Summer 2007.

Summer is Here (-:

First time this year, 29.04. I went on the beach and dive into clean and beautiful Adriatic sea.

Summer is here.

This pictures was taken on the beach called Artino in Lokva Rogoznica, little village near Omis, I already wrote about Lokva Rogoznica and you can find that text in older posts of this blog.

Respect (-:

Summer Events in Omis

Omis cultural summer is a manifestation that takes place every year.

There is no doubt that Festival of Dalmatian "klapas" (Festival dalmatinskih klapa) is highlight of Omis summer cultural event and I already wrote about traditional Festival of Dalmatian "klapas" in Omis. That Festival took place every summer in July, for almost 50 years.

But, also you can attend whole summer in Omis to some kind of concerts and recitals, exhibitions, literary and music happenings on three squres in old part of the town and also in Churches and on numerous beaches nearby the centre of the town, also sometimes recitals took places on one of two Fortresses in Omis, on Fortress Mirabella.

Whole town lives for summer.

Omis also have Open Air Cinema, located in the city centre and you just have to experience how it is to watch movie under open sky, it is marvelous and unforgettable experience, also very much romantic. (-:



Other summer activities in Omis are:

• Fishing Night
• Swimming Marathon
• Omis Triathlon
• Pirates Nights
• Crazy Dives (Ludi Skokovi)

How to reach my litlle town Omis

Omis is situated in the heart of Dalmatia, 25 km south from Split, between Riviera of Split and Riviera of Makarska.

How to come?

• by car (freeway A1 Zagreb-Split, highway D8 Rijeka-Split)
• by plane (airport is 45km north-west faraway from Omis with organized bus transfer from Airport to the city of Split, to reach Omis from Split you can use local bus lines)
• by ship (daily connection with Ancona and Rijeka)
• by train (daily connection with Zagreb and further into European capitals)

More information about transportation:

www.hak.hr
Split Bus Terminal
Split International Airport


Dial 987 for road asistance
Info Centar: 01/ 4640 800

p.s. to enter Croatia, a driver's licence, an automobile registration card and vehicle insurance documents including Green Card are required

Permitted Speeds:

1. 50km/h within built-up areas
2. 90km/h outside built-up areas
3. 110km/h on major motor routes
4. 130km/h on motorways
5. 80km/h for motor vehicles with caravan trailers
6. 80km/h for buses and buses with a light trailer

Rain: Please adjust speed to condition on wet roads
Driving with headlights is obligatory during both night and day
Mobile Phones: Use of mobile phones while driving is not permitted
Maximum permitted amount of alcohol in blood is 0.0 per mill !!!
Use of seat belts is obligatory

I wish you nice and safe journey and hoping for seeing you in Omis (-:

Cultural and historical monuments in Omis

I already wrote about some cultural and historical monuments in my town but Repetito Est Mater Studiorum (-: .

You can see Fortress Mirabella from 13Th century and Fortress Fortica from 15Th century, I wrote about that two fortresses; until 19Th century town has walls , which enclosed the town from three sides, while from the north it was defended by mountain, most part of that walls was destroyed in 19Th century; the old part of town is made of stone houses, typical houses in Dalmacija, and they are linked by narrow streets we called that streets "kale" and squares, there are three squares in Omis; on main square is parish church of Sv Mihovil (St Micahael) from 1604 and it replaced the medieval church because it become too small for citizens of Omis, so they built new, aisled and more spacious church with presbytery, the construction of belfry, which is rising above the rock behind the main parish curch in Omis had started built in 1720, and was completed in 1724, St Michalel church is combination of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, while portal is one of the most interesting art achievements in Dalmacija in that time, expression of of folk mannerism, the most valuable and famous are four altar pale:

1. Descent of the Holy Ghost
2. Sv Stjepan Prvomucenik (St. Stephan)
3. Our Lady of Ruzarje and Our Lady with Child
4. Sv Juraj (St George)
5. Sv Jelena (St Helena)

-they were made by Venetian artist Palmo Junior

I also already wrote that Omis has 8 churches and Francais Monestary from 18Th century, that monastery has great collection of art, great library with archives that contains Turkish documents and as a child I just to sing there on Christmas time (-:

Omis is genuine tourist pearl in Croatia, Dalmacija.
Omis have interesting history, clean and fresh air, intact nature, 105 kilometres of the green Cetina River, the clean sea with breathtaking sandy and pebble beaches and healthy way of life is our reality.
Come and see for yourselves...

More about history of Omis

According description of Skilak's Periplus ( 4Th century BC ) an Illyrian tribe Nesti lived alongside of Nestos River, today we called that river Cetina River. At that time of domination of the Illiryan tribe Dalmati and the Roman administration, the tribe Nesti changed name into Onestini, settlement was called Oneum.

We can presume that at first Oneum ( Omis ) was Greek colony and then Roman colony. Roman historian Pliny the Elder mentions independet fortifications Oneum, Petunij and Nareste, today Podstrana and Jesenice.
Today, Omis is litlle town with 10 000 inhabitants at the mouth of Cetina River, and 17 000 inhabitants of the whole administrative territory of the town, that includes Upper, Middle and the part of Lower Poljica as well as eastern coastal are from Nemira to Dubci.

