 MAKARSKA RIVIERA
Makarska riviera is one of the most famous and the most beautiful tourist resorts along the coast of the Adriatic. It is located in the central-Dalmatia, and the coastline measures over 60 km, from Brela in the west and Gradac in the east. It is surrounded by Biokovo mountain, the highest mountain on the Mediterranean (Saint George, 1762 m).
There are series of picturesque places are in the Makarska riviera. The centre of the riviera is the town Makarska itself. North-west from Makarska there are Brela, Baska Voda, Promajna, Bratus, i Krvavica. South-east from Makarska there are Tucepi, Podgora, Drasnice, Igrane, Živogosce, Blato, Drvenik, Zaostrog i Gradac. Makarska riviera is famous for its extraordinary beauties, a rich culture and a traditon, beautiful blue sea which is among the most transparent in th ewhole Meidterranean, white pebble beaches, pine woods and olives, and also its numerous and rich tourist offer.
MAKARSKA
 Makarska is a city, a port and the tourist center of Makarska riviera. It is situated at the foot of the muontain Biokovo, in a vast bay which is enclosed on south-east by Osejava cape, and on north-west by St. Peter peninsula.
This city, surrounded by georgeous pinewood is one of the most famous touristic destinations of Croatian cost. It attracts tourists not just with it’s nature beauties but also with an extremly mild climate and rich touristic offer.
The city consists of the old Mediterranean core and of the newer part with different hotels, restaurants and stores. In Donja Luka, there is a 1500 m long pebble beach and lot of sand lagoonas.
Along the port and the city beach there is a wide sand beach surrounded with lots of stores, caffes, restaurants, pastry shops and live music playing.
Makarska has a rich cultural and historical herritage. There is the Franciscan monastery celebrating 500 years of existence located in the area of former Benedictian abbey. There is the Malakoloski museum with unique and rich collection of shells (around 10,000 pieces). The monastery has a library, an archive and a big collection of Baroque arts and paintings. The Baroque church of St. Mark is situated in the town square. There is also the most beautiful Baroque building in town- the Ivanisevic palace. By the coastline you can find the City museum and St. Philip’s church. In the neraby park of St. Peter, the renewed church of St. Peter is located, from there you can enjoy a beutiful view of the city, Biokovo and the sea.
For everyone interested in sports and recreation, sea and land sports practicing is available. There is also a modern tennis center where the world tournaments are held.
For all of those interested in extreme sports there are: paragliding (parachute and kite flying), rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, tracking (on bike), speleology, wind surfing, diving...
The recreational-health tourism is developed in Makarska.
Makarska is well known for its numerous cultural and entertaining events and its cheerful night life.
Makarska summer culture festival is a traditional event that (within 50 days during the summer) combines concerts, exhibitions, theater plays and city festivities (Fishing nights and Night of Kalelarga). Dalmatian harmony singing nights, folk nights with mandolin and guitar are held during the summer, and in the beginnig of August the traditional Summer carnival takes place.
The townquay of Makarska is getting more and more vivid by night, and caffe bars, restaurants and disco-bars more and more full. There are lots of cocktail bars attracting young people with parties till dawn.
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NATURAL PARK BIOKOVO – the magnificent mountain Biokovo is elevated over the entire Makarska riviera. It is the longest and the highest mountain in Dalmatia (St. George, 1762 m). With its natural beauties it attracts numerous mountaineers and hikers. Due to it’s nature values, Biokovo was declared a protected nature park in 1981 (over 19.550 hectar area).
Various natural contrasts are manifesting itselves on this small area. Biokovo is subsiding towards the sea in steep and bare calcareus rocks with narrow green maritime zone beneath them. The beautuful belvedere of Biokovo offers a memorable view at the sea and Central-Dalmatian islands on one side, and the country side of Imotski and the mountains of Bosnia on the other side. The highest peak , St. George (Sveti Jure) can be reached by car, which makes it available for every tourist desiring to visit this beautiful peak. From the peak, during the nice weather, it is possible to see not only Dalmatian islands but the east coast of Italy can also be seen.
