Kaštela

Kaštela stretches for roughly 17 kilometres along Kaštela Bay between Split and Trogir. Its defining feature is not a single centre but seven historic settlements: Kaštel Sućurac, Gomilica, Kambelovac, Lukšić, Stari, Novi and Štafilić, each developed around fortified residences known as kaštela. Vitturi Castle in Kaštel Lukšić now houses the Kaštela Town Museum, and the local story of Miljenko and Dobrila is linked to the Vitturi and Rušinić families. Urban beaches such as Gabine, Đardin, Šumica and Baletna škola line the waterfront, making it easy to mix sightseeing with swimming. Kaštela also has a practical transport advantage: Split Airport lies at the western edge of the city and Kaštel Stari has a railway station. Its position between the UNESCO-listed centres of Split and Trogir makes it a useful base for both, while the seven old centres, castles and long waterfront provide enough substance for a day devoted entirely to Kaštela.

Rather than revolving around one old town, Kaštela unfolds as seven historic settlements between Split and Trogir. Its character grew around fortified seaside residences built by noble families from Split to protect their estates and communities. Exploring Kaštela therefore means following a chain of waterfronts, castles and churches from Sućurac to Štafilić. Mount Kozjak rises behind the coast, while Kaštela Field preserves the story of Crljenak Kaštelanski, the local grape genetically linked to Zinfandel. At the Stomorija Biblical Garden, that relationship between landscape and heritage continues through biblical plants, a small vineyard of native varieties and Vasko Lipovac’s wooden sculpture of Noah’s Ark.