Trogir
Trogir is a twenty-seven-kilometer drive from Split. It has a reputation for being less crowded and less expensive than Split and offers a choice of beautiful beaches.
Sunday is a busy market day in Trogir. The market situated along the canal where boats dock has a multitude of stalls offering everything from fruit and vegetables to ceramics, clothing, kitchen goods, and restaurants.
Cross the bridge over the canal and enter the Old Town through the historic gate built in 1593.
Stop to admire the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, within a complex that includes the Clock and Bell Tower. The Cathedral has an ornate Romanesque-Gothic limestone portal, created in the 13th century, depicting biblical scenes. It’s worth taking a few minutes to stop and admire this magnificent work of art.
The Medieval Clock Tower / The Church of San Sebastian presides over the Main Square. Attached to it is a loggia with an open façade, punctuated by 15th-century Renaissance-style pillars. The loggia functioned as an open-air courtroom under Venetian rule from the 15th to the late 16th century.
Today, the Main Square is populated by restaurants that entice visitors to relax and enjoy a meal while taking in the history of their surroundings.
The building with the flat façade, the Town Hall, displays a tribute to the National Anthem and the Croatian Coat of Arms.
Tucked into a narrow cobbled lane, between the Town Hall and the Clock Tower, is the Cipico Palace. Built in the 15th century, it features a façade embellished with intricate windows, columns, and sculptures, blending Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. The Cipico Palace is worth visiting for its elegance and for a step into the world of a wealthy family of the past.
In 1997, Trogir was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for the preservation of its medieval landmarks.
Leave time to wander the ubiquitous Croatian picturesque narrow lanes, which lead to the waterfront where boats anchor.
The Island of Čiovo. A three-minute walk across a bridge from Trogir leads to Čiovo Island.
The island has been connected to Trogir by a bridge since the 13th century. It offers a choice of beaches: Okrug Gornji Beach (Copacabana) and Medena Beach, which provides sports activities for those who want more than a swim in the sea. These include basketball, volleyball, bocce, table tennis, mini golf, and soccer. In addition, there is no shortage of water sports, including snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and kayaking. Labadusa Beach offers clear, calm waters ideal for snorkeling, and pine trees for shade from the heat. The beach is a pebble-and-concrete slab beach, which is common in Croatia. It can be reached by car via a narrow, unpaved road or by ferry from Trogir. Beach chaise longues and umbrellas can be rented. There are No Toilets, but there is a seaside restaurant.
** All these beaches can be overcrowded on weekends. Weekdays are preferable if one wants to immerse oneself in the peace and beauty.