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SPLIT, a city and port in Central Dalmatia; population 189,388. Situated on a peninsula between the eastern part of the Gulf of Kastela and the Split Channel. A hill, Marjan (178 m), rises in the western part of the peninsula. The ridges Kozjak (780 m) and Mosor (1,330 m) which protect the city from the north and northeast, and separate it from the hinterland, offer a spectacular Bellevue of Split peninsula. Split has the Mediterranean climate: hot dry summers (average air temperature in July reaches 26°C) and mild, humid winters (average annual rainfall is 900 mm). Split is one of the sunniest places in Europe: the average daily insolation during the year is about 7 hours (in July about 12 hours). Vegetation is of the evergreen Mediterranean type, and subtropical flora (palm-trees, agaves, cacti) grows in the city and its surroundings. Marjan is covered with a cultivated forest.
Development of steam-shipping, construction of railroad connections with the hinterland before and between the World Wars, and particularly industrialization underlie the economic prosperity and increase of the population in Split. Split is a business, administrative and cultural centre of Dalmatia. Apart from shipbuilding industry, other manufacturers include processing of plastic masses, cement industry, food and other products. Vegetable, fruit and flowers are grown in the surroundings. Split is an important Croatian port in terms of passenger and goods traffic. It is the centre of the maritime connections with the ports on the coast and the islands and terminal railway station of the rail connections with the hinterland. Ferries operate regularly between Split and the central Dalmatian islands, as well as to Ancona in Italy. Ship connections are established, except with the islands, with Pula, Venice, Dubrovnik and Greece. The airport of Split is situated in Resnik (Kastela). Split has many cultural and educational institutions and schools: the University of Split (established in 1974), the theatre, museums, galleries, institutes, and recently a specialized UN institution for protection of environment in the Mediterranean (Regional Activity Centre for the Priority Actions Program).The Split Summer, a cultural event (open-air operas, plays and concerts), as well as music performances (Melodies of the Croatian Adriatic, Split Festival of Pop Music) take place every year. Split disposes of a variety of sports facilities, swimming pools and piers for sports boats and similar. Both stationary and transit tourism record a permanent increase. New port, hotel and tourist facilities have been constructed. The coves within the city offer several public beaches.
Split has four marinas: Split 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.
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, inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List, certainly occupies a special position, and the warmth and offer of a modern Mediterranean city. The first detailed tourist guide through the town and its surroundings, published in 1894, bears witness to the long tourist tradition in Split. To be able to grasp the historical significance of the city, one should first visit the museums of Split: the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments - a capital Croatian cultural project, established in 1893 in Knin; the Archaeological Museum from 1820, one of the oldest in Croatia; the Treasury of the Split Cathedral, including a valuable collection of religious art; the Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1910; the Museum of Marine History; the Museum of Natural Science. The Art Gallery, established in 1931, the Collection of the Franciscan Monastery in Poljud, the Mestrovic Gallery, and other are also worth visiting.
Split is a major sports centre (the 1979 Mediterranean Games) with many famous and popular sports clubs and competitors. There are also many sports facilities for recreational purposes. The sports offer includes almost all types of water and other sports, from football, basketball and tennis to mountain climbing and rifle-shooting, water skiing and rowing.
Worth visiting is Marjan Forest Park, the green oasis the citizens of Split have been proud of for generations, carefully maintained and cherished. The park includes promenades, vista points, solariums, nature paths, playgrounds and the Split zoo. A marvelous view is offered from the top of Marjan on the old and new parts of Split. It takes only 15 minutes of pleasant walking to reach Marjan from the historical core of Split through the old quarter Varos. The Marjan stairway, running along the crest of the hill, leads to another, higher top of Marjan, Telegrin, with a vista point offering prospect on the Split peninsula, Kozjak, Mosor, the Kastela Gulf, Salona and Klis, Trogir and Ciovo, and the islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar and Vis. The southern cliffs of Marjan represent in recent times a very good training ground for mountaineers and free climbers, who gather here every April on the occasion of the traditional Marjan Cup.
Split has a variety of restaurants, taverns and wine cellars, offering domestic specialties. There are many beaches and public beaches in the city and its surroundings, the most popular of them being Bacvice, a black sand beach in the very heart of the town. Bacvice is famous for picigin, a game played in the shallow water with a ripped off tennis ball.
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 (from mid-July to mid-August). The Split Saturday Nights are de-voted to classical music. Split also hosts pop-music events, the Art-Summer, folklore shows, the folk feast Day of Radunica (2nd half of June), and many other. Major cultural events during the year are the Days of Marulic (in April), the Book of the Mediterranean (in October), and the traditional events include the Day of the Holy Cross, the Flowers Show, the Ball of Split, wine show and other. The Day of St. Domninus (Duje), who is the patron saint of the city, is commemorated on the 7th of May.
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.
