Trogir, Croatia- part 2
From Trogir, it’s easy to take a day trip into the nearby city of Split, half an hour away. Split is home to the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, and the ruins are nestled within the pedestrianised old town. The Riva here is equally beautiful and away from the old town, Croatia’s second-largest city has an urban feel. Klis fortress is nearby and rewards visitors that climb up the steep hill with views that stretch for miles, giving you a bird’s eye view all the way to the coast.
If you love nature and the great outdoors, then don’t miss a visit to Krka National Park, which is only an hour away. Here you can marvel at waterfalls and visit the Krka Monastery, built above ancient Roman catacombs, and hike amongst unspoilt nature trails and pathways. Plitvice National Park is a little further but well worth the effort- superlatives couldn’t possibly do it justice as it’s easily amongst the most beautiful places on earth, it’s simply not to be missed in my opinion. This area of pristine forest has a chain of 16 terraced lakes, joined by waterfalls that extend into a deep limestone canyon. The water is an ethereal blue and so clear that you can see fish swimming in the depths. There are excellent, well signed walking trails, many of which criss-cross over the azure water on wooden walkways.
The town of Zadar is also only 1.5 hrs away, and music lovers will adore the ‘sea organ’ – an organ that’s been built into the walls of the quayside, so the waves play a tune as they ebb and flow through the organ, it’s magical. The town is divine and there are some great places to eat here or sit out in the cathedral square and soak up the atmosphere. With so many things to see and do nearby Trogir, it’s a great place to base yourself to visit all the attractions in the local area.
Peak visitor numbers here are from late June to early September, although this season is getting longer each year as Croatia’s popularity rises. I love springtime here and the end of May and early June is perfect when the temperatures start to creep up and the days are long and sunny, flowers are in bloom and the marketplaces sell the most delicious cherries you’ll ever taste. It’s also much quieter, and the region feels like it’s waking from the winter months and preparing for the summer season to begin.
So where to stay when visiting Trogir? In the centre of the old town, I love the rustic charm and unbeatable location of friendly Hotel Tragos which is family run and offers smart rooms and a great restaurant. For a slice of boutique luxury, the newly opened effortlessly chic Brown Beach House has views of the old town from the pool and occupies a former twentieth century tobacco warehouse. For families the island of Ciovo offers a great beach, easy access to Trogir and a wide array of apartments or villa to suit any budget.
You can fly to Split airport from most regional airports. The airport itself is expanding massively to allow even more visitors and infrastructure work is going on to allow even more visitor numbers, so don’t delay-book to visit soon! Call me to find out more- 02920 0035030.