...... 

SOLIN

Solin ( or Salona in Greek ), was an early Roman settlement. Salona was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Solin left behind an archaeological legacy that has earned the town the title of  "Croatia's Pompeii".

On the outskirts of Solin are the ruins of Salona which was the original capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia from the time of Julius Caesar until AD 614, when it was levelled by the Slavs and the Avars. Now all that remains of this city are the ruins showing temples, an amphitheatre, the governor's palace, the forum, Christian churches and cemeteries.



The ruins are relatively unvisited which allows you to calmly commune with the spirits of centuries past. 

The most impressive ruin is the 2nd-century amphitheatre which was destroyed by the Venetians in the 17th century. At one time it could accommodate 18,000 spectators.

Here are some tips that would help you travel around Croatia. Let me share them with you:

1. Bartering is acceptable in many places such as markets, jewellery shops etc.

2. You do not need to exchange your Euros to their currency which is KUNA. Most of the places in Croatia  accept Euros more than the US dollars.

3. Most locals will try and help with translation or queries. The younger generation speak English as their 2nd langauge but the older population speak German or  Russion as their 2nd langauge. Never get scared to ask.

My last tip:  Try to learn a few words of the language. You may not become an expert linguist but it always pleases the locals to hear foreigners trying to master their language.

It is always tempting to plan so many things on your holiday, especially somewhere as culturally rich as Croatia, but just pick a few key things you want to see or do and arrange the rest of your trip around it. Want to see Ancient Roman and Greek ruins? Desire to walk Medieval walls? Then travel to the Dalmatian coast. This is a piece of heaven!!!

Follow your dream ---- go and see Croatia !!! You will not be disappointed.  Onward to my favorite  city ...... Venice !!!

Every Mile a Memory ( part 6 ) Split and Ivan Maestrovic Gallery

From Dubrovnik we sailed to another city in Croatia..... Arriving at the break of dawn, we were informed that we were going to board the ship's tenders ( life boats ) to their port.

Split is one of the Adriatic's most amazing seaports and Croatia's second largest city. It is one of the most popular destinations is Split's historic center which was named a UNESCO World heritage site in 1979. It’s main attraction is the Diocletian's Palace. Unfortunately, we decided to go to a more interesting tour to visit the Ivan Maestrovic Gallery, Solin and Trogir..

Come with me as we visit the Ivan Maestrovic Gallery. My friend, Lulu was the one who suggested this tour. I wasn't familiar with his work but as we entered the grounds of the gallery it reminded me of another famous sculptor, Rodin whose sculptures are now at the Standford University in California. I found out later from our tour guide that Mestrovic admired the work of Rodin, the internationally renowned French sculptor who introduced movement and exaggerated expression into sculpture. The two artists met in Vienna, when Mestrovic was a student at the Academy of Fine Arts, and the two developed a friendship rooted in mutual respect for each other’s work. Most of these sculptures were created during Mestrovic’s early years in Vienna when his attraction to Rodin’s style was at its strongest.

The Ivan Mestrovic Gallery was built in Split between 1931 and 1939.The museum was formerly his home contains his sculptures inside and in an open air garden. I was simply mesmerized by his work and his love of Croatia.

( panorama of the Maestrovic Gallery ) 

The gardens were nicely manicured with larger than life sculptures. Greek temple front, with a wonderful symmetric garden on both sides of the grand stairs leading to the entrance. The view from the porch was spectacular.

Ivan Maestrovic ( also known as  the " Rodin of Croatia " ) was the greatest sculptor in Croatia. Born on August 15,1883 and died in January 16, 1962, was known for his religious sculptures. The Ivan Maestrovic Gallery in Split, was donated by the sculptor himself in 1950 contains 86 statues in marble, stone, bronze, wood, 17 drawings, and also eight bronze statues. Once inside you will get a feeling of spaciousness and calm. The walls are white and there is plain wood which means that there was nothing to detract from the sculptures themselves. They were labelled in English. Here are some of my favorite pieces in his gallery:

The bust of St. John the Baptist

The Pieta

 sculpture of his favorite subject...... his wife

sculpture of Maestrovic with his wife and his son.

