Old Town of Trogir

Trogir is a city in southern Croatia in the Dalmatia region. It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Kastela in the Central Adriatic between the cities of Split and Sibenik. Trogir is a small ancient town. It is medieval historical center, which is one of the best preserved in Europe. Trogir is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The old town of Trogir, rich in cultural and historical monuments, authentic architecture and a maze of charming streets, is located on a small island and called "Little Venice". It is a great spot for a day trip from Split, which is unlike other cities in southern Croatia.

History

Trogir is an ancient city. It was founded by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. The settlement was called Tragurion. With the arrival of the Romans, Trogir was in the shadow of wealthy Split (Salona). In the 7th century the city became part of the Croatian kingdom.

In the 12th century Trogir was almost completely destroyed by the Saracens. The city was quite quickly restored and in the 13th century became one of the most prosperous cities in Dalmatia. Subsequently, the fate of Trogir repeated the fate of this part of the Croatian land.

In 1420 the city became part of the Venetian Republic, in 1797 of the Habsburg Empire. After World War I Trogir was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (the future Yugoslavia). During World War II, the city was occupied by Italy. After the war, it returned to Croatia, which was part of Yugoslavia until 1991.

Attractions

Trogir is the pearl of Dalmatia, whose main attraction is the charming old town. The historic center is very small and. It is located on the island between the mainland and another island, Ciovo.

The medieval center of Trogir is connected to the mainland by a stone bridge and to Ciovo by a drawbridge. Despite the fact that the area of the old town is very small, there are many historical and cultural monuments: ancient churches, medieval city fortifications, ancient buildings.

The historic center of Trogir is a unique combination of Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance architecture with a labyrinth of streets that intersect in the most unexpected places. All this makes Trogir so unlike other Dalmatian cities. The city is surrounded by lush vegetation, islands, rocky and sandy beaches, the most famous of which are the beaches of Pantan and Slatina.

In the 12th century Trogir was destroyed by the Saracens and rebuilt. In the 13th-15th century the historical center was surrounded by walls and towers. Until today, two towers of 13th century and fragments of powerful medieval fortifications have survived (on the north and west side).

The central entrance to the old town was the North Gate built in 1665 in Baroque style. It has a Gothic sculpture from the 15th century dedicated to St. John of Trogir (Giovanni Orsini), the patron saint of Trogir.

Camerlengo Fortress is a medieval fort of the 15th century, located in the western part of the historic center almost on the waterfront. The fortress was built to protect Kastela Bay.

The main square is the center of the medieval Trogir. The square has a surprising concentration of interesting sights: the princes' palace (13th century), the town hall (15th century), St. Lawrence Cathedral (13th-15th century), the clock tower (part of St. Sebastian church of the 15th century), the Romanesque church of St. John the Baptist (13th century), St. Mary Church and St. Barbara Church.

Church of St. Lawrence is a cathedral, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Croatia and the largest building in Trogir. The church was built on the site of an older sacral building destroyed by the Saracens in the 12th century. Its building was continued over the course of 3 centuries. Therefore, the temple combines Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Interesting features: the ancient Romanesque door of the 13th century surrounded by stone lions, the tall 47-meter Venetian belfry in style Gothic and mannerist (campanile), the 15th-century baptistery, the carved wooden choir, the beautiful sacristy, the chapel of St. John with beautiful paintings.

The clock tower is one of the symbols of Trogir, an ancient tower with a striking clock mechanism. It was once part of St. Sebastian Church of the 15th century. Nearby is the city loggia with beautiful columns and reliefs. The stone statue on the tower is called Justice and dates from 1471.

The Church of St. Peter is a small Gothic church that was once part of a Benedictine monastery. This church was built in the 14th century. The church has a simple facade and a rich interior with works by Molinari and Lazzarini and sculptures from the 17th century.

The Dominican monastery was founded in the 13th century. The church was built in the 14th century. Many important objects of art and religious artifacts are preserved here. The triumphal arch and the wooden altar and a number of ancient tombs are interesting.

The Church of St. John the Baptist is a simple one-nave Romanesque building built in the 13th century by Master Radovan. The Church was built on the site of an earlier Christian religious structure destroyed by the Saracens. This medieval church belonged to the Benedictine monastery.

The Cipico Palace is an old Gothic building that was built in the 15th century for an aristocratic family of the same name on the foundations of several Romanesque houses. One of the most interesting features of the building is the Venetian-style carved window by Alesi. At the main entrance is a wooden statue of a rooster, which was taken from a Turkish ship by a member of the Cipico family in the middle of the 15th century during a naval battle.

Benedictine monastery of St. Nicholas was founded in the 11th century and is located on the waterfront of Trogir. The bell tower was added in the 16th century. The monastery has a magnificent interior, which was completely modified in Baroque style in the 18th century. Of the many works of art that are preserved here, the most important are works by Antonio Zanci, Paolo Veneziano and Nicola Grassi, as well as Madonna and Child from the 13th century.

Trogir has great promenades with magnificent views of the bay and the old city. It is a great place for evening walks with many restaurants and cafes.