Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

D ALM A TIA  113

q Sinj
Map D5. * 11,500. £ Split. @ Split.
n Put Petrovca 12, (021) 826 352.
_ Madonna of Sinj Festival (Aug);
Sinjska alka jousting tournament
(1st Sun Aug). ∑ visitsinj.com
On the Cetina plateau the
Romans founded Aequum,
the present-day Čitluk, on
the road towards Bosnia, but
the Avars and Slavs forced the
inhabitants to abandon the
town and move to a nearby
hill called Castrum Zyn which, Primošten, once an island but now linked to the mainland
once fortified, was safer and
easier to defend. w Klis e Primošten
In the 14th century, some Map D5. * 2,300. £ Split. @ Split. Map D5. * 1,800. £ Split. @ Split,
Franciscan monks fleeing Bosnia n Megdan 57, (021) 240 578. (021) 329 180. 4 Marina, (022) 570
came here and built a Franciscan ∑ tzo-klis.htnet.hr 068. n Trg biskupa J. Arnerića 2, (022)
Monastery (Franjevački 571 111. _ Gospe od Loreta (May);
samostan) and a church. The little village of Klis is Summer Carnival (Jun); Primoštenske
The town, by now called Sinj, dominated by an imposing užance (Aug). ∑ tz-primosten.hr
was captured by the Turks in Fort which consists of three
1513 and remained in their concentric walls. It was founded Originally an isolated island,
possession until 1686 when it by the Romans on a hill above a Primošten is now connected to
was liberated by the Venetians. mountain pass which led from the mainland by a bridge and a
The star-shaped Kamičak Fort, the plateau onto the plain. The causeway. The name Primošten
was built with a tall observation Venetians strength ened the fort means “brought closer by a
tower, enabling Sinj horsemen and enlisted the Uskoks to help bridge”. It was inhabited in pre-
to mount a surprise attack on fight off the Turks, who however historic times, and was settled by
Ottoman troops attempting finally captured it in 1537. Bosnian refugees fleeing from
to recapture the town, in 1715. The Turks enlarged the fort, the Turks. Under Venetian rule,
In gratitude to the Miraculous building a mosque and a walls were built around the town.
Madonna for their victory, the minaret and from here they The top of the town is dominated
townspeople gave her image a menaced the city of Split until by the Church of St George, built
golden crown. 1648 when they were driven off in the late 15th century and
This historical event is by Venetian troops. The fort was enlarged around 1760. Inside is
commemorated every year on in use until the Austrians took an icon of the Virgin on a silver
the first Sunday in August with over. The mosque was turned panel, and a Baroque altar.
a jousting tournament (Sinjska into a church and the minaret A resort with pebbly beaches
alka), when expert riders take was demolished. and bike trails, Primošten is also
part in a competition to capture The town’s restaurants are famous for its vineyards (see p135)
a shield, the symbol of victory. particularly known for their and a rich red wine called Babić.
The Museum of Sinjska alka excellent spit-roasted lamb.
tells the story of this tournament,
a regional tradition that has r Marina
taken place since the early Map D5. * 1,000. n Trg Stjepana
18th century. Radića 1, (021) 889 015.
The Franciscan church, which
has been rebuilt at various Situated in the bay of the
times, is a popular pilgrimage same name, Marina is a small,
site. The monastery has been picturesque Dalmatian town
renovated and some of the and has a marina and a pretty
rooms house archaeological beach. The village, surrounded
finds from ancient Aequum. by top-quality olive groves, has
been inhabited since the 15th
R Franciscan Monastery century. Nearby, in a naturally
A Stepinca 1. Tel (021) 707 010. protected inlet, is the Yachting
Open by appt only. Sport Agana marina. Also
E Museum of Sinjska alka located in the Riviera Marina
Put Petrovca 12. Tel (021) 444 region are the small towns of
730. Open 9am–5pm Tue–Sun. Fort of Klis, the scene of many Vinišće, Poljica and Sevid. These
∑ alka.hr bloody battles are all rich in archaeological sites.

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