Sights & Activities

ATTRACTIONS

While enjoying your stay at our Vila, you might want to check out these popular attractions.

 

 

SALONA

Ancient Salona (today’s town of Solin) was once capitol of Roman provinence of Dalmatia, whose size, wealth and magnificence is testifed by impressive walls with towers and gates, the forum with temples, amphitheater, and graveyards with salonitan martyrs (Manastirine, Kapljuč, Marusinac). The name Salona preserves the language of the early inhabitants of this area whom the Romans called the Dalmatae, considered to be part of a larger group called the Illyrians. According to the legend, Salona was the birthplace of Emperor Diocletian.

 

THE CROATIAN ROYAL FAMILY LIVED IN SOLIN

The time of queen Jelena and Trpimirović dynasty, coronation of Zvonimir as King of Dalmatia and Croatia in Hollow church in 1075, makes Salona truly monument itself. Salona was largely destroyed during the wars against Turks in 17th century. The beginning of the 19th century was a time of growth in the overall cultural and spiritual atmosphere where archaeological artefacts gradually gained importance and value: they were being gathered in collections and museums (the Archaeological Museum of Split was founded in 1820).

 

FORTRESS OF KLIS

Overlooking the cityof Solin and Split, in the mountain pass between Mosor and Kozjak, lies the small village of Klis speckled with vineyards and olive groves. At the center of this hillside village is a medieval fortress built into a rocky ridge giving visitors an incredible birds eye view of the entire Split “metropolitan” area, Adriatic Sea and surrounding islands. The Fortress of Klis has a history of more than 2000 years, beginning with the Illyrian tribe called Dalmatae that used it as a stronghold before it was taken by the Romans. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the site became a seat for several Croatian kings. Later, the Klis Fortress was pivotal in defending the Balkans against the siege of the Mongols, then the Ottomans in the 1500s. Fortress of Klis is located just 5km from our beautiful Villa.

 

 

 

 

DIOCLETIAN PALACE

Diocletian Palace is one of the best preserved monuments of the Roman architecture in the world and it is located just 7km from Villa Draga. The Emperor’s Palace was built as a combination of a luxury villa – summer house and a Roman military camp (castrum), divided into four parts with two main streets. The Palace is a rectangular building with four large towers at the corners, doors on each of the four sides and four small towers on the walls. Over the centuries the Palace inhabitants, and later also the citizens of Split adapted parts of the palace for their own requirements, thus the inside buildings as well as the exterior walls with the towers significantly changed the original appearance, but the outlines of the Imperial Palace are still very visible.

 

MARJAN FOREST

Marjan, often called “the lungs of Split”, is a hill on the peninsula of the city of Split, and it is covered in a dense Mediterranean pine forest and completely surrounded by the city and the sea, making it a unique sight. Marjan is also main recreational center of Split, it’s a great place for hiking, cycling, jogging, even climbing on cliffs on south side of the hill or swimming since there are also lot of beaches. On the hill there are a significant number of churches, and some of them are very old and valuable archeological monuments. Several major institutions operates on Marjan hill such as the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Natural History Museum, city ZOO, meteorological Observatory, Meštrović Gallery and Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences which operates on the south side of Marjan, in the villa Dalmatia.

 

 

 

 

TOWN TROGIR

Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County. The historic city of Trogir is situated on a small island between the Croatian mainland and the island of Čiovo. In the 3rd century BC, Trogir was founded by Greek colonists from the island of Vis, and it developed into a major port until the Roman period. During the migration of Croats the citizens of the destroyed Salona escaped to Trogir. The diocese of Trogir was established in the 11th century and in 1107 it was chartered by the Hungarian-Croatian king Coloman, gaining thus its autonomy as a town. Since 1997, the historic centre of Trogir has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites for its Venetian architecture.

