Pearl of the sea (outfit post) / Biser mora (odjevna objava)

September 26, 2015

Why is it so hard to write about the things we love the most? Perhaps I should for once let the photographs do the talking. Beautiful Split city. Perhaps that is all that needs to be said.

Zašto je tako teško pisati o stvarima koje najviše volimo? Ili bi možda jednom trebala pustiti fotografijama da govore. Prekrasan Split. Možda je to sve što treba reći.

UPDATE: I decided to do some talking & writing after all!

I love exploring Split city on foot ( I already explained why it is a good idea to explore Split on foot in this post). You know, I was always aware that Split is a truly unique place, even when it wasn't as popular as it is today. I used to walk everywhere when I lived here! I'm a big believer in getting to know a city on foot. You can never know a town until you explore its every corner on foot. I have more posts about Split scheduled and many more stories to tell and share!

I will always return to writing about Split. Some places we carry in our hearths, and our proximity to them is of little importance. I'm fortunate to have been able to make the most of my time spent in Split.

THERE ARE MANY POEMS AND SONGS DEVOTED TO SPLIT CITY

SPLITE MOJ (MY SPLIT) A SONG SANG BY THE FAMOUS OLIVER DRAGOJEVIĆ

SPLITE MOJ

Bati san tvoje kale i kontrade
doša do vrja zlatne skalinade
arju san pija, kripi na fontani
kadenu vežu najlipji nas dani.

Splite moj, moja lipa radosti
Splite moj, moja sritna mladosti
dok san sunce ti kra, ti si dušu mi da
Splite moj, Splite moj.

Inkantan pismon jubin mandolinu
murtilo rane ličin u đardinu
i zadnja rič u grlu kad mi stane
najlipja suza za te neka kane.

CROATIAN NATIONAL THEATRE IN SPLIT

HNK Split is one of my favourite places in Split city. Open in 1883, Split's National Theatre is one of the oldest surviving theatres in the region. At time time of its opening, it had a capacity of 1000 seats (at time Split's population counted only 16,000 ). It was the largest theatre of Southeast Europe in its time. It's such a gorgeous building too! It is worth visiting just for the sight of it. Moreover, this is really the perfect place to see a play, a ballet or an opera, especially so if you're a fan of historical theatres. Why not take the opportunity to see a play on a historical stage? When it comes to Croatian National Theatre Split, I particularly enjoy their opera performances. Indeed, one of the things I would definitely recommend is visiting the main city theatre. They have some amazing performances year around. I love this theatre! Opera, play or ballet, whatever is your preference, you will find something worth seeing. Another things I love to do when I'm in Split is to check out new cafes, restaurants and street art. Split is my hometown, but I as I don't live there anymore, it always seems to me that I'm missing on something. I always find something new to admire with my every visit. I suppose that's one advantage of not living in a certain place, you get to see it with fresh eyes.

MONASTERY&CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF HEALTH

The church of Our Lady of Health was build in the thirties on a location where an older 18th century church was located. The original church was built in the baroque style as was the bell tower that is still standing. The present day church of Our Lady of Health is built in a modernist style. The monastery was build in the 18th century by Franciscan monks who escaped Turkish invasions. It was connected with the church later on. Today these two constructions contrast one another, one being more modern, the other more traditional.

MARMONT'S STREET (MARMONTOVA STREET )

Maront's street is definitely a street worthy of a visit. Maront's street (also known as Marmontova) is the main pedestrian street in the old city centre. It was named after the French general Marmont who looked after the infrastructural development of the Split city at the time when Split was occupied by Napoleon's army and in the following period of the French rule. The street is quite wide, neat and often vibrant with life. I've seen quite a few street performers and artists there, probably because it's typically packed with people. Marmont's street has several attractions of its own including a French culture and language centre, several historical buildings, many shops and a fish market. It is also worth mentioning that the oldest cinema in Split is very near to Marmont's street, being places just a few meters from it (all you need to do is to take a turn right). Marmont's street is sometimes called the pulse of the city, as it is one of the best known streets in the city.