HVAR, a town and port on the south-western coast of the island of Hvar; lies in the cove protected by the Pakleni Islands in the south and a low crest in the north; population 3,643. Climate is typically Mediterranean, without major oscillations; 2,715 hours of sunshine a year. An average air temperature in January is 8.4 °C and in July 24.8 °C; the annual rainfall is 789 mm (the winter months accounting for 66 %). The vegetation is subtropical and very luxuriant (palm trees, myrtle, agaves, laurel, rosemary, pine trees, stone pines, etc.). The newest part of the town developed around the port. The development of tourism began in the 1920s; today Hvar is one of the most visited tourist centres of Dalmatia. Hvar is located on the regional road running along the entire island. Bus lines connect all major towns and villages (Stari Grad, Vrbanj, Jelsa, etc.). Ferry lines with Split, Rijeka, Zadar, Dubrovnik and major islands of the archipelago.

HVAR is the town of a unique cultural and historical heritage but also an important tourist resort with a centuries-old tradition in tourism. Main attractions are pleasant climate, a lot of sunshine, natural beauties, various accommodation facilities, gastronomic offer, sports and recreational opportunities, etc. Hvar is frequented both in the summer and winter months, and its very special climate favored the development of health tourism. The so-called Hygiene Society was established in Hvar as early as 1868; the major task of the society was to take good care of the visitors from abroad. This marked the beginning of tourist development. The first hotel, Empress Elisabeth, was opened in 1903.
Hvar has an outstanding historical heritage - the cathedral, the Franciscan monastery, the Hvar theatre and the fortresses which offer a beautiful view on the Pakleni Islands and the island of Vis. Accommodation facilities include hotels, apartments, boarding houses and campsites. Sports and recreational opportunities are excellent - tennis, table tennis, basketball, boccia, bowling, water sports (equipment rented).
Hvar is famous for its very specific climate with a lot of sunshine, very few rainy days and almost no snow at all. As a rule on Hvar, if it snows or rains longer than 12-hour period between November 1st - March 31st, hotel guests(if their stay is 7 days or longer) don't pay hotel accommodation. Hvar is very much appreciated by those who are keen on bathing in the sea, although there are indoor swimming pools with heated seawater. Tourists are much attracted by a visit to the Pakleni Islands, a small archipelago in front of the Hvar port, where one may enjoy the sun and the sea in one of the solitary, wooded coves. Restaurants and taverns in the town of Hvar offer excellent fish specialties, with exquisite local wines.
Among interesting souvenirs and products of Hvar one should emphasize a unique kind of lace made of agave fibres, which may be bought in the mo-nastery of Benedictine nuns, as well as the famous Hvar lavender, either in form of dried flowers or oil, which may be used as a medicine, fragrance or moth repellent, and rosemary oil.
Traditional cultural events play an important role in the visitor opportunities of Hvar. These are the Hvar Summer (July-August-September), folk music and entertainment programs and fishermen's fiestas. Among religious feast days the most important are the Day of St. Stephen the Pope (2nd of August), with a large procession, also the Municipal Day, then St. Prosper (10th of May), the Holy Cross (14th of September), the procession on Good Friday and other. Excursions are regularly organized.
MAKARSKA, a town, port and tourist centre in a large cove, enclosed by Cape Osejava in the south-east, and the Sveti Petar (St. Peter) Peninsula, at the foot of Biokovo, in the north-west; population 11,743. The climate is Medi-terranean; the strong bora occurs in the winter months. Economy is based on farming, viniculture, growing and processing of olives, food processing, processing of synthetic materials, seafaring, fishing and tourism. Makarska is the tourist centre of the riviera of the same name. The town developed in the form of an amphitheatre, on the coast and at the foot of Biokovo. It consists of the old town core of Mediterranean type and the new part with hotels, restaurants, shops etc. To the north-west is a nice park and a forest of pine, which encloses a 1,500-m long beach in Donja Luka. Farther of Donja Luka are numerous sand coves, separated by small limestone crests. Mak-arska is located on the main road (m2, E65).

MAKARSKA is the centre of the famous Makarska Riviera, extending from Brela in the west to Gradac in the east, in the total length of 60 km. The riviera is "squeezed" between Biokovo Mountain, protected as a nature park, and the sea, which at this place ranks among the clearest in the entire Mediterranean. Nice long beaches, a lot of greenery, olive-groves and pine forests at the contact point between the sea and the mountain range, cultural and historical monuments, a number of hotels, restaurants, sports and recreational facilities - all this makes Makarska a very pleasant destination. Tourism has a years-long tradition here; the first hotel was built as early as 1914, and the Society for the Beautification of the Town was founded in 1922.
Makarska has a rich cultural and historical heritage. A special attraction is the Malacological Museum (in the Franciscan monastery) with an interesting and unique collection from the Adriatic and other seas in the world. It is considered one of the most beautiful and richest malacological museums in the world.
Athletes and recreation enthusiasts may use numerous playgrounds, facilities and equipment for all kinds of sports on the ground and in the sea. The tennis camp has nine clay courts, one colour set court and two lighted indoor clay courts. This modern tennis centre, situated close to the famous beach of Makarska, is often the venue of important tennis tournaments.
