Baška Voda | Striking Dalmatian Shoreline Lining Turquoise Waters.

Baška Voda is one of those shining gems immediately able to conquer every visitor landing on a striking Dalmatian shoreline lining turquoise waters which shows with all its splendour that magnificent coastal stretch of Croatia called Makarska Riviera just 52,0 kilometres south of  the captivating and historic city of Split and 163,0 kilometres north of the pearl of the Adriatic Dubrovnik.
 

That splendid seaside resort town lies in a stunning bay which starts after the small centre of Brela in a magnificent position facing the enchanting island of Brac at a very short distance from Makarska which is just 10,0 kilometres away dominated by the Dinarsko Gorje, the fascinating Dinaric Alps which protect that town as guards adding it a further appeal completing a scenery simply outstanding with a mild climate all year.

That municipality of approximately 2750,0 inhabitants is subdivided in five Naselje corresponding to villages or fractions under the same political administation such as Bast, Promajna, Krvavica, Baška Voda and Bratuš, once independent settlements and occupying all together a surface of 19,0 square kilometres.

Some of the most enchanting post cards and spots of that town are its wonderful waterfront with unforgettable panoramic views towards several scattered stupendous islands and islets in the Adriatic Sea, another one simply astonishing are the sights along the panoramic road Obala Sveti Nikole, the maritime promenade of St. Nicholas crossing the entire centre and a further one is its picturesque Luka, the local harbour which transmits anytime a captivating fascination.

The marvellous lights and the reflections generated by the sun rays falling on crystalline waters lining that ravishing jagged  coastline of that marvellous corner of the Eastern Mediterranean form unique colours and tonalities  bewitching everybody next to a relaxing atmosphere you can breathe every time strolling the narrow old streets and small squares of Baška Voda are other great highlights of a place born to enchant myriad of visitors in a while.

Despite its size that Dalmatian resort boasts  in its boundaries a notable historic patrimony with superb monuments and that is another aspect which attracts the visitor result of  the presence of considerable civilisations who left in that land indelible cultural marks also in a well conserved architecture, a detail which adds that site a very charming image.

Another relevant feature is the total absence of contamination making that site a very loved climatic destination in addition during summer season despite many sunny warm days but never too hot evenings and nights are very ventilated and the word humidity does not exist.

 The great job of the local Tourism Board and operators especially in the last decades consecrated Baška Voda as one of the best place to spend summer holidays in Dalmatia constantly entering in the selected preferences of many people.

The Blue Flower is a prestigious title that resort achieved some years ago, an award of relevant value concerning tourism in Croatia related to high qualities of environment preservation, services, facilities and that deserved prize undoubtedly increased its fame and prestige.

The emblematic Hotel Slavija played an important role about that as the most important pioneer structure devoted to hospitality starting a successful cycle of incoming operations followed by other new accommodations situated in very strategic locations which opened a new era in terms of capacity, quality and comfort ready to satisfy the most exigent requests.

A delicious gastronomy rich in flavours, variety and genuine products is also another incentive for all those who desire to enjoy superb holidays with a delectable gastronomy and many are the chances from that place to visit in radial excursions several small centres but offering great natural and artistic masterpieces.

That destination is very suggested for a multitude of people with varied tastes, tourists who love sun, sea, water sports, families with children, art and history lovers, photographers who can immortalise an Eden of marvels with unforgettable landscapes, people fond of cycling and cycle tourism.

Also passionate trekkers can enjoy their beloved activity in the immediate vicinity thanks to a large network of trails at the feet of the picturesque heights of the Dinaric Alps characterised by marvellous shaped summits of a unique beauty.

The history of that former fishing village is old, very interesting and rich of events linked to different rulers and including surrounded by ancient legends and myths which increase the captivating appeal of Baška Voda.

According to archaeological excavations in the municipal boundaries were found many relevant artifacts confirming the settlement of civilisations which highlighted in that land a very active artistic and cultural life since the Iron Age.

Originally settled by the Illyrians and probably before according to a legend surrounding that site by Thracian tribes which reached from East that corner of Dalmatia.