 

TOWN ŠIBENIK

Šibenik is in the central part of the Croatian Adriatic Coast, in the picturesque and indented bay where the Krka River, one of the most beautiful karst rivers in Croatia enters the sea. Amongst all Croatian towns on the Adriatic coast Šibenik is set apart by its unique location in a picturesque and open bay, at the mouth of the Krka River. Created initially as an ancient Croatian castrum, a fortification or encampment, at the bottom of St. Michael’s Fortress that still dominates the town, Šibenik was mentioned for the first time in 1066, in a document issued by the most important Croatian ruler - the king PetarKrešimir IV. The view over Šibenik reveals the unique harmony of the urban poetics of the town and its natural surroundings. The harbor, which is connected to the open sea by the St. Anthony Strait, has been an initiator of marittime affairs development, trading and the overall economic prosperity of the town for centuries. At the entrance into the Strait is the fortress of St. Nicholas, the most important renaissance fortress on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Together with the fortresses of St. Michael, St. John and Šubićevac surrounding the town, it is a symbol of the centuries old continuous resistence of Šibenik, as confirmed in the recent Croatian War of Independence. Šibenik's St. James’ Cathedral, built over more than a century, is testimony to the persistency, sacrifice and belief of generations of Šibenik inhabitants.

 

 

 

 

KRKA NATIONAL PARK

Krka National Park lies within Šibenik-Knin County, and covers a total area of 109 km² of the loveliest sections of the Krka River, and the lower course of the Čikola River. The national park is a vast and primarily unaltered area of exceptional natural value, including one or more preserved or insignificantly altered ecosystems. The purpose of the park is primarily to serve science, culture, education and recreation, while tourism activities have also been introduced for its visitors. It springs in the foothills of the Dinara mountain range, 2.5 km northeast of Knin. With its seven waterfalls and a total drop in altitude of 242 m, the Krka is a natural and karst phenomenon. The travertine waterfalls of the Krka River are the fundamental phenomenon of this river.

 

THE PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK

The Plitvice lakes National Park belongs to Dinaric karst area and due to its specific geology, geomorphology and hydrology it truly is one of the most impressive karst entities in the world. Apart from dolomitic rock, mesosoic limestones with dolomite inserts prevail. Archaeological research suggests that prehistoric settlements existed in the Park area, while ruins of a fortress of the Illyrian tribe Japodi have been found at the site known as “Gradina”. Here the Romans built watchtowers on the foundations of which a fortified monastery was later built. Its founders were most probably the Templars or the Paulines. Croats permanently settle here in the 7th Century. Turkish invaders are present in this area from 1528 to the beginning of the 18th century, when Austria established the Military Frontier, thus stopping the penetration of Turks into Europe. On the lakefronts, herders begin to settle erecting wooden huts in the forests and clearing the land to build settlements. From these shepherds huts developed the Lika log cabin with stone cellar, and steep roof covered with shingles or rye straw.

 

 

 

ONE DAY TOUR - SPLIT ISLANDS (BRAČ, HVAR AND PAKLENI ISLANDS, ŠOLTA…)

 

The majority of the island tours from Split are done on fast speedboats so You have opportunity to visit as many of those hard to reach, secluded island destinations and attractions as possible. Each of them has a unique trait which characterizes the location they are in.

 

Brač

Without a doubt the most popular destination on island Brač is the small town of Bol on the south side of the island. Bol owes its popularity to the most beautiful and the most famous beach in this area, The Golden Cape beach or known locally as Zlatni Rat. This beach is unique in the world as its horn switches sides as the winds and the currents move. There are many sports activities You can do on Zlatni Rat which makes it famous for those looking for a more active holiday.

 

Hvar

Island Hvar, or how we like to call it the sunniest island as it has most hours of sun in the year over entire Croatia, is the most popular island for tourists visiting Croatia and Split. For those enjoying in revealing cultural and historical monuments and sites, town Hvar has a lot to offer as well. Right in the old port you will find the old Arsenal building, the site of the first public theater in Europe. Towering above the town You will find the Spanish fortress, locally known as Fortica, from where Hvar was defended through centuries and today provide a glimpse into the past as well as the unprecedented view of the entire region. The other reason town Hvar is so popular is because right on its doorstep stands an archipelago of 16 small islands called Pakleni islands. The most popular is the island of St. Klement, the location of popular Palmižana. It has various trails You can take across the island to enjoy in the plants and nature which are simply fairy tale like.

 

Šolta

Island Šolta is very close to Split with its largest destinations, Rogač, Nečujam and Stomorska, all located on the north side of the island and all very close by. Šolta provides something lost to the majority of islands in Dalmatia, an escape, a place where you can still find secluded bays and beaches. Maslinica, a small town located on the west bank of the island is definitively the most popular destination for tourists on Šolta island. It was even named as the most beautiful tourist destination in the World by popular tourist magazine.