In the Middle Age it was dangerous pirate nest, I wrote about that in the beginning of this blog.(-:
In spite of various alliances against Omis pirates, including the Pope, Venice, Split and Dubrovnik, it was not until 1444 that Venice managed to capture the old town of pirates. At that very early date neighbours of corsairs of Omis was highlanders of the Poljica Principality and they become allies, enabling them to harasses the sea trade without fear of sudden attack by land. In that time, the danger from the Turks became more and more serious, yet, despite the fact that Turks conquered nearby hinterland Omis had never fallen into their hands, thanks to OMIS CORSAIRS.

" It is not because
I love the Cetina River;
but, such a town
I have never seen.
O my God- the Cetina! "

(by Josip Pupacic)

Spring in my litlle town Omis

Springtime Song

My eyes can see it springtime, it's springtime, its springtime.
My eyes can see it springtime, the grass is so green!
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine and showers.
My eyes can see it's springtime, and I am so glad.

My ears can hear its springtime, its spring time, its springtime.
My ears can hear its springtime, the birds sweetly sing.
The bird sing, the lamb bleat the frogs croak, the bees buzz.
My ears can hear it's springtime, and I am so glad.

My body can feel its springtime,its springtime, its springtime.
My body can feel its springtime, the air is so warm.
The warm air, the breezes, no frost and no freezes.
My body can feel its springtime, and I am so glad.

song for children by Nicole H.

What trip to take in springtime when you are in Omis?

A visit to the Cetina River beyond Omis is worth the trip, especially to the destinations of Radmanove Mlinice and the Gubavica waterfalls (Velika and Mala Gubavica).
Radmanove Mlinice are located 7 km up to the canyon of Cetina River. It is an excursion, picnic place famous for bread baked under the lid of iron (we called it "peka") and for fresh trout.
Nearby Radmanove Mlinice you can visit so-called "Islands of Love", pleasure for vacationers and you can reach them with motor boats, they can be rented at the bridge of Cetina River, also larger groups can rented bigger boat and if you do that then captain Vlaho, my good friend can take you to the Radmanove Mlinice and also to the Kastil Slanica.
Kastil Slanica is classic restaurant that offers local specialties (frog,Eal, trout) and there you can also rafts and play numerous games.
Omis and Cetina River is great place for those who loves active holiday (rafting, free climbing, fishing, canyoning, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, paragliding, diving).

More about active holiday in Omis you can find down on this page or here.

Also you can make trip from Omis to:

1. National Park Krka
2. National Park Plitvice Lakes
3. Zadar
4. Sibenik
5. Salona
6. Split
7. Trogir
8. Dubrovnik
9. Imotski
10. Mostar
11. Medjugorje
12. Island Brac (fish picnic )
    
13. Island Hvar ( fish picnic )

- you can have oenoligical and gastrological trips and that kind of trip take place in the close hinterland of Omis on the territory of the ancient Principality of Poljica, that trips are characterized by the atmosphere of relaxation, dishes you will never have the chance to taste elsewhere, genuine folk music, old recipes, home-made aperitifs and excellent home-made wine

- wine roads, trips to vineyard areas of the Imotski region where you can taste autochtone vine sorts and enjoy in hospitality of people who live and work there

- trip to Vranjaca Cave, discovered in 19Th century, contain two halls, it is 107m deep and 360m long with constant temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, the other hall is discovered in 1903 and it contains nine smaller halls abounding with stalactites, stalagmites, columns and arcades, do not miss opportunity to take a peek into the cave and see unusual decorations of the underground world


-trip to Blaca Monestery ( Desert Blaca ), situated on the island of Brac,between Bol and Milna, Glagolitic Monestery and even astronomical observatory, first it was shelter of hermits of Poljica ( about principality of Poljica you can read litlle bit up on this page ), it has great monumental value and you just have to see it

Traditional Festival of the Dalmatian klapas in Omis

"Klapa" is a group of male or female singers who sing in a special way( a Capella ) , typical for Dalmatia. In 1967. the first "klapa" Festival in Omis took place. Traditionally, the ensemble consist only of male voices, but nowadays we witness the emergence of many mixed and female ensembles with varying number of members.
"Klapa" songs have slow, free rhythm and are often without any measure mark ( libero ). Sometimes it even includes complex measures. The songs are usually quite serenade, like love songs, however marry and satirical songs also exist. Festival grown into a cultural institution of great importance and reputation. It took place every summer in july, whole july.
The "klapa" singing has very long tradition, sang by fisherman and peasants, it leaves the listeners astonished by the a beauty of their voices, expressing the true heart and soul of Dalmatian people. They sang and they still sing in "konoba"s ( a room on the ground floor in a typical Dalmatian house ), after hard day's work.
Singing took place on two of three beautiful square in old part of town. Those who have not experienced traditional Festival of Dalmatian klapas in Omis it can hardly imagine it.

My favorite "klapa" is male "klapa" called Trogir. :-)