 Porto Bestonio, the Port of Biston  as it was called  Baška Voda during the times under Venetian rule is a denomination deriving from Biston who was one of the oldest ancestors of the Thracian dynasties who populated that Croatian land and the Balkans.

That character was according to mythological legends was son of the Hellenic God of the War Ares and the muse of poetry Calliope, daughter of Zeus also protector of the waters. 

The myth of that figure and his mother is related to water springs situated in the outskirts of the municipality and that Goddess was probably the protagonist of the appearance of those sources when in that time there was a lack of water in that territory.

In that area were found several relevant archaeological artifacts many of them dating back the Roman colonisation consisting in tombs, engraved stones, urns, lamps, statues  and other relevant objects as coins with the head of Marcus Aurelianus Severus Alexander Augustus, Roman Emperor from 222 to 235 and headstones depicting the 13 most ancient settlers of the settlement.

 All those artifacts attested that the Imperial colonists replaced important predecessors probably using that venerated site linked to those regarded divinities and encircled by a sort of magic aura.

The coastal territory was also inhabited by the Liburnians, a tribe probably related to an Illyrian branch who also lived in the nearest Otoci, the numerous islands offshore of the coast including on those facing the beautiful Istria Peninsula.

That population pretty belligerent according to historic documentations was mainly dedicated to several raids across the Adriatic creating serious problems for the first Greek explorers and colonists who reached the Dalmatian shoreline.

Those pirates were protagonists of several attacks and assaults to many Hellenic ships led by merchants and the same happened with their successors, the Romans who after their campaign of colonisation established  their settlements since 168 BC forming the Roman province of Illyricum.

That Empire to solve that problem sent numerous legions also starting to develop fortifications in all its ports along the Adriatic decreed with those defencive operations the end of landings and the piracy in those lands.

After those positive achievements that territory became a favourite destination of a good number of Patrician families some of them linked to the influential Severan dynasty founded by the General Septimius Severus, others descendants of the Emperor Tiberius continuing with Diocletian who born in Dalmatia and was Emperor from 284 to 305.

The fall of Rome generated multiple invasions coming from the Northern and Eastern Europe with Visigoths, Heruli and Ostrogoths who ravaged the local coast becoming for brief periods rulers of that vast area.

It was in 525 when the troops of the General Flavius ​​Belisarius under the order in that period of the Emperor Justinian Flavius ​​Petrus Sabbatius also well known as Justinian the Great conquered practically the entire Dalmatia including the current centre determining the return of the second Roman cycle with the Byzantine Empire with capital Constantinople.

That conquest and occupation generated that the major part of the population reached the major developed centres along the coast despite many people continued to live in the interior to stay far by possible future invasions.

In the case of Baška Voda a good number of inhabitants remained on a high plateau called Gradina overlooking the local coastline in that area previously mentioned rich of springs, settlers who were Latinised descendants of Illryans mainly farmers and shepherds who took their herds and animals to drink to those sources.

Between the 4th and 7th century was erected on that height a fortified citadel with a watchtower working as check point to control from that strategic position possible incursions coming by sea.

In that period during Byzantine domination as in occasion of the first Roman historic stage also those rulers suffered several raids by tribes mainly coming from East such as Huns, Avars, Magyars and Slavs.

The latter occupied Aronia, a territory linked to the current municipality and they assimilated the major part of those Illyrians generating the birth to the first Croatian dynasty.

Despite that Constantinople kept the major part of the influence of Dalmatia giving that population some territories corresponding to the immediate inland.

That period was highlighted by tense relationships because despite some truces and peaceful times there were also frequent disputes and clashes along the borders with villages conquered by one side and then by another determining unclear domains.

  

The decline of the Roman Empire of Orient was the start-up of the ascent of the first Croatian Kings as Tomislav I, a relevant member of the Trpimirovic dynasty who was able to unify the major part of Slavs from the Pannonia to the border of the Adriatic in the current Bosnia Hercegovina becoming a very influential character.

