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Who is to say that as summer goes on, we have to wrap ourselves in our houses, and wistfully wait for winter to pull out the cold days, until we can again celebrate sprint? No way!
Now starts the perfect period for vacation, as the post-season offers many opportunities, one of them being a tour of the idyllic Ethno-eco villages of the Split-Dalmatia County.
This is a very high-level project, which was initiated by the county 14 years ago, in cooperation with the local self-government units. Through this project, the County invested over 5,600,000 kuna by year 2009, with the aim of developing rural tourism as a new added value in its offer.
The motive was clear – with this project the County made it possible to stop the trend of bulk-selling of old stone houses, to invite back the people who have migrated from these locations, and to restore life. The project revived the once neglected, empty sites, turning them into excursion locations both for local and foreign tourists.
There is no greater beauty than the restored stone, no better views than those of the preserved traditional buildings, the beautiful “solurati”, fireplaces and tavern areas, the massive “vacada” stones (cube-carved stones) that guard the faces of former homes, the finely grouted joints, wooden blinds and dry walls.
Why are we inviting you to these villages? Because it’s time to get to know the magic of our Zagora, and locations int he hearts of our islands, to go out into nature in the time of fall and winter, liberated from loud sounds of murmur, traffic, noise. Why? So you can experience a special kind of entertainment, which will be remembered for many reasons.
Ethno-eco villages offer many options, they are ideal holiday destinations in the true sense of the word. You will be greeted with warm houses, homes full of massive fragrant woodwork.
Old red-and-white curtains on small windows, an atmosphere that gives immense tranquility. You will feel the magic of socializing, you will be cycling, hiking, running, mountaineering. If you spend the night, you will get to sleep by the warm fireplaces, and listen to the fire crackling from the old stoves.
And that’s just the beginning. In the morning, your hosts will prepare you breakfast, so different from the standard, grab-a-quick-bite ones. Homemade butter and marmalade, hot bread and cakes, fresh milk. Homemade cold cuts, honey from the hives of local beekeepers. Homemade juices of elderberry, blackberries, cherries.
You won’t even have a break from the taste explosion, and you’ll be in for a fresh new serving of delicacies. What to choose, which one to try? We will not even try to comfort you, the choice won’t be easy! And you are not even supposed to be given an easy choice – you must try it all, as these are treasures coming from our fields, from the barns, from the domestic cultivation, from the nearby streams.
But here, let us give you a small hint – do try the homemade soup, cooked lamb, roasted in a “škrovada” pan, or on a spit, our “vitalac”. “Dolce garbo”, baked veal, snails and capons, trout and homemade potatoes, prosciutto and herbs-infused cheeses. Homemade desserts and cakes with almonds or walnuts, poppy-seed or walnut rolls (“makovnjača” and “orahnjača”) and pancakes stuffed with homemade jam.
Trust us, you can’t have a taste of these kinds of dishes just anywhere, you can only experience something like this in a true home-like environment. In locations that have taken only the best from the present and the past. And they offer it to you with their hearts wide open! So just head to one of the best Ethno-eco villages in Split-Dalmatia County:
- Topići, Topići-Bast (Baška Voda)
- Zorače, Malo Grablje, Velo Grablje, Brusje (Hvar)
- Humac (Jelsa)
- Podhumlje (Komiža)
- Tugare Ume, Čažin Dolac (Omiš)
- Dol (Postira)
- Gornji Proložac Podi (Proložac)
- Blace (Solin)
- Grohote (Šolta)
- Podi Grab Bugar., Gornje Voštane i Grubišići (Trilj)
- Kokorić, Veliki Godinj (Vrgorac)
- Karoglani (Zmijavci)
- Murvica (Bol)
- Gornja Podsrtana, Stara Podstrana (Podstrana)
- Lolić i Mijanovići (Split)
- Brdaci (Zec), Divojveići, Etno eko selo Škopljanci Radošić
- Botić-Opor (Prgomet)
- Naklo-tavnice (Lokvičići)
- Jesenice, Duće (Dugi Rat)
- Mala Rudina (Stari Grad)
- Bekavci Kričar (Brela)
- Rušinovići, Drvenik Veli Kačine (Trogir)
More: www.dalmatia.hr
Photo: www.dalmatia.hr, archive of TB of Split Dalmatia county,
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