Kastela - my favorite place in Croatia, Kastel Novi

by lindamura review

► added on 7th of August, 2008

Kastela –sights -Croatia

The name Kastela refers to seven settlements located in the coastal part of the bay between Trogir and Solin. The settlements were built around castles each very different in style. Three of these settlements are very popular tourist resorts along the Kastela Riviera.

Kastela can be divided into 2 bigger areas Gornja meaning upper and Donja meaning lower.

The settlements were raised around fortified edifices that gave protection. But during the onslaughts of the Turks into the area the people abandoned the villages and settled around the citadels.

Sucurac was the first citadel built by the Split archbishop Gualdo in 1329. It was modified and widened in 1488 and in 1510 it was finished and given the form you can see today. There is a fortified Gothic palace, a closed courtyard and an old tower.

Kastel Kambelovac was built in 1478 by the Cambi family. It is a beautiful citadel surrounded by the sea and inside you can see a palace, a tower and the place named after the family who built the citadel: villa Albert Cambi.

Kastel Luksic- as built by Vitturi family as a summer house in 1487, just to be reconstructed in 1563. The family built the castle to protect them and the people from invaders. It also had a drawbridge that later on was replaced with one made of stone. There is even a legend connected to the castle the legend of Milijenko and Dobrila, two lovers whose story is similar to the one of Romeo and Juliet. In 2001 the settlement was renovated and it houses the Local Museum of Kastela and some cultural institutions. The castle today is an important cultural venue. Tataglia- Ambrossini castle is located in Kastel Lusic and was turned into a pension in 1909.

Kastel Stari- was built by Koriolan Cipiko in the 15th century and looks like a summer palace. It is located between Trogir and Split an area rich in nice beaches that determined the local barons to build a lot of summer houses. Tourists can visit the area and its buildings and even decide to accommodate in one of them.

Kastel Novi- situated next to Kastel Stari, it was built to the order of Pavao Cipko. You can see here a small Renaissance church dating 1586 and a clock from 18th century. It is part of Kastela Riviera and it is a popular tourist resort. There are plenty of festivities and cultural activities taking place during summer.

Kastel Staflic – was built by Stjepan Stafileo in 1508. There is a parish church inside dating the 18th century. It is located between Trogir and Solin in a sunny place with plenty of green spaces and nice beaches that are sandy in some places under the water.

With so many castles around the area, history reveals itself. And if the noblemen who built them found the places so irresistible as to build summer houses here, you will think the same way.