Solin

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Welcome to Solin – the cradle of Croatian history and the hidden gem of Dalmatia! Once the magnificent ancient Salona, the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, today is a city where every stone tells a story thousands of years old. Walking through its archaeological sites, with the sound of the Jadro River and the view of Mount Kozjak, you will discover a wonderful blend of past and present. Join us on a journey through time, ideal for all those seeking an authentic experience and untold stories.

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Points of interest

#1

Jadro River

In front of you is the Jadro River, also known as the "Solinska Rika" - seemingly short, but so important that over the centuries it has become the lifeblood of the entire region. Imagine, only 4.5 kilometers of flow, and half of Dalmatia drinks from its sources: Split, Kaštela, Trogir and of course Solin, the city that owes its life and name to it. The Jadro springs at the foot of the mighty Mosor, at a height of 35 meters, and from the first meters it carries stories of ancient Illyrians, Roman emperors and Croatian kings. It is no coincidence that it is called the "Croatian Jordan" - it was in its clear waters that Croats accepted Christianity, and the symbolism of that act lives on today. The river is a true karst phenomenon: its water comes from deep underground streams, and the entire Jadro basin is estimated to be as much as 250 to 500 km² - which means that it is partly fed by the same underground as the Cetina. The upper reaches of the Jadro were declared a special reserve because of the endemic soft-mouthed trout, the “Solinka”, a fish that lives nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, today it is threatened by the invasive rainbow trout, which has caused quite a bit of an ecological alarm. In ancient times, the Jadro was the source of life for Salona and later Diocletian’s Palace. Imagine, the Romans built a 9-kilometer-long aqueduct, twice as long as the river itself, to bring water to Split – and the remains of this engineering marvel are still visible today. Legend has it that Diocletian himself played on the banks of the Jadro as a child, and as an emperor he returned to drink water from the river of his childhood. The Middle Ages brought new symbolism: the islets formed by the Jadro’s branches became the coronation and burial sites of Croatian kings. Gospin Otok and Šuplja crkva guard the tomb of Queen Jelena and the memory of the coronation of King Zvonimir in 1075. Today, Jadro is much more than a historical monument – it is a living park in the heart of Solin, with bridges, ducks, swans and the only preserved mill, the 18th-century Gašpa Mill, where you can still see how grain was once ground. The river is also a natural refuge for birds such as herons and cormorants, and its water remains a symbol of the purity and durability of Solin's heritage.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#2

Hollow Church

The following is the story of Šuplja Crkva, a place where the destinies of kings, monks and peoples intertwined, and every stone hides traces of past centuries. This church, also known as the Church of Saint Peter and Moses, is not just another archaeological site – it is the heart of ancient Croatian history and the coronation hall of Croatian rulers. Imagine standing east of ancient Salona, right next to the murmur of the Jadro River, on the ground where the first Christians built a basilica and cemetery back in the 6th century. At that time, this place was part of a picturesque necropolis, and later, in the 11th century, the Croats built an imposing three-nave basilica on these foundations, then the largest in this area, with characteristic early Romanesque features. Five pairs of columns divided the interior of the church into three naves, and the special feature was the three apses incorporated into the body of the building itself. However, what makes Šuplja Crkva truly special is not only the architecture. Here, on October 8, 1076, King Dmitar Zvonimir was crowned, and the ceremony was led by the papal legate Gebizon – a clear sign of Rome’s political influence on the Croatian kingdom at the time. Imagine the scene: the king on the throne, the gathered nobles, priests, and the people – all witnesses to a historical moment that forever marked this place. Interestingly, some fragments of reliefs found in the church depict King Zvonimir receiving the adoration of his subjects, and parts of the altar railing are now built into the baptismal font of the Split Baptistery of St. John. The name “Šuplja Crkva” came about when, during the wars between the Venetians and the Turks in the 17th century, the roof collapsed, and time and history began to blow through the remains of the walls. In a drawing from 1571, the church still had a bell tower and walls, but the roof had already disappeared. Next to the church there was a Benedictine monastery, whose abbot Urso was a close friend of King Zvonimir – perhaps this connection is the reason why this church was chosen for the coronation. Particularly interesting: due to changes in the bed of the Jadro River and silt deposits from the St. Elijah stream, today the church's pavement is below the river level, which is a rare example of how nature can reshape a historical landscape. Archaeological research, which has been ongoing since 1927, has uncovered numerous finds, including Byzantine gold coins from the time of Emperor Heraclius – testimony to the turbulent times when Salona was losing its importance under the pressure of economic and political crises. If you are interested in how life along the Jadro River continued after the Middle Ages, just a few steps away you can visit Gašpa's mill, which tells the story of the economic life of Solin from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#3