Considerable were in addition the Reigns of Stjepan Drzislav who was also named Patriarch of Croatia and Petar Kresimir IV, the last Sovereign of that dynasty in the 11th century.

After those rulers started the advent of the Marine Republic of Venice in the Middle Ages, a period which gave that land flourishing golden ages with a very active trade, several harbours were enlarged and fortified and many activities as fishing and trade reached a notable  relevance.

The current resort achieved notable positive results thanks also to a new system of political organisation established by the Venetian Doges with autonomy in base of productive mercantile business and it was named since then Porto Bestonio.

Despite all those improvements a new enemy merged during those flourishing timesof the Marine Republic of St. Mark, the Ottoman Empire which enlarged its domain all around the Balkans including occupying many coastal lands.

A third rival was Hungary which in the same period expanded its influence until the borders of Dalmatia and that trio of contenders was protagonist of numerous disputes in those territories between the Adriatic and heart of Europe.

The 17th century was a period in which the former Venetian settlement started to be an official harbour town with also a developed agglomeration of houses and new buildings. In those years the inhabitants who populated the coastline were mainly devoted to fishing while just a minority of the population continued to live on the nearest height of Gradina living of agriculture and sheep farms.

Those times were also very important for the local community because its name started to appear with the denomination Basca on a Venetian map published by the friar Vincenzo Coronelli in 1688 and it was also known by the Austrian Navy.

Venice lost in alternate periods on the Adriatic some lands due to the several battles against the Ottoman fleet and including the current resort was for a period occupied by the Turks.

In the 18th century the inhabitants of Bast, a village on the hill of Sveti Ilija Gora decided to descend towards the centre and with the support of Venetian soldiers were able to expel the Turkish community settled there.Since then those settlers mostly farmers established their residences near the harbour.

The fall of Venice in 1797 was the beginning of a tumultuous historical course the old Porto Bestonio which was for a short time in the hands of Napoleon Bonaporte who ordered to the French troops to occupy all the villages facing the Island of Brac and later the town fell under Austro Hungarian-Empire influence.

Despite new cultural and social reforms during Hapsburg House domination but with frequent local riots and the two World Wars tied Baška Voda and Dalmatia before in the Reign of the Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian in occasion of the fall of the Austrian Empire in 1918 while after the 2nd War became part of the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia led by Josip Broz alias Marshal Tito living for over four decades in that Confederation.

Since 1991 with the creation of the new independent Republika Hrvatska the Republic of Croatia that seaside resort is part of that Nation.

Baška Voda today has in the Tourism Industry one of its main sources. The important development since the early 20th century and the operations managed to connect Makarska Riviera to the islands of the archipelago with ferry services especially to the nearest Brac island gave  impulses to create something of important in many tourism incoming issues.

The local centre is mainly arranged close to its charming and picturesque Luka, the harbour dominated by the Dinaric Alps with the long road Obala Sveti Nikole running along the entire local coastal stretch from north to south meeting Ulica Vladimira Nazora at north consisting in one of the main arteries converging towards the municipal core.

 Ulica Zrinskih i Frankopana is a parallel road which directly connects the heart of Baška Voda to the harbour and the maritime promenade. Ulica Andrije Kacica Mosica is another important artery consisting in a long avenue corresponding to the central axis of the town which horizontally crosses the entire beating heart of the municipality.

A suggested point to start your visit also for its historic value is from a Church erected in 1750 called Crkva Svetog Lovre, a Catholic temple dedicated to St. Lawrence established on the foundations of a previous Sacred structure elevated in the Middle Ages.

Despite the date of construction and its classification as a late Baroque Ecclesiastic complex the aspect of that Religious building has for shape, high and width a vague profile of medieval construction.

Developed on a rectangular plan with an architectural style which reflects some links with a sort of medieval revival in modern more modern key very evident in the execution of lines and details in the transept and apse including in the material used while the aspect of the front side is mainly Baroque.

It has a charming stone facade on which was placed a wooden rectangular portal and above a sloping roof you can see a small belfry containing a bronze bell.

