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August, 7 – 11.
The story of Miljenko and Dobrila is settled in the second half of the 17th century in Kaštel Lukšić where two noble families the Vitturis and Rušinićs lived in their romantic castles. Little Miljenko (Rušinić) and Dobrila (Vitturi) were friends and eventually fell in love.
In the meantime, their parents had a terrible fued and decided not to allow their future companionship or marriage. Miljenko and Dobrila eloped and after a sequence of entanglements that only love can produce, their parents gave consent to their marriage in Kaštel Lukšić.
The lovers from Kaštela accepted their parents’ will. However, Dobrila’s father, count Radoslav couldn’t actually accept the fact that Miljenko had won and that he was going to take Dobrila as his wife to their new home – a castle of the noble family Rušinić.
Engulfed by uncontrollable hatred and vengeance, a night after the wedding of two young lovers in summer of 1690, count Radoslav killed his son-in-law with a firelock in front of his castle in Kaštel Lukšić.
A few months after the grievous event, out of tremendous sadness, Dobrila lost her mind, got sick and died. Her last wish was to be burried next to Miljenko at Rušinac, in St. John’s chapel from the 16th century.
Their tombstone can still be seen in this church, with the inscription: “Lovers, rest in peace”. In Kaštel Lukšić, besides their grave, there still stand the authentic castles of Dobrila (the Vitturi castle, 15th – 16th century) and Miljenko (the Rušinić castle, 15th century) as well as the old church dating from 1530 where the lovers got married.
This legend inspired the authors of a novel, a drama and even an opera.
The opening ceremony of this year’s manifestation The legend of Miljenko and Dobrila will take place in front of the Vitturi castle on 7th August at 21:00. A sequence of cultural events inspired with the theme of Miljenko and Dobrila will follow up to 11th August 2016.
THE LEGEND OF MILJENKO AND DOBRILA
7th August – 11th August, 2016, Kaštel Lukšić
Programme:
7th August, 2016 (Sunday) – The parade of the participiants (The Kaštela Theatre, Folklore Ensemble Ante Zaninović, children and various associations)
–The Opening ceremony in front of the Vitturi castle at 21:00
–The play Miljenko and Dobrila
–The reception for the guests: tasting food and drinks from “Miljenko and Dobrila’s wedding”, prepared by the Association of Kaštela Craftsmen and Kaštela winemakers
– 8th August, 2016 (Monday) at 18:30 & 21:00 , Rušinac castle
Children and Miljenko and Dobrila (with the participation of children’s associations, schools and kindergartens)
– 9th August, 2016 (Tuesday) Dobrila’s musical evenings at 21:00 in the Vitturi park
(Female klapa – Neverin , popular female singer Radojka Šverko and solo female performers –Mladenka Gruica)
-10th August 2016 (Wensday) at 21:00 Concert of the baroque ensemble Ars Longa , Parish church in Kaštel Lukšić
11th August, 2016 (Thursday) at 21: 00 Arias and duets from Miljenko and Dobrila opera by Milivoj Koludrović, the performances of famous opera singers, Vitturi castle
Organizers: The Tourist Board of Kaštela and the City of Kaštela
Sponsors: President od Republic of Croatia, Split-Dalmatia County, The Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, Split Airport, Cemex Hrvatska, Uni Rent, Ribola
Photo: TB Kaštela
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