Gaspina Mill

Right in front of you stands Gašpina mlinica, which reveals how the city has developed since the 18th century, but also much more: here, on the banks of a river that has never dried up, stories of work, encounters and everyday life that are difficult to imagine today intertwine. Mills on the Jadr were first mentioned as far back as 1069, in a grant from King Petar Krešimir IV, but Gašpina mlinica belongs to a more recent generation – it was built in the early 18th century, after the area was liberated from the Turks. The first written record of it dates back to 1711, and the ownership was taken over by the Kljaković Gašpić family, whose surname is still synonymous with this mill today. Imagine a picture from the past: autumn is coming, and caravans of peasants from Zagora descend from Klis, boats from the islands of Čiovo, Brač, Šolta and Korčula dock along the Jadr shore, waiting their turn to grind grain. In Gašpina mill, the largest and most important on the river, as many as 15 mills operated simultaneously – a true small industry in the heart of Dalmatia. The Austrian cadastre from 1831 records seven Solin mills with a total of 51 mill wheels, and Gašpina was the most important among them. The building complex consists of four stone single-storey houses in a row, with gable roofs made of stone slabs. The most widespread type of mill wheel in Dalmatia – horizontal, with stone wheels and wooden axles – was driven by water falling from a height of 2–3 meters through jaže (special grooves). Particularly interesting: ancient tombstones from Salona were used for the lintels, which testifies to the ingenuity and recycling of materials at that time. However, Gašpina mill was not only used for grinding grain – in the 1930s, glass was also ground here, and life in the mill was the center of social events. Milling was a lucrative business for a long time, and only with the advent of electric mills and industrialization did the mill slowly lose its role. However, the mill operated until the 1960s. After being left to the ravages of time for decades, Gašpina mill was renovated between 2002 and 2008, with special emphasis on the use of traditional materials such as lime mortar and stone aggregate, in order to restore its original splendor. Today, it is listed in the Register of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia as an example of a public building and an essential stop for every visitor to Solin. Perhaps the most interesting fact: Gašpina mill is older than many countries in the world, including the USA and Australia – which is particularly fascinating to foreign tourists who visit it. Today, it is cared for by local families who want to convey to anyone who steps through its doors a life without televisions, cell phones, and the internet – a life in which news, stories, and friendships were created right here, with the sound of water and the smell of freshly ground flour.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#4

Gradina Park

Gradina is located north of the Church of Our Lady of the Islands, right on the right bank of the Jadro River. Here, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, a church with a dome was built – something that was a real architectural marvel at the time. In other words, while simple basilicas were still being built in Europe, a church with a central floor plan already stood here! But the real story begins in the 16th century. The Ottoman Empire built the fortress in 1531, and – believe it or not – in just 15 days! When the Uskoks demolished it, the Turks rebuilt it in an even more incredible 20 days. During the siege of Klis, Gradina was a key point: whoever controlled Gradina could cut off the supply and the fate of the entire region. Inside the walls, the former church becomes a mosque – yet another proof that this place has always been on the border of worlds and cultures. Legend has it that the last battles were fought here by the Klis Uskoks led by Petar Kružić, one of the most famous Croatian military leaders. After the fall of Klis in 1537, the Turks abandoned Gradina, and it slowly began to forget the sounds of war. But history does not stand still here. At the beginning of the 20th century, Don Frane Bulić was convinced that he had found Zvonimir's coronation basilica, but later research showed that he was mistaken. Today, Gradina has a completely new role: in the summer it becomes a stage under the stars, where history and art come together in the most beautiful way.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#5

City cemeteries

Three main necropolises followed the old roads, as if they wanted every traveler to know: those who built this world rested here. The western cemetery, located right next to the amphitheater, was explored in the late 1980s. Imagine the walls of mud bricks that enclosed the grave plots – like private gardens for eternal peace. Sarcophagi, urns and even altars were found in these graves, which shows how important the funeral ritual was to the inhabitants of Salona. The eastern cemetery, along the road to Klis, is a real small military cemetery: stelae of Roman soldiers of the VII. Legion were found here, with inscriptions that reveal who they were and where they came from. The southeastern cemetery hides a 1st-century tombstone inscription by Gaius Aemilius Ingenus, who was the first to mention a paved road across the marshes – a real engineering feat at the time! With the arrival of Christianity, Salona became one of the most important centers of early Christianity in the Adriatic. Necropolises like Manastirine and Kapljuč, which grew alongside basilicas built over the graves of martyrs, became places of gathering and worship. Manastirine was the largest early Christian cemetery, and the basilica dedicated to St. Domnius was so impressive that pilgrims described it as a "hall of light." Kapljuč, on the other hand, is particularly important because of the cult of the five martyrs from the time of Diocletian. And now we come to Gospin Otok, where you are right now. This place hides the graves of Solin Christians from the 17th century, and historians speculate that some Croatian rulers may also be buried here, including the legendary Queen Jelena. Just imagine what secrets another archaeological season could uncover! We must not forget the Illyrian settlements in the surrounding area, such as the hillforts below Klis, with their own necropolises. After Salona fell in 614, the Croats continued the tradition of burial in this area – the cemeteries at Gajin, Glavičina and Majdan preserve traces of this new beginning. Interestingly, many cemeteries are located along old roads or churches, which shows how much traffic and religion determined life, but also death.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#6