Crkva Svetog Nikole is another Church younger than the previous dated the late 19th century, ended in 1889 and dedicated to St. Nicholas, Patron of sailors, fishermen and merchants.

That white building established on a wide and long rectangular base is much bigger than Crkva Svetog Lovre with an ample facade with well marked outlines, boasting a scenic a rose window situated beneath a circular clock with Roman numbers placed under a section consisting in a vertical protuberance annexed to the front side containing in its higher part a belfry topped by a cross.

The lines of its gable roof and its silhouette are of a traditional Baroque style and on its right side was elevated a high bell tower with arched windows in and a polygonal roof topped by a cross fixed on a square base.

St. Nikola is the Patron Saint of the town and the municipality shows with pride a big bronze statue depicting him in that sculpture placed on a stone pedestal in proximity of that Church and not far from the beach.

Despite its size on a human scale the resort has other interesting Churches in its territory,  Croatia is a country which had a strong cultural development linked to the Catholicism with the construction of several Monasteries and Convents  also used as school of Theology, productive activities managed by monks of different Orders including focused to create historical archives.

One of them is Crkva Svih Svetih, the Church of all Saints a modern building with a very sober aspect painted with a light colour and located in front of a beautiful garden with olive trees.

The construction is pretty recent because it was built in 1999 on a rectangular plan with a high facade flanked on its right side by an imposing tower erected on a quadrangular base. One of its main highlights is a scenic spire in brick colour clearly of Venetian architectural inspiration.

One of the oldest Churches of Baška Voda is Crkva Svetog Roka, erected in the 15th century and designed following the traditional medieval architectural canons of Italian school during the times of Venice rule. It is a fine stone building with a small rose window on its main facade and a gable roof surmounted by a small turret.

Obala Promenada, the maritime promenade also known as Obala Svetog Nikole is of course a great local spot and also a place to enjoy pleasant walks admiring the fascinating panoramic images towards the Adriatic that lively hallway offers.

Very suggested is a walk of approximately 500, 0 /600, 0 metres from the centre towards south and in that point you will have a great view of the entire harbour and its quays from a very captivating perspective, great view point for people fond of photography taking home pleasant memories of a very fascinating place.

The local beach is another attraction, it is not very wide butpretty long with some sandy sections but mainly covered by pebbles and gravel.

What attracts a multitude of tourists is definitely the great quality of the turquoise and crystalline waters extremely loved for that unforgettable tonality which is in its kind a superb landmark of the Dalmatian shoreline.

The Blue Flag on Baška Voda beach  is constant year by year, cleanliness, maintenance are features since a long time highlighting that marvel, it is in addition easily accessible without natural barriers and the major part of the accommodations and Hotels are in its immediate vicinity.

Its conformation  is pretty straight but towards Brela at north is arched and from that point there are also some charming coves and inlets highly attractive.

The pristine presence of the beautiful Mediterranean vegetation immediately close to the coastline beneath the pleasant view of stupendous gray cliffs of the nearest mountains makes everything more pleasant and picturesque in a superb and scenic picture of that place extremely loved by several photographers.

 Water sports are the main outdoor activities practised in the seaside resort, a perfect place for diving, sailing and wind surfing lovers.

 The great success of  Baška Voda as resort started to have first notable signals in the 30's during the construction of the Riviera road connecting the municipality to other resorts.

In that period the previously mentioned Hotel Slavija was the first accommodation erected in the resort and also for that it is a sort of icon. Many people who spent a stay there repeated the experience without hesitations because it has a long history and it is a a more than beloved accommodation.

That Hotel was an emblematic tourist engine of the resort and it was also since its inception promoted abroad obtaining in the Exhibition Fair of London several positive opinions and including the town was also awarded with a prize in that important event. 

Since then the resort started to develop a brilliant escalation of success as seaside resort and that hospitality structure was elevated as a kind of emblem and flag.