 

Vis

You can see the charm and beauty of the island if you have seen the movie Mamma Mia 2 which was filmed on the island. Besides town Vis, other popular location is town Komiža located on the south-west side of the island. Island Vis also has numerous attractions one should not miss when visiting the island. The most famous one is the Croatian natural wonder, Blue Cave, located just outside Komiža, on an island called Biševo. South side of island Vis hides the beautiful Stiniva Cave, a must stop for every Blue Cave and Hear tour.

 

 

 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITES

 

Basic Canyoning

Canyoning on the Cetina River is the best adventure tour you can find in this area. You can hike and swim through the amazing Cetina River canyon, which has been forming for last 1000 years, enjoying sliding down rapids, floating through crystal clear pools, walking through tunnels and swimming under the 55 m VelikaGubavica waterfall. These are just some of the amazing experiences that You will experience on this tour. Discover hidden corners by exploring the canyon! Be an expert, not a tourist!

Activity duration: 3h

Included: Long neoprene pants and jacket, life vest, helmet, insurance, professional guides.

Tips: Bring a swimsuit, towel, and some kind of sports shoes.

 

Extreme Canyoning

Experience the best adventure tour in Croatia. Extreme canyoning gives You a deeper and more challenging experience of the Cetina River canyon. It is the combination of walking, hiking, sliding down the rapids, swimming in crystal clear natural water pools, walking through the tunnels and rappelling near a 55m waterfall. It also includes some cliff jumps up to 10 meters high (optional) and rappelling another 20m cliff. All You need for this trip is adventuristic spirit and you are ready for an extreme canyoning expedition!

Activity duration: 3h

Included: Long neoprene pants and jacket, life vest, helmet, insurance, professional guides.

Tips: Bring a swimsuit, towel, and some kind of sports shoes.

 

Sea kayaking

Experience the beauty of the crystal clear Adriatic Sea, paddle along the coast of the tranquil Žrnovnica River, taking in incredible scenery of green fields against the looming Mosor Mountain Ridge. Or check out Epetium, one of the oldest cities on the Dalmatian coast. Kayaking is a great relaxing activity that allows You to get to hidden beaches where you can enjoy snorkeling, swimming, paddling and stopping to grab a nap in the sun on the beach away from all the crowds.

Activity duration: 3h

Included: Sit on top kayak, paddle, life vest, mask and snorkel, insurance, cliff jump (optional).

Tips: Bring a swimsuit, towel, camera, sun cream, water

 

Cliff jumping &Deep water soloing

Take a ride to hidden cliffs, try different jumps from 2m to 10m height and then climb out from the sea to do some more! Deep water soloing (DWS) is a discipline where the climber climbs from the sea level without any climbing gear except climbing shoes that we provide you with. Any wrong move and you are back in the water with a big splash! This discipline gives you an adrenaline rush and it’s great fun.

The climbs range from really easy to difficult ones and jumps vary from 2 to 10m height.

Activity duration: 3h

Included: Guide, climbing shoes, insurance

Tips: Bring a swimming suit, towel, sun cream, water, camera

 

Rock climbing

Just a half hour drive from Split there are 12 climbing areas with more than 400 routes waiting for you to discover. It doesn’t matter if You are a beginner, expert or just need a climbing partner. The tour climbing is located in the city of Omiš which is a half hour drive from Split in the Cetina River canyon. It’s an amazing place to climb and it’s very suitable for beginners. Routes are up to 25m high and grades from the easiest to the hard ones. No previous experience is needed.

Activity duration: 3h

Included: Climbing gear, insurance, licensed instructor

Tips: Wear something comfy (preferably shorts that cover your knees)

 

Hiking

There are not many places where You can enjoy the sea view while climbing a mountain! Seize the opportunity to climb the 1339m peak of Mosor Mountain or 533m peak of Perun Hill. Enjoy the great view of the Adriatic Sea and the islands as well as the beautiful landscape of the Dalmatian countryside. Discuss the various route options with your guide from easy to advanced. Escape from the city crowd and be a part of nature.

Activity duration: 3-6 h

Included: Professional mountain guide, insurance

Tips: Bring a hat, camera, water and some snack

Bike rental

For those who want to experience every angle of Split, it's streets or the Marjan Hill, renting a bike gives You the opportunity to do it with quality mountain/road bikes. Delivery to your address, destination, bike guided tour trough the old town Split with experienced guide or You can just choose to rent a bike for a certain amount of time.