SPLIT - Croatia's jewel on the Mediterranean

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Split was at a very uncomfortable position in the 16th and 17th century. The Turks came right down to the city. Fortunately, brave city defenders fighted them off. Split is the furthest point the turkish invasion will ever get!

Alot of reminders of these battles exist to this day.

Klis fotress in one of them:


Located between the mountains of Kozjak and Mosor, on a 300m high cliff, it was designed to fight off any attack from the north. It resisted all attacks, untill it fell into enemy hands in 1537.

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The city it self had an elaborate fortification system, built around 1660.
The core was surounded by thick defence walls.
Outside, there were walls defending the port entrance, as fell as the Gripe fortress, designed to stop any attacks on the city walls from the east.

Map:


Simulation:


Today it looks just a bit diferent

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Some of the walls still exist today.

They are maked in red:


The rest was torn town over the ages. Around 1810. the French are the first to remove certen sections, in order to build new city structures.
Some buildings (like the gymnasium on the north-east corner) are following the old wall line.

Today, three corner walls remain.

The west one i called Priuli:


Cornaro is the middle one:




The last one is the east one - Contarini:

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The Gripe fortress ultimately also fell into the turkish hands. They got all the way to the main city walls. Fortunately the reinforcements came on time and the city was defended. Bit by bit, the turkish army was pushed back to the north. It all ended with the retaking of the Klis fortress in 1669.

Today, the Gripe fortress serves as a navy museum.
It's surrounded by trees and houses, thet hide it pretty well.

Some images:














View from the eastern wall:

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Beautiful city...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6h_X2nH_RE

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The Golden Gates of the palace, on the north side:


Peristyle:


3500 year old sphinx brought from Egypt by Diocletian:




Temple of Jupiter:




The Vestibule:






A few random pics from the ancient and medieval center:

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Split has an 80 year old shipyard - the bigest one in the country.
It built hundreds of ships, ranging from ferries, tankers and bulkers, to naval destroyers and submarines.

It's international clients were numerous, like Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, England, Finland, Greece, Norway, Sweeden, Poland, Germany, Schwitzerland, Rusia, India, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Mexico and USA.

The location:








A few products:

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On the west side of Split urban area is, also, a smaller Trogir Shipyard:




This proves the century long tradition of shipbuilding in this area and in this country.

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Now let's take look at the above mentioned city of Trogir.

Also, like Split, it's a UNESCO world heritage site.
It has about 20,000 inhabitants, and it's situated on a small island, between the mainland and the island of Čiovo.
It's about 20km west of Split, and it's positioned on the far part of the Split aglomeration.



It's a popular destination for yachters, as well as other tourists. Also, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone spends he's vacation here every summer.

Some aerial pics:

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View from one of the medieval towers:

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The waterfront:




Armani's yacht:


Typical city street:


The cathedral:


Famous Radovan's portal, on the church entrance:

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Seaside at night:


Night street:




Pedestrian bridge over the canal:


The canal, separating Trogir island from the mainland:

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One more:

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Between Trogir and Split is the city of Kaštela, pop. 40,000.
It's some 15km long and it's comprised out of seven parts, each being a small town for it's self.
Kaštela are the tipical suburan area, mostly made out of family houses.



Here are they...from the east, to the west...

Kaštel Sućurac:


Kaštel Gomilica:


Kaštel Kambelovac:


Kaštel Lukšić:


Kaštel Stari:


Kaštel Novi:


Kaštel Štafilić:

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View from the Kozjak mountain:


Aerial:




With Split in the background:

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Between the city of Split, and a town of Solin is the Jadro river - the very river that is Split's main water supply.
It was used in this manner even by the Romans in 305. AD.
The emparor Diocletian ordered a construction of a 9km long aquaduct, to supply he's palace in today's city port.

This is how it looks today:


The intresting thing is that it's still being used!
In the 19th century the city government layed modern pipelines into it and connected it to the modern water supply grid.

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Kaštela

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The above mentioned town of Solin (pop. 20,000) is a story for it's self.



It has a modern center, on the side of the Jadro river. A small oasis with alot of water and green grassfields, and full of ducks, peacocks and swans:

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But, also, on it's western side are the ruins of the 2200 year olf city of Salona - an ancient Roman capital of the province Dalmatia!

It had a population of about 60,000, and was a major regional center. It even had an amphiteather (capacity 16,000).

Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Avars in the 7th century. Only the ruins remain:


















When in Split, this is place is a "must see"!