The beauty of the Dalmatian coast is well-known! Countless beautiful islands and coastal towns. I have already told you about one of not so famous place – Sibenik. Now is the time to show you and the small town – Trogir!
Location and parking
Trogir is located 50 km from Sibenik and only 30 km from the big city in the region – Split. And the airport of Split is only 5 km away! This proximity to the big city makes it a very popular tourist destination. It attends almost every guided tour of the area. The old town is an island, located between the continental coast and Ciovo Island. It is linked by two bridges, where most tourist buses pass from the mainland to the island of Ciovo and there leave the organized groups. From there they come back to the most beautiful part of Trogir – the old town!
See car rental options in Croatia
If you are with a car and you only have a few hours, you must use a paid parking outside the island. There are 2 large ones on the mainland, on both sides of the bridge. There the prices are about 20 HRK per hour, and at the peak of the season and higher… But 50 meters from one parking lot, right across from the hospital, at str. Kardinala Alojzija Stepinca 17, there is a smaller parking, which is also the cheapest in the city – only 8 HRK per hour! Try first here… 🙂
See places to stay in Trogir
Booking.comThe history of Trogir
The city’s history dates back to the 3 rd century BC when it was founded by Greek colonists. Successfully evolves and becomes a great port… until the Roman period. The then development of the nearby bigger city of Salona (Split) deprives Trogir of greater prosperity. There followed the settlement of the Slavs on these lands, and shortly after them fell under the authority of the Croatian rulers and the Byzantine Empire. At the beginning of the XI century the Republic of Venice subordinate the territories of the city and take power over it, and this opens the possibility of trading with the Apennine peninsula. In 1123, Trogir was almost completely destroyed by the Saracens. Fortunately, it was restored for a short period of time to be able to experience a tremendous economic and cultural flowering from the 12th to the 17th century under the direction of Venice.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice, it became part of the Habsburg Empire, which ruled it until 1918 (except for the period from 1806 to 1814 when it was occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte). During the First World War and the Second World War, the Italians struggled to take the city, but their raids were finally repelled in 1944, when Tito’s partizans put a point on the dispute, and Trogir is a Yugoslav city. And to end this long transfer from one power to another, we can note the breakup of Yugoslavia, which puts the city within the borders of today’s Croatia.
Landmarks
The presence of so many nation in these lands predisposes to a unique culture and architecture… Since 1997 the city has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Behind the very well-preserved city walls lies a unique blend of beautiful Romanesque churches, ancient memories of the Hellenistic period and Renaissance and Baroque, left by the Venetians. Trogir is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic city in all of Central Europe. To feel its spirit, walk through the city walls (15th century), right up to the Castle of Kamerlengo (15th century). Just behind him you will find one of the most interesting stadiums I have seen (more about it in the article “The most interesting stadiums I’ve visited – part 1”).
From here you can go to the labyrinths of the city, among churches and buildings dating back to the 13th century… The small, interesting and narrow streets will take you to the main square where the city loggia (15th century), the municipality and the Cathedral of St. Lawrence (13th century). The cathedral is also known as Saint Ivan Trogirski, a Trogir bishop who was the city’s defender. It is entered through the Radovan’s Gate, which is considered to be the most significant work in Roman-Gothic style in Croatia. The construction of the bell tower begins in the 14th century and ends at the end of the 16th century. I advise you to climb to the top and the view is unique… The stairs to the top are narrow, you may feel at a moment you will fall down, but when you get to the top just under the bell… beauty! The best view over the city…
The walk can go up to one of the palaces or just get lost in the streets and have a coffee in one of the many small cafes… You can also try some local fish delicacy, the city is famous for its good seafood. If you have crossed the mainland, you have passed through the North Gate, which is the main access point to the old city and dates back to the 17th century. This little old island is a beautiful fairy tale that leaves you breathless…
For a final
Trogir attracts many tourists today, mainly because of its preserved old part of the city… The nearby island of Ciovo has some very beautiful beaches and here during the summer months the crowds with tourists are increasing draсtic. For that reason, if you just want to enjoy the beauty of Trogir, I recommend you to visit it in the spring… Then the weather is relatively warm and pleasant, the tourists are not so much and you can enjoy it in calmness… Definitely worth it to spare a few hours…