Although I had not heard of this great artist before visiting Croatia, I really enjoyed seeing his works. They were just amazing! Some were beautiful, some were powerful. This was an incredible “ hidden gem ” of a museum displaying the works of one of the great sculptors of the 20th century. I definitely recommend it as one of the top places to visit when you are in Split, Croatia.

Next stop Solin....

Every Mile a Memory ( Part 5 ) Dubrovnik - The Pearl of the Adriatic

Dubrovnik is the most famous tourist destination of Croatia. Most tourists arrive here via cruise ships.  As we docked at Dubrovnik, our tour director told us that everyone was required to bring their passports and identification cards. We had to pass through immigration at the port and the customs officials will check our documents. There was a town shuttle to Pile Gate provided by our cruise ship for $14.00 roundtrip ( $7.00 one way ) for those who wish to stay longer at the Old Town.

Also known as the " Pearl of the Adriatic", this medieval walled city of Dubrovnik became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Dubrovnik situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards. The official currency is Kuna ( HRK). The exchange is 7.3Kunas/Euro. You do not need to exchange your Euros to Kunas, they quote their prices in Euros and accept Euros. The official language spoken is Croatian. 

On our Dubrovnik shore excursion, we enjoyed a fabulous view of the city as we rode a cable car up Mount Srdj. Opened in 2010, the gleaming orange cablecar you see scaling the steep incline high up over the Old Town is both a tourist attraction and a piece of history. Mount Srdj served as a frontier against the Turks and a Napoleonic fort where brave Croats kept Serb forces at bay in 1991.

Here’s a view of the old city from on top of a nearby Mount Srdj which is reachable on cable cars. From the top of the mountain, you'll have a spectacular view over Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian area.

( courtesy of Lulu Kamatoy )

Lulu was the only one who was able to hike to the cross that was on Mount Srdj. The views from above looking over the city walls, are amazing!  It's definitely something you must do in Dubrovnik.

When we came back down, we went on a walking tour through Old Town, where you will see you the city’s finest sights. It is important to all who wish to visit here that in the Old Town you cannot come by car because traffic here is forbidden. Wandering around all the little alleys and streets, we felt relatively safe. According to our tour guide, if we want to get a clearer picture of the area you can also walk atop the Old Town walls. Unfortunately, we had only an hour to roam around the town on our own and have lunch.

This is Ploce Gate at the eastern entrance of the old town.

Things to see inside the Old Town of Dubrovnik:

The Onofrio fountain strategically located inside the Old Town built in the 15th century as part of the water supply system. It has a huge central dome and its sixteen sided drinking fountains served the public drinking water for a number of centuries and even during the Balkans War in the early 1990s.  The fountain is still in use today, and you can drink the water. A ledge and steps around the water trough provide a perfect resting spot for tired visitors.

St. Blaise chuch - was built in Baroque style. It is one of the favourite wedding ceremony churches in Dubrovnik.

St. Viaho  ( St Blaise ) is the patron saint of Dubrovnik.

The Franciscan monastery ( the one on the right ) was one of the richest churches in Dubrovnik until the 1667 earthquake destroyed it.

inside the Franciscan Monastery

Stradun - is the main street of the Old Town of  Dubrovnik. It has kept its beautiful looks with the stone houses on both sides with beautiful churches, palaces, fountains and statues along its way since it was built in the 17th century.  Along this street are a number of quality retail shops, tourist shops, and a number of restaurants.

Things to buy in Dubrovnik:

Everything in Dubrovnik is amazing, a MUST SEE place. The Old Town walls are really worth visiting. I recommend walking around the Old Town of Dubrovnik! It gives you the feeling like you are lost in an old mediaval city with the very small roads! It is a must to get a guided tour and learn the history and see the churches.

This is the most romantic town for couples, with the cobbled streets, romantic alleys, nooks and crannies cafes, delicious food and breat taking views of the sea.

It was a fantastic experience!! Join me as we sail to our next port stop........ SPLIT, Croatia.

CIAO !!