Maslinica
About this place
Maslinica occupies Šolta’s western tip, tucked into a naturally sheltered harbour facing seven islets: Polebrnjak, Saskinja, Stipanska, Kamik, Balkun, Rudula and Grmej. The settlement grew around a fortified residence built by the Marchi family in 1708 to protect their new estate and its inhabitants from pirate attacks. That stronghold is now the Martinis Marchi heritage hotel, while the adjoining marina defines the village’s modern yachting character. Above the harbour, St Nicholas’ Church provides views over the islets towards Drvenik and Trogir; south of the houses, pine-covered shores lead into deeply indented Šešula Bay. Maslinica’s main pebble beach looks directly towards the archipelago, and nearby Šipkova contains Šolta’s only sandy beach. Island buses connect Maslinica with Rogač, reached from Split by Jadrolinija’s 60-minute car ferry or a 30-minute catamaran. Sunset behind the seven islets remains Maslinica’s signature view.
Maslinica is the only settlement at Šolta’s far western coast, developed at the head of a naturally sheltered harbour. Its layout and identity stem from the Marchi family castle, around which farmers and seafarers from the Dalmatian hinterland and Herzegovina settled after 1708. Seven islets across the harbour entrance create the village’s unmistakable seaward horizon and shelter part of its waters. The restored Martinis Marchi residence and marina have turned this former fishing village into a yachting centre, yet its stone houses, St Nicholas’ Church and the path towards Šešula still reveal Maslinica’s older island character.
Stays
No stays listed here yet
Things to see
Martinis Marchi was built in 1708 as a fortified residence with an inner courtyard and a prominent four-storey tower. Cannon openings, keyhole-shaped loopholes, machicolations and a corner sentry post expressed its defensive purpose, while an inscription dated 1708 recorded the construction and settlement of Maslinica. The complex now operates as a heritage hotel beside the marina. On the hill south of the bay, the Marchi family also built St Nicholas’ Church, whose viewpoint overlooks neighbouring coves, the seven islets and the coast towards Drvenik and Trogir. The islet group itself forms Maslinica’s defining natural landmark.
Dvorac Martinis Marchi u Maslinici
Landmark · Maslinica
Martinis Marchi Castle is a fortified 1708 residence on Maslinica’s waterfront.
Beaches
Maslinica’s main beach is a developed pebble bathing area overlooking the seven islets, with a nearby beach bar offering equipment for water activities. South of the village, pine-covered shores conceal smaller rocky entries into the sea for swimmers seeking space beyond the central beach. Šipkova Bay, between Maslinica and Donja Krušica, is exceptional because it contains Šolta’s only genuinely sandy beach and can be reached on foot or by car. Šešula is primarily a deeply sheltered yachting cove, but visitors can also reach it overland from Maslinica for swimming beside the bay.
Bathing water quality nearby
- Maslinica · 556 mexcellent · season 2025
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA); data from Croatian authorities. · bathing water profile
Things to do
Begin around the harbour and the exterior of Martinis Marchi, where the tower, gun openings and corner sentry post still reveal the former fortified complex. Then climb to St Nicholas’ Church for views over the seven islets towards Trogir and Drvenik. Spend the afternoon on the main pebble beach or hire a kayak to explore the nearest islets. Towards evening, walk or cycle south to Šešula, Maslinica’s deeply sheltered anchorage. A longer inland outing follows the route through Donje Selo and Srednje Selo, while the west-facing waterfront provides the natural place to watch sunset behind the archipelago.
Food and drink
Dining around Maslinica focuses on two markedly different settings: the historic Martinis Marchi complex beside the harbour and the natural anchorage of Šešula Bay. The restored castle restaurant provides the more formal experience within a property that began as the Marchi family’s 1708 stronghold. Šešula, by contrast, is an excursion reached on foot, by bicycle, car or boat, and Šolta’s tourist board specifically highlights its combination of dining and sheltered moorings. Across island menus, look for Šolta olive oil, honey and wine, three products promoted as central to the island’s culinary identity.
Practical information
Practical information
Visitor information for Maslinica is provided by the Šolta Tourist Board from its office at Podkuća 8 in Grohote. Maslinica has a small marina and essential seasonal facilities around the harbour, while a broader choice of shops and island services is concentrated in Grohote. Bring water and footwear suitable for an unpaved approach when heading to Šipkova, and check wind and local boat traffic before kayaking among the seven islets. Motorists using the Split–Rogač ferry should buy a ticket for a specific departure; Jadrolinija’s 2026 guidance recommends reaching the terminal at least 45 minutes early.
Getting there and around
Cars reach Šolta on Jadrolinija’s Split–Rogač ferry, a 60-minute crossing for which a 2026 ticket also reserves space on the chosen sailing. The passenger catamaran takes about 30 minutes from Split to Rogač. When boats arrive, one bus outside the Rogač terminal heads west towards Maslinica, while another serves Stomorska in the east. A state road links Maslinica through Grohote, and the cycle route towards Donje Selo offers a car-free way to explore western Šolta. Return journeys should always be planned by matching the island bus with the specific boat departure from Rogač.
Frequently asked questions
How many islets lie off Maslinica?
Seven islets face Maslinica harbour: Polebrnjak, Saskinja, Stipanska, Kamik, Balkun, Rudula and Grmej.
When was Martinis Marchi built?
The Marchi family’s fortified residence was built in 1708 to defend the settlement against pirate attacks.
Is there a sandy beach near Maslinica?
Yes. Šipkova Bay between Maslinica and Donja Krušica contains Šolta’s only genuinely sandy beach.
How do you reach Maslinica from Rogač?
An island bus leaves from outside the Rogač ferry terminal for western Šolta and Maslinica.
Nearby
Šolta
Village · Šolta
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Photo credits
- Šolta — OpenStreetMap contributors · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Drvenik Veliki — b.roveran · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Okrug Donji — kresimir.krhac · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Okrug — Damian Szczepaniak, Szczepan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