Maidan

You are currently in the historic area of Majdan, located along the Jadro River, rich in layers of cultural and industrial heritage spanning from ancient times to the 19th and 20th centuries. Archaeological findings highlight a Roman flush toilet, a rare example of sanitary infrastructure from the Roman period. Unfortunately, over a hundred ancient graves were destroyed before systematic research began, reducing the archaeological potential of the site. The name "Majdan" comes from the Turkish word for mine, indicating a historical connection with the extraction of stone or minerals in the area. During the 19th century, Majdan became a center of industrial production, where hydroelectric power plants and mills were converted into electrical plants. A workers' settlement was built nearby, including the significant Vidović House, which served as housing for workers from various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although many industrial buildings have been partially preserved, residential areas have gradually been integrated into the wider urban area of Solin. Photographs from 1928 bear witness to everyday life in this settlement. In the historical context, although traces of ancient Croatian settlements from the 9th to 11th centuries have been found in the vicinity of Solin, the toponym Majdan itself only appears in recent times. Its geostrategic position along the Jadro River enabled the use of hydroelectric power, which has been characteristic of the Solin area since Roman times. Majdan is an area where the remains of ancient sanitary facilities, mining activities and a workers' settlement intertwine. Its transformation reflects the economic development of Dalmatia during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century. Although it does not have the status of a protected zone today, the remains of factory buildings and archaeological finds make it a valuable documentary resource for studying the history of this area.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#7

Rice fields

You are currently at the archaeological site of Rižinice. This site is known as the place where Prince Trpimir built the first Benedictine monastery in Croatia around 852. This complex, located along the St. Elijah stream, is a key site for understanding early medieval Croatian history and the continuity of settlement since ancient times. Prince Trpimir mentions the monastery in a deed of gift from 852, which is considered the first document with the name Croats (*Christiano nomine Croatorum*). The monastery was founded on the foundations of an ancient villa rustica from the Roman period, which indicates the reuse of existing buildings. The church within the monastery had a semicircular apse and was decorated with an altar partition with the inscription *"*For Prince Trpimir", found in 1891. Don Frane Bulić began the first archaeological excavations in 1895, uncovering the foundations of the church, monastery buildings and an old Croatian cemetery with 10 oval graves covered with stone slabs. The graves date from antiquity to the 15th century, with finds of jewelry such as earrings and rings and Roman sarcophagi, including one dedicated to Cornelia. A fragment of a gable with an inscription of Prince Trpimir confirmed the authenticity of the site and its connection with Croatian rulers, while architectural remains included ancient stone and plaster walls and medieval parts of the monastery. During more recent excavations, two unopened Roman sarcophagi were found, one of which contains an inscription dedicated to Cornelia. Today, Rižinice is arranged as a picnic area with a lookout, tables and toilets. Rižinice is a nationally protected first-category site, crucial for the study of the Croatian Middle Ages and church architecture. The monastery was the center of religious and political life of Trpimir's state, and its location on a hill reflects the Benedictine practice of locating monasteries on elevated sites. The findings confirm the connection between the ancient heritage of Salona and early Croatian statehood, making Rižinice a symbol of the continuity of Croatian history.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

#8

Our Lady's Island

Imagine standing on the place where, according to tradition, Croatian history in this region began – on Gospin Otok in Solin. This small island, embraced by the backwaters of the Jadro River, is not only a picturesque oasis of greenery, but also a living museum of millennial heritage, a place where the destinies of kings, queens and peoples intertwined. Gospin Otok bears the title of “The First Settlement of Croats” in Solin, and archaeological traces reveal even deeper layers: under the current church, remains of Roman walls have been found, which means that life flourished here even before the arrival of the Croats. Just imagine – every step on this land takes you through the centuries, from ancient Salona to the present day. In the 10th century, the Croatian Queen Jelena, also known as the “mother of orphans and widows”, had two churches built: the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stephen. It was in the Church of St. Stephen that members of the royal family were buried, and it was there, during the hot August of 1898, that Don Frane Bulić found a broken sarcophagus with the inscription of Queen Helena – a moment that caused a real sensation among the gathered children and workers. This discovery, with the letters “HEL” written on it, was like a historical puzzle that finally got its key piece. Both churches survived the Tatar raids of the 13th century, but during the Turkish occupation in the 16th century they became ruins. On their foundations, in the 17th century, a new church with a characteristic belfry on a preslic was built, and after a fire in 1875, the current parish church of Our Lady of the Island was built in 1878. Today, the foundations of medieval churches are clearly visible on the site – a true paradise for archaeologists and history lovers. However, Our Lady of the Island is not only an archaeological gem. After the visit of Pope John Paul II In 1998, this place became a symbol of religious and national identity, where thousands of believers gather every year, especially on the feast of the Assumption on August 15. One interesting fact that you may not have known: it was on Gospin Otok that a great celebration was held in 1976 to mark 1300 years of Christianity in Croatia, and then a procession with the image of Our Lady of the Croatian Baptismal Vow passed through Solin - an event that went down in history. The latest addition to this historical complex is the modern Basilica of the Holy Family, completed in 2020, which in a special way combines millennial tradition and contemporary spirituality.

Audio guides available in:

Hrvatski, English (British)

Solin

Points of interest