KASTELA

The Kaštela area has been inhabited since the Stone Age. At Jurina pećina there are stone artefacts 50 000 years old. Kaštela has a long and rich history. The Siculi archaeological site from ancient times is located in Resnik. The site is very large but there are also many smaller sites stretching eastwards along the whole length of the city, as far as the ancient city of Salona, within the area of today’s Solin. The area’s mild climate, Kaštela Bay’s natural harbour, lush valleys sheltered by Kozjak Mountain and abundance of freshwater are some of the features of this area recognized and appreciated by many a ruler and potentate throughout this area’s history.

A short distance away is the renaissance castle of Vitturi and kaštel (fort) Rušinac. The castle and the kaštel tell the legend of an unhappy love. The kaštel was built on a cliff. The legend tells a story about Miljenko and Dobrila and their love for each other. The story ends in tragedy due to a feud between the lovers’ families. The story is eerily reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In the Vitturi Castle, which was Dobrila’s home, there is the Museum of the city of Kaštela, Kaštela Tourist Office and city library. Right next to Rušinac, where Miljenko lived, there is the medieval Church of St. John where, according to Dobrila’s wishes, the bodies of the lovers rest.

In ancient times Kaštela was a part of Salona and Tragurium, comprising numerous rustic villas and mansions. At the beginning of the 7th century, the Kaštela field was populated by the Croats, who founded the first habitations at the foot of Kozjak. Later they became the estates of the -royal family of Trpimirović, with the seat in Klis and outhouses in Biaći. During the Turkish invasions (15th/16th c.), the owners of Katela estates from Split and Trogir built fortifications on the coast. The rural population from the area below Kozjak also settled there for the reasons of security.

Originaly the fortress consisted of an outer wall and a tower at the entrance. The inhabitants built houses using the outer defence wall. Today the original shape can still be seen in parts of the castle as displayed in the picture displayed underneath.

roman ornaments in Kastel Gomilica near to Kastilac castle