CHURCH AND MONASTERY OF SAINT FRANCIS

I blogged about different sights to see in Split city quite a few times, but I don't think I mentioned the catholic church of saint Francis before. It is located on the western side of Riva (the famous promenade), quite close to the historical city fountain (another cool spot to visit). The church and the monastery of Saint Francis were both build on an early Christian site. Prior to the construction of Saint Francis' church, there had been a smaller church and grave of saint Felix (an early Christian martyr) located here. The little brothers (i.e. monks of order of Saint Francis) have inhabited this church and monastery since the thirteenth century. The monastery's library boosts of about 3000 books, some of them dating back to the sixteenth century. The church and the monastery guard some valuable historical art as well as the graves of prominent Split citizens, such as the father of Croatian literature Marko Marulich.

MORE VISITS TO SPLIT

DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF SPLIT CITY?

SPLIT CITY GUIDE: THE PALACE

SPLIT CITY GUIDE: CHURCH OF SAINT DOMINIC

I LOVE SPLIT CITY (TWO OUTFITS)

NEAR SPLIT CITY YOU CAN FIND A HISTORICAL FORTRESS KLIS- READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE!

SPLIT CITY, SEPTEMBER 2021

SPLIT CITY SPRING STYLE 2021

SPLIT CITY SUMMER 2021

SPLIT CITY RESTAURANT DALMATINO 2021

Music

One of the most recognisable aspects of Split culture is popular music. Notable composers include Giulio Bajamonti, Franz von Suppé, Josip Hatze, Jakov Gotovac, Ivo Tijardović, Ruben Radica, Zdenko Runjić, Tonči Huljić – some of the most influential musicians in former Habsburg Empire, former Yugoslavia, and contemporary Croatia.

Also, the more notable musicians and bands from Split are Oliver Dragojević, Gibonni, Daleka Obala, Magazin, Severina, Dino Dvornik, Jasmin Stavros, Neno Belan, Goran Karan, Dražen Zečić, Doris Dragović, Jelena Rozga, Tutti Frutti, Siniša Vuco, Meri Cetinić and guitar player Petar Čulić.

There is great cultural activity during summers, when the prestigious Split Music Festival is held, followed by the Split Summer (Splitsko ljeto) theater festival. Since 2013, the Ultra Europe electronic music festival is held at the Poljud stadium and as of 2019. at the Park Mladeži Stadium in July.

Split also developed a prominent hip hop scene, with notable acts such as The Beat Fleet, Dječaci, Kiša Metaka and ST!llness.

Sportsmen are traditionally held in high regard in Split, and the city is famous for producing many champions. The most popular sports in Split are association football, tennis, basketball, swimming, rowing, sailing, waterpolo, athletics, and handball. Residents of Split prefer to call their city as "the sportiest city in the world". The main football club is HNK Hajduk Split, one of the most popular clubs in Croatia supported by a large fan association known as Torcida Split, while RNK Split is the city's second club. Torcida Split is the oldest fan group in Europe estimated 1950. The largest football stadium is the Poljud Stadium (Hajduk's ground), with around 35,000 capacity (55,000 prior to the renovation to an all-seater). Slaven Bilić, Aljoša Asanović, Igor Tudor, and Stipe Pletikosa are some of the famous Split natives who started their careers at Hajduk. Basketball is also popular, and the city basketball club, KK Split, holds the record of winning the EuroLeague three consecutive times (1989–1991), with notable players like Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa, both of whom are Split natives.

Former WWE wrestler and WWE Hall of Fame member Josip Peruzović, better known as Nikolai Volkoff, was born in Split.

Split's most famous tennis players are the retired 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević, Mario Ančić (Super Mario), Nikola Pilić and Željko Franulović. Marina Eraković was also born in Split.

Members of the local rowing club HVK Gusar won numerous Olympic and World Championship medals.

Swimming also has a long tradition in Split, with Đurđica Bjedov (1968 Olympic gold medal and Olympic record in the 100 m breaststroke), Duje Draganja and Vanja Rogulj as the most famous swimmers from the city. As a member of the ASK Split athletics club, the champion Blanka Vlašić also originates from the city. The biggest sports events to be held in Split were the 1979 Mediterranean Games, and the 1990 European Athletics Championships.