The proximity to other important destinations as Makarska and Split definitely supported that site to conquer a place of relevance in the tourism ranking. Obviously that striking Dalmatian shoreline lining those turquoise waters was another incentive attracting several tourists who immediately fell in love with that Adriatic Paradise which offers all around places simply unforgettable.

At north you can immediately admire some stunning promontories in the immediate outskirts of the town in proximity of Brela after a small wild gulf and in addition you will be delighted by a series of picturesque inlets and two further fantastic sharp headlands forming an ample scenic bay. 

In that concrete place you will have a fantastic frontal view of the island of Brac with the Gulf of Povlja, one of the most panoramic and suggestive places of Dalmatia, highly recommended if you want to admire something of simply fabulous.

I recommend you to continue to Brela, it is a small centre with approximately 1500,0 inhabitants with a magnificent waterfront and a stunning pebbled beach. 

Its position is simply wonderdul because it lies beneath the Biokovo mountain range also called Bijakova with the peak Sveti Jure which with its 1762,0 metres is the second highest height of the entire Croatia.

Do not miss Liskamen the beach of that site absolutely wonderful for its cliffs, inlets and green vegetation behind it of extreme beauty and many centuries ago it said it was a favourite haven of the ancient Liburnians. 

In that place you can also admire the stunning image of Kamen Brela, a small rocky islet situated just some metres off Punta Rata Beach which is one of the most photographed sites of the entire Makarska Riviera. It was also awarded by Forbes magazine some years ago inserted in the Top Ten most beautiful beaches in the world and number one in Europe.

That place was mentioned and visited in the 10th century by the Emperor Constantine VII, also known as "The Purple Born" fourth Monarch of a Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire and notorious because he reached the throne in 941 being an illegitimate son.

Brela in addition is very famous for a medieval necropolis in its boundaries with eight tombstones with some reliefs depicting shields and swords next to a Baroque Church.

Other highlights of that special place are the production of Maraska, iconic cherries very sour, fine wines as an elegant and supreme Prosek and a superb Breljanska Vugava.


 

Once there I suggest you to reach Gornja Brela, the high borough of the municipality situated on a scenic height. From there you can enjoy fabulous views to remember forever and it is also a place very appreciated by trekkers and nature lovers for its typical Mediterranean vegetation mixed with rugged high cliffs and spectacular wild gorges.

If you want to admire something else of really spectacular I recommed to continue towards north reaching a small coastal town called Dugi Rat in direction Split along a striking shoreline lining mesmerising  azure waters.

In that place there is a spectacular and stunning peninsula entirely facing the enchanting Northern shore of Brac Island with a striking view of the headland of Supetar, a divine image among the most charming and fascinating of Croatia.

If you have the opportunity to spend a late afternoon at sunset there you can take some marvellous pictures to make superb posters, a more than recommended places to visit during your holidays in Dalmatia.

From that site returning to Baska Voda, a suggestion is a stop in the nearest Omis. In that point there is an ample coastal bend with a great view od Makarska Riviera. It in one of its most scenic and wild sections and immediately after you will be delighted by a pretty wide gulf very picturesque.

A further excursion very recommended is towards south until reaching the outskirts of Makarska. That coastal stretch is particularly suggestive because after a couple of kilometres the coastline has a great change of scenery. At the beginning it is pretty straight as a highway but then start a great series of coves and hidden inlets until reaching a stunning promontory.

From there you can enjoy the magnificent view of the island of Hvar, another diamond of Dalmatia and on a side towards East the magnificent image of the peaks of the Dinarsko Gorje which changes colours from light to dark grey and including in some points in brown depending different reflections of the sun.

In addition to all that there are also there many opportunities to practise trekking at high level in the area of Biokovo Gora and other trails across Dinarsko Gorje with many places
in which you can discover shining natural treasure, wild forests, picturesque villages and very interesting paths leading to small village flanked during the ascent by olive groves and vineyards.

Cycling and mountain bike across a virgin environment, enjoying in a few of kilometres, magnificent plateaus, rugged coasts and admiring those blue wonderful waters under a warm Mediterranean sun is another great incentive to take in high consideration for those who desire a very active holidays.