Makarska is also a health resort, with the well-known recreational and health centre Biokovka, which offers various therapeutic services. Very pleasant are walks along the port and public beaches, and mountain lovers may go by one of the mountain trails to the peaks of Biokovo, which offer a nice view on the surroundings, fresh air and quietness. Biokovo Mountain has very interesting geo-morphological forms and endemic plant species. High game muflón (Ovis musimon) and chamois is amply represented here. Cultural and entertainment programs are an integral part of the life of Makarska, especially during the tourist season. The traditional Makarska Cultural Summer takes place in July and August, offering a rich drama and concert program, performances of Dalmatian harmony-singing groups, art exhibitions, recitals and folk music performances. The most popular events are the Fishermen's Night and the Night of Kalelarga (night of the town).

ZADAR, a city and port in central Dalmatia; population 76,343. The old town, located on a sheltered peninsula with a suitable natural harbour, had good opportunities for establishing of traffic connections with the hinterland. Zadar had the most favorable combination of heavy sea routes from Ravenna, Venice or Trieste with the Eastern Adriatic system of channel traffic. More difficult navigation conditions for sailing ships at the open sea in regards to channel navigation have rendered Zadar a port of rest, where ships can be repaired and get their supply. Together with the development of steamships and motor ships, the port of Zadar became too narrow and too shallow for large vessels. Also, along with the concentration of traffic in the ports of northern Adriatic and with the development of Split and Sibenik, Zadar began to lose the advantage of its relatively easy connection with the hinterland. The development of traffic connections (the Adriatic Highway, 1959: the railroad Knin - Zadar, 1966, the port of Gazenica, 1968, and the airport, 1969), under new circumstances, has pointed out the advantages of the geographical position of Zadar.
The location of Zadar on the low littoral greatly contributes to its climate. An average air tempera-ture in July is 25 °C and 6.5 °C in January; with 200 sunny days a year. Due to climatic conditions, the Mediterranean vegetation prevails (in town parks grow exotic subtropical plants).
The oldest part of the town had developed in the north-western part of the peninsula (4 km long and 500 m wide on average), closing the Old Port and the Jazine bay. New suburbs, Vostarnica and Brodarica, are located mainly along the north-eastern coast of the Old Port, outside the peninsula. In the north-western part of the town is the tourist zone with hotels and restaurants (Borik). In the south-east, around the port of Gazenica, a new port-industrial zone is developing.
Many cultural institutions are located in Zadar: Faculty of Arts (1956); Historical Archives (main archives for Dalmatia, 1625), Institute of the HAZU (Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences), numerous museums, the Permanent Exhibition of Sacral Art (1976), Musical Evenings in the church of St. Donat (initiated in 1961). Zadar is located on the main road (m2, E65). Ferry pier; ferry lines with Preko, Zaglav, Mali Losinj, Rijeka, Split, Dubrovnik, Ancona. Zadar Airport is located in Zemunik Donji. City tourist association: Ulica Ilije Smiljanica b.b.
Zadar and the tourist region of Zadar are located in the very centre of the Croatian Adriatic, in the most indented part of the Adriatic archipelago. At a smaller or greater distance from Zadar are the national parks Plitvice, Paklenica, Krka and Kornati, nature parks Velebit and Telascica, as well as more than 300 islands and islets. Natural beauties, numerous coves and beaches, cultural and historical monuments, restaurants and hotels offering selected national specialties make Zadar and its surroundings one of the most attractive tourist regions in Croatia.
Tourism in Zadar has a long tradition. More recent annals note that in June 1879 a group of tourists from Vienna visited Zadar; in 1892 the Society for the Embellishment of Zadar was established (it remained active until 1918), while "Liburnija" Hiking Club and the Tourist Association were established in 1899. Early in the 20th century, in March of 1902, Hotel Bristol (today's Hotel Zagreb) opened to the public.
Tourist attraction of Zadar is also based on the combination of yachting tourism, various types of accommodation and catering services, atmosphere, charming beaches and promenades, excursions to closer and farther surroundings, as well as interesting cultural, artistic and entertainment events and programs and on especially valuable cultural and historical monuments.
The historical part of Zadar is fascinating to all those who respect historical monuments and cultural heritage. The church of St. Donat, the symbol of the city, is a must in each itinerary, as well as the museums of Zadar: the Archaeological Museum (established in 1830), one of the most important in Croatia, with about 80,000 exhibits from the Stone Age to the late Middle Ages, the National Museum with the Art Gallery and the Department of Natural Sciences, the Maritime Museum with exhibits of the development of navi-gation in northern Dalmatia, as well as the Permanent Exhibition of Sacral Art with about a thousand valuable exhibits from the past centuries, known under the popular name The Gold and Silver of Zadar (Zlato i Srebro Zadra).
In numerous restaurants and taverns of Zadar tourists should taste home-made specialities. Among drinks, the first place belongs to the famous liqueur Maraskino. As early as the 19th century, this unique drink was a favorite drink at European courts (London, Vienna, Moscow) and has been produced in Zadar since 1821.
Zadar has top conditions for sports and recreational activities. It has numerous tennis courts, as well as a football field, basketball and handball courts. It offers great opportunities for water activities, such as sailing, windsurfing, rowing, scuba-diving, angling.

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