Split was one of the host cities of the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship. The city constructed a new sporting arena for the event, the Spaladium Arena. Its capacity is around 12,000 spectators (in basketball events). The cost of the arena was evenly divided between the city and the government.^[61] Ivano Balić, two time IHF World Player of the Year is the most famous handball player to come from Split.

Split used to be the home to three top-level water polo clubs, the winners of many domestic and international titles: Jadran (twice LEN Champions League winner), Mornar (LEN Cup Winners' Cup winner) and now defunct POŠK (one LEN Champions League, one LEN Super Cup and two times LEN Cup Winners' Cup winner). Many players from Split have participated at the Olympic Games, World, and European Championships, both for Croatia and Yugoslavia, having won a lot of medals. Several water polo players from Split have been considered the best in the world during their careers: Ratko Rudić, Damir Polić, Milivoj Bebić, and Deni Lušić.

Picigin is a traditional local sport (originating in 1908), played on the famous sandy Bačvice beach. It is played in very shallow water (just ankle-deep) with a small ball. Picigin is played by five players. The ball is the peeled tennis ball. There is a tradition of playing picigin in Split on New Year's Day, regardless of the weather conditions, in spite of the sea temperature rarely exceeding 15 °C (59 °F).

RK Nada were the pioneers of rugby union in this part of the World. They were by far the strongest club in the former Yugoslavia and they are also by far the most successful club in modern-day Croatia.

Baseball in Split is one of the city's longest sporting traditions. Although the sport began semi-officially in December 1918 when a group of US sailors from a ship in port introduced the game to some young Croats, it was not until 1972 when a pair of teachers at a local school formed the Salona Baseball Club, named after the ancient Roman city of Salona. The first actual game played in Split was on 9 September 1978 between Split (the new team moved here and was called Nada) and Jezice from Ljubljana, a 20–1 romp for the locals. A schedule of games began in earnest and by 1980 there were regular league games. The next major milestone was in 1983 when the World Baseball Federation (IBAF)^{[clarification needed]} accepted Yugoslavia as an official member. The Croatian National Baseball Federation was established in 1989.

Today the Croatian national baseball team (with 10 or more members coming from Split's Nada team) is ranked 25th in the world. Split's team, Nada, plays its home games at the old Hajduk stadium, where the rugby club also plays. Without a mound, it is not a regulation field. The team's main rival is Zagreb and there are teams from half a dozen other cities around the country. In addition to playing other Croatian teams, inter-league games are played and the team travels to Belgrade and other cities to play. Although not a professional team or league, some player/coaches are paid. Several have pro experience and the new coach of the national team was a former major league pitcher with the LA Dodgers. The source material here is from Mladen Cukrov's book There's No Ball Like Baseball (Nima baluna do bejzbola) and from the writer's experience as an assistant coach of the team for several years.

The Split SeaWolves club is the only American football team in Dalmatia. Active from 2008, they are currently still developing and the main focus is on a flag football team.

SIGHTS WITHIN THE ANCIENT WALLS OF DIOCLETIAN PALACE

Diocletian palace or in other words the old part of the Split city. One of the things that makes the historical centre of Split special is the fact that the 'old part of the city' is placed within preserved walls of a ancient palace. The walls are still standing and they are quite an impressive sight. Diocletian's palace aka the old part of Split city was originally a summer palace build by a Roman emperor Diocletian, the only Roman emperor to ever willingly abdicate. All that so that the emperor could retire and live where present day Split city stands. Split started its life as a summer palace to a Roman Emperor. Well, it might be considered even older than that, as it was actually inhabited even before the ancient Romans set foot here and might be Greek in origin. Before the Greeks, there were other inhabitants and tribes. Everything is ancient in these parts.

THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT VIRGIN MARY (SAINT DOMINUS)

THE OLDEST CATHEDRAL 'TO BE PRESERVED IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM' IN THE WORLD

The oldest cathedral in the world to have been continuously used and still preserved in its original form is certainly a must see for history lovers. Funny thing is that this cathedral was originally a mausoleum of Diocletian but early Christians had other ideas. The patron saint Domnius was one of the martyrs supposedly killed by Diocletian, so maybe that is why they called the cathedral that. Strictly speaking, the church is devoted to the Virgin Mary and the tower to saint Domnius, but people tend to connect the both the cathedral and the bell tower with Saint Domnius.

