In Kaštel Sućurac stands the oldest defensive fortress built in 1392 by A. Gvaldo the archbishop of Split to protect peasants from the settlement Putalj which was situated on the slopes of Kozjak, near the little church of St. Juraj. Additional building formed a settlement by the sea.

Archbishop Averaldo built his summer residence in 1488, and castle gets its final form in 1509. The oldest center of Sućurac is Kaštilac, a yard of fortified palace – villa with the south wall opened by lavishly decorated windows in High Gothic style. Unlike other villages the square is here formed on the south side of the summer residence. Today, there is the exhibition room "Podvorje" where one part of archeological artifacts from Putalj is held.

Only the bell tower remained of the parish church built in 16th century after Allied bombing in 1943.
A transcript of Trpimir's deed of donation written at Bijaći in front of St. Marta’s church on 3 March 852, is kept in the treasury of the new parish church as well as the old stone arch from Sućurac, other stone monuments, parts of wooden Baroque statues from the altar of the old parish church, large number of items made of silver and gold (religious objects and jewelry – parts of Kaštela folk costumes).

North of Kaštel Sućurac there is a church Gospe od Doca, today known as Gospe na Hladi. It was the parish church of a settlement called Sela. More to the north lie remains of a pre-Romanic church of St. Juraj od Putalja dating from 14th century which was a grant of duke Mislav with fragments of pleter decorations. The new church was built in 1927. Archeological surveys around the church and the nearby cemetery discovered a Roman and a pre-historic layer.

Kaštel Sućurac is the starting point of a marked mountain trail, which leads to Vela stina, the mountain house Putalj (480m), along a path to the Vrata saddle on the ridge of Kozjak and farther westbound over a plateau to the church of St. Luka (690 m).

Tourists can find comfortable accommodation in hospitable hosts’ rooms and apartments.

King Zvonimir in the year 1078 granted an estate in the Field of Kaštela to the convent of Benedictine nuns. A pre-Romanic church of St. Kuzma and Damjan was built there in the 12th century, over remains of an ancient necropolis and an early-Christian church (findings of early-Christian sarcophagi). The relics of St. Virgin Mary, St. Kuzma and Damjan, and the king Stephen of Hungay are kept there near a Roman villa rustica. An oak, over 700 years old, stands in front of the church, under which, according to the legend, Croatian king Zvonimir rested there once.

In 1545 Benedictine nuns completed building of Kaštilac on a reef called Gomilica. The entrance was protected by high keep and a drawbridge. A few families from a ravaged settlement Kozice lived also in the fortress. The other residents built their houses near by the sea.

The old parish church from the 18th century is noted for its carved Baroque doors.

Fulgencije Bakotić, a wood carver and a priest was born in Kaštel Gomilica in the 18th century. He was well-known for his crucifixes. One of them is in the parish church, two in the Poljud monastery, one in the Museum of the Town of Kaštela and a few in Italian monasteries.

Private accommodation offers various possibilities of tourist reception.

In 1517, in accordance with approval from 1478, noblemen and landowners from Split brothers Jerolim and Nikola Cambi, built a castle on a islet to protect themselves and residents of Lažan and Kruševik settlements. The castle was cylindrically shaped (only one in Kaštela) and very suitable for defense.

In the area of Kaštel Kambelovac castles of Grissogono i Lipeo families have been built. Peasants from an old Croatian village Kruševik built two castles, Velika and Mala Piškera. It was the only example where peasants have built their fortresses. Due to the large number of castles Kaštel Kambelovac developed in a stretched village.

On the slopes of Kozjak is a little church of St. Martin od Kruševika, former center of the Kruševik village. Today this church is known as Gospe na Krugu or Gospe od Snijega. North of Kruševik in the Lažana region the medieval church of St. Mihovil was built on the slope of Kozjak of the same name.