Biokovo abounds in numerous relief specifities – karst sinkholes, karrens, trenches, ice-pits, caves, carstic wells.
More than 40 endemic species can be found on Biokovo, like Biokovo bluebell (Edraianthus pumilio) and sulicasta zecina (Centaurea cuspidata). The wildlife of Biokovo is also very peculiar and diverse – the mouflon and the chamois are specially attractive. Biokovo is also permanent habitat of bears and wolves, rare species of birds like golden eagle and short-toed eagle who nests there.
A couple of mountain lodges for visitors egsist on Biokovo, like mountain lodge beneath Vosac, mountain house beneth St. Jure and mountain house on Lokva. Above Kotisine village there is a Bikovo botanical garden Kotisina, a horticultural monument (16,5 ha) for protection and cultivation of Biokovo’s plants.
VEPRIC SANCTUARY – the Croatian lurd sanctuary was founded in 1908 by bishop dr. Juraj Caric(1867-1921), who is buried in it. The sanctuary is situated on slopes of forested hill in a harmoniously natural ambient. The natural cave and the whole landscape with hills, plants and spring reminds of Lurd. Due to it’s beauty and peace the place has been visited during the whole year by pilgrims from all over the world.
BLUE and RED LAKE - these lakes situated nearby Imotski in Dalmatian inland are geomorfologic and hidrografic natural phenomena. The so called cave lakes came into existence by implosion of the underwater caves.
Blue Lake is situated along the border of Imotski. It was named after the crystal blue colour of it’s water. The shape of lake is eliptic, it has dimensions of 800x400 meter. It is can serve as a nice promenadeand during the summer it becomes popular bathing area. During the extreme drought period the bottom of the empty lake becomes a suitable football playground for local kids.
Red Lake is placed at a distance of 1,5 km from Imotski. It looks like a gigantic well, and it was named after the red-brown colour of its completely vertical rocky bank. The final depth of the Red Lake has not yet been determined and it is presumed that this is the deepest lake in Europe.
KONOBA KREMENKO IN SVINISCE – in a small village Svinisce located 7 km from city of Omis there is a peculiar and very interesting restaurant opened during the season. It will sweep you of your feet with it’s charm, menu and it’s place decorated in style of prehestorical man-a cheerful association to the cartoon "Flinstones".
MEDJUGORJE – SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE – on of the most popular and most visited catholic sanctuaries in the world, over the year visited by a million of pilgrims from many countries searching for internal peace, consolation and strength.
The construction of today’s parish church in Međugorje started in 1937., and was finisheg in 1969. It is dedicated to St. Jakov.
In 1933 people of Međugorje raised a concrete cross 14 meter high on the top of Križevac hill. Međugorje is popular due to a sighting of Virgin Mary which sighted to a group of local children in 1981.
OMIS, RADMANOVE MLINICE AND RAFTING ON CETINA RIVER - Omis is a Medieval city located in the picturesque canyon of Cetina river which during the centuries created a grandiose canyon on its way towards the sea. Its waterfalls, mysterious caves and georgeous water mills lure with their beauty. Rafting on Cetina river is unforgetable adventure that no one sholud miss. Nearby the canyon there is a favourite excursion destination ‘’Radmanove Mlinice’’ - well known for its homemade bread and fresh trout.
SPLIT – a city with 1700 years of existence and a variety of historical, archeological and cultural monuments. It developed from Diocletian’s palace (part of UNESCO world heritage) which the Roman emperor Diocletian ordered to be built around the year 300 in order to spent there the last years of his life. Today, Split is a respectable tourist center that will thrill you not only with it’s rich cultural-historical heritage but also with an extarordinary beauty, warmth and charm.
DUBROVNIK – due to it’s extreme beauty and rich cultural heritage this ancient city is enscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list. Dubrovnik is enclosed by city walls and fortresses and represents thesaurus of architectural and cultural master-pieces carefully saved throughout the centuries.
OTOCI BRAC, HVAR I KORCULA– daily tourist ship excursions. |
Riviera Makarska 