THE BELL TOWER OF DOMNIUS CATHEDRAL

I already wrote in detail about the bell tower of Domnius cathedral. The cathedral is one of must see places in Split city. The Romanesque bell tower is obviously not as old as the cathedral, for the cathedral is truly ancient (the oldest christian cathedral to fully preserve its original form in the world). However, the bell tower of saint Domnius is a historical sight on its own. The bell tower is in many ways, a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Build in 1100 AD in Romanesque style, the cathedral saw some changes over the years but it has retained its beauty. Today this bell tower is one of Split city's most iconic symbols.

THE MAIN CITY SQUARE

Another place worth the mention is city's square Narodni Trg better known as Pjaza. One of top locations in Split city! This square was formed in the 13th century, when the city's growth demanded a larger main city's square. During its long life, this square saw some changes and it even changed a few names. It started it's long life as a square of saint Lawrence, because in the past a church devoted to this saint was located here. The church is no more, but many medieval structures remain. The main city's square attractions include a Gothic sun clock, a Renaissance palace Karepich (Karepić) from 16 century, palace Cambi, palace Pavlovich (Pavlović), a late Romanesque palace from Korchula's lord Ćubrian Žaninović and many other gorgeous historical old buildings.

MANY OTHER CHARMING SQUARES (TOO MANY TO MENTION THEM ALL!)

There are too many historical squares worth seeing for me to fit them into a single post. What I recommend is exploring the city and finding them for yourself.

BASIC HISTORICAL INFORMATION ( from Wikipedia):

Split (/ˈsplɪt/;^[3]^[4] Croatian pronunciation: [splît] ), historically known as Spalato (from Venetian: Spàlato, Italian: Spalato pronounced [ˈspalato]; see other names), is the second-largest city of Croatia after the capital Zagreb, the largest city in Dalmatia and the largest city on the Croatian coast. It lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is spread over a central peninsula and its surroundings. An intraregional transport hub and popular tourist destination, the city is linked to the Adriatic islands and the Apennine Peninsula. More than 900,000 tourists visit Split each year.^[5]

The city was founded as the Greek colony of Aspálathos (Greek: Ἀσπάλαθος) in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE on the coast of the Illyrian Dalmatae, and in 305 CE, it became the site of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. It became a prominent settlement around 650 when it succeeded the ancient capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, Salona. After the sack of Salona by the Avars and Slavs, the fortified Palace of Diocletian was settled by Roman refugees. Split became a Byzantine city. Later it drifted into the sphere of the Republic of Venice and the Kingdom of Croatia, with the Byzantines retaining nominal suzerainty. For much of the High and Late Middle Ages, Split enjoyed autonomy as a free city of the Dalmatian city-states, caught in the middle of a struggle between Venice and Croatia for control over the Dalmatian cities.

Venice eventually prevailed and during the early modern period Split remained a Venetian city, a heavily fortified outpost surrounded by Ottoman territory. Its hinterland was won from the Ottomans in the Morean War of 1699, and in 1797, as Venice fell to Napoleon, the Treaty of Campo Formio rendered the city to the Habsburg monarchy. In 1805, the Peace of Pressburg added it to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and in 1806 it was included in the French Empire, becoming part of the Illyrian Provinces in 1809. After being occupied in 1813, it was eventually granted to the Austrian Empire following the Congress of Vienna, where the city remained a part of the Austrian Kingdom of Dalmatia until the fall of Austria-Hungary in 1918 and the formation of Yugoslavia. In World War II, the city was annexed by Italy, then liberated by the Partisans after the Italian capitulation in 1943. It was then re-occupied by Germany, which granted it to its puppet Independent State of Croatia. The city was liberated again by the Partisans in 1944, and was included in the post-war Socialist Yugoslavia, as part of its republic of Croatia. In 1991, Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia amid the Croatian War of Independence.