There is a guard house from the 16th century on the western side of the slope and a fortress Kaštilica near the summit of the mountain. Marked paths lead to these churches and mountain houses under Koludar (325 m) and Orlovo gnijezdo. Farther uphill and to the northeast mountaineers would exit to the ridge of Kozjak over slick vertical cliff secured by a steel rope. From there the path leads to Veliki vrj (780 m), the highest point of Kozjak. The upper part of the path is only for experienced mountaineers.

In the western part of modern Kaštel Lukšić Mihovil Rosani built his castle in 1482. This is an obvious example that castles were built on the sea reefs. There was a small village around Rušinac, which was abandoned due to security reasons. The church of St. Ivan is there.

Nikola i Jerolim Vitturi, noblemen from Trogir, get the doge's permission to build a castle by the sea in order to protect their families and peasants of the Ostrog village on the Balovan reef. The castle was completed as a lavish palace in 1564. it consisted of residential two-story building with balcony and emergency exit to the sea on the south side and of two defensive keeps and a drawbridge as a connection with the mainland on the northern side. The drawbridge was replaced with a one-arc stone bridge in the 18th century. In the center of the castle is a yard with arcades and galleries on the 1st and 2nd floor.

The Museum of the Town of Kaštela, the Tourism Board of Kaštela and some cultural institutions found their place in the renovated Vitturi castle today. It becomes a cultural center of the town. Exhibitions, concerts, theatre shows take place there.

A village with a defensive wall was built around the castle. The Gothic – Renaissance Gospe od Uznesenja church is on the northern edge of the old village and was built in 1530 in the Gothic style. The new parish church was built from 1776 -1817 in the Late Baroque style. Is a real treasury of artwork, paintings and statues. It keeps a Piazzetta's Baroque crucifix (17th century), an chalice cover of Palma Junior (16th century) – “Madonna’s Assumption”, a painting “Madonna with the child” (15th century) at the main altar, the altar grave of St. Arnir, a work of Juraj Dalmatinac (15th century).

There is also the Tataglia – Ambrossini castle in Lukšić. Dr. Henrik Šoulavy from Prague visited Kaštela in 1903, bought that castle, and in it in 1909 opened the first pension in Kaštela.

Kaštel Lukšić is well known for its Miljenko and Dobrila legend. They were Romeo and Juliet of Kaštela, lovers whose love, even though they married, ended tragically. The classicistic-style Vitturi Park from the second part of the 18th century is in the immediate vicinity of the castle. He was founded by Radoš Micheli Vitturi. It was declared a monument of park architecture in 1968. This park and only a few others like Gučetić's in Trsteno, Garanjin's in Trogir and Borelli's in u St. Filip and Jakov are the rare monuments of this kind.

Not far from the Vitturi park stands the border stone pylon which marked border between domains of noblemen from Trogir and Split.

Beneath Kozjak, on the Balavan ridge (259 m) there is the church of St. Lovre od Ostroga. Ostrog was a village where didići (free peasants working on their own land) had their centre. This village was first mentioned in 1171. The settlement was built on remains of Roman and Illyrian settlements. The church of St. Ivan Biranj (637 m) was built at the highest part of the western Kozjak where an Illyrian fort once was.

On the St. Ivan Biranj's Day the head of the village was elected, and that is probably why the church got that name.

Hotel Kastel, Villa Žarko and private accommodation are guarantees for every visitor's pleasant vacation.

At a sea reef a nobleman from Trogir Koriolan Cipico, writer, humanist, military leader in the battle of Lepanto had his mansion built in 1476. Later it got its present name Kaštel Stari (the old castle). He built the mansion which was a combination of fortress and palace. It was connected to the mainland by a drawbridge (brvno). This is the reason why areas in front of the castles are named Brce (brvce). After fire in 1493 it was renovated in the Renaissance style with arcaded yard and the southern balcony decorated by the family coat of arms.

Residents of Radun, a village on slopes of Kozjak build their houses around the castle. Perimeters of the village are visible even today. Streets of the village have a rectangular pattern which could be seen in the ground plans from 1704. There is the church of St. Josip inside the village built in the 17th century by Celije Čipiko.