Local gastronomy is absolutely delicious with fish and seafood absolute protagonists and main culinary highlights always fresh and there are several plates using those delectable sea products very appreciated for their high quality.

The famed Brodet is an exquisite fish stew prepared with conger, eel and also grouper seasoned with an addition of parsley, onion, pepper, laurel and tomatoes. 

Do not miss to try the exquisite Rizot, a delectable risotto prepared with cuttlefish or also with squid and clams.

The Skampi Na buzaru is another plate which reflects the true seafaring gastronomic spirit of Dalmatia consisting in a mix of scampi, oysters and mussels adding in the process of preparation bread crumb, garlic, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Na Leso is a well known combination of fish cooked with the addition of laurel, pepper and vinegar, depending of the local traditions the fish used for that plate could be seabream and hake but also grouper coupled with conger.

Another speciality is grilled sea bass with a touch of extra virgin olive oil, salt and herbs,  the Grilled Orada, a superb local sea brass and also octopus are pride of the entire Dalmatia, baked and flavoured by olive oil, garlic, pepper, wine, onion and served with potatoes.

 Many fish dishes are accompanied by boiled potatoes, chards, cabbage or also Polenta, a plate inherited since the times of the Venetian rulers.

Not only fish and seafood are present in the local gastronomy. Once there try Dalmatinski Prsut, a very delectable local cured ham often present in appetisers and starters. Of high reputation are sausages of excellent quality as the Kobasica and try the Kulen, a sort of Croatian salami very similar to that one with the same name produced in the nearest Slovenia.

Another delight considered a national plate is the famed Sarma, that popular recipe in which minced meat but also rice adding spices are wrapped in cabbage leaves and also very famed are the famous Cevapvcici, those iconic meat cylinders similar to sausages served with cheese, onion and sour cream, plates very common also in the nearest Serbia.

Also lamb and beef meats are of high level, you can try the famed Pasticada, a superb meat stew prepared with carrots, garlic, bacon, onion, parsley, cloves. In some occasions it served served with the popular Njoki, very similar to the Italian gnocchi. Very appreciated is also the Odojak, a traditional roast pork pretty common in the interior of the land.

About desserts and cakes some of the most popular recipes are the notorious Palacinke, Baklava, Fritule and Struklji, the latter very typical all around the country and several bakery products include in their preparation honey, nuts and fruit.

Many are the fine and selected wines. Croatia thanks to its mild climate and an old tradition produces excellent grapes some of the most suggested wines are Knezevo, Dingac, Rukatac, Babic, Sveta Ana and there are also excellent local Merlot, Opol, Postup, Prosek and Carsko among others.

Resnik Split International Airport is situated at just 90, 0 kilometres from the resort and by E65 via Dogopolje in an hour and some minutes driving you will be at destination.

Baška Voda is a splendid festival of colours and lights and the views of those captivating islands in unforgettable sunsets along that striking Dalmatian shoreline are something unique which will be your daily delight during all the days you will spend there.

Those fabulous turquoise and limpid waters will bewitch you in a while and the immediate feeling will be that to think the choice of that seaside resort was fantastically perfect, a more than right place to spend a wonderful holiday in an unforgettable place.

That resort is an Eden in the spectacular and fascinating Adriatic, a great and enchanting destination which will donate you stupendous memories to conserve in your best trips all time because the Dalmatian Riviera is simply wonderful in all its magic splendour in sites like that.

Francesco Mari

Recommended Accommodation in Baska Voda

Hotel Villa Bacchus

Apartthotel Milenij

Hotel Croatia

Hotel Dorijini Dvori

Hotel Slavija

Putnik Apartments

Recommended Restaurants in Baska Voda

Restaurant Palac

Restaurant Bracera

Restaurant King

Useful links

 www.dalmatia.hr
www.baskavoda.hr

www.hotel-bacchus.hr

www.hotel-milenij.com

www.dorija-hoteli.com

hoteli-baskavoda.hr
www.makarskainfo.com