The parish church of St. Ivan Krstitelj (St. John the Baptist) was consecrated in 1641 and renewed in 1714. The interior is decorated with five marble altars and five altar covers. The miraculous icon of Gospa od Milosti (Our Lady of Mercy) and body of St. Felicije patron saint of the village are kept in the church.

The palace of Celio Cega family, built in the18th century is to the west from the church. Foundations of the Andreis castle could be seen on the seafloor lttle more to the west.

The new parish church is particular because its building lasted from 1871 to 1970.

The old Croatian church of St. Juraj od Raduna (St. George) from 9th /10th century witness about existence of Radun, a village on slopes of Kozjak. The church is preserved in its original shape.

One-nave space is decorated by shallow niches. Niches divide outer wall of the rectangle apse. Archeological surveys of surrounding graves proved continuity of burials from the 9th - 15th century. Old Croatian jewelry and artifacts found in those graves are kept in the Museum of the Town of Kaštela.

Marked mountain path leads from Kaštel Stari to the Malačka saddle (480 m) where mountain houses Malačka and Split are located. These houses are starting points for mountaineering paths through Kozjak and Kaštela Hinterland. This is the easiest accessible lookout with magnificent view on Velo and Malo Kaštela Field, the bay, Split, Marjan, Trogir and Central Dalmatian islands.

A chapel with cross was built to the west at the nearby peak in memory of men of Kaštela killed in the Homeland War.

Except in private accommodation visitors of Kaštel Stari may choose stay in a camp or the Palace hotel.

Pavao Antun Ćipiko, a nobleman from Trogir had his castle built in1512 in form of a rectangular keep. A settlement developed around the castle. It was encircled by a defensive wall on its eastern, northern and western side and by the sea on the south. At the entrance to the village on the northern side, Brce developed where the confraternity's house with a clock was built in 1775.

The parish church of St. Petar od Klobučca was built on foundations of a church from the 13th century. It keeps a rich treasury of silver and church robes.

Sculptor Marin Studin (1895 – 1960) was born in Kaštel Novi. He was a student of Ivana Meštrović. He made a statue of St. Roko which decorates little church of St. Roko from the 16th century. He is the author of statue “Herald of freedom” (horseman) which marks the boundary between Kaštel Stari and Kaštel Novi. His other work is stored in the Studin gallery and not available for public at the moment.

In the field above Kaštel Novi vineyards were cultivated from ancient times. They were decimated by phylloxera in the 19th century and renewed with new vine species. Only a few old species left, and among them Crljenak kaštelanski, which is known in the world and especially in California as Zinfandel. The homeland of the American vine is Kaštel Novi where a few vines still grow in the vineyard of Mr. Radunić. Vine species of Crljenak kaštelanski found its place in the Biblical Garden.

The church of Gospa od Špiljana or Stomorija in the Field of Kaštela was built and founded as a privilege in 1189 by didići from the Špiljani village. They gained right to elect a parson who was provided for by the income of the privilege.

A fragment of an old-Christian relief which displays two dolphins and a cross was built in the wall of the church's apse.

The church is surrounded by hundreds-of-years-old trees. There is a spring in the yard of the church. Due to all these fact this was an ideal place to establish the Biblical Garden in honor of the first visit of the Pope John Paul II to Croatia. All plants mentioned in the Bible already grow or will be planted in the garden. The Biblical Garden was designed by Dobrila Kraljić and architect Edo Šegvić.

Kaštel Novi offers possibility of stay in private accommodation

A fort with a yard, today known as castle Rotondo, was built by Stjepan Štafileo, a nobleman from Trogir in 1508 at a sea reef.

Residential part is on the southern side where the gate to the boats was. It is interesting that Štafileo took the name of the grapes - staphile in Greek for his family name. A rectangle-shaped settlement was formed arround the castle, surrounded by a ditch. There was the Sela gate with the drawbridge. In this way Brce are at the outskirts of villages only at Kaštel Štafilić and Kaštel Novi. Close to the defensive walls a castle of the Ferra family was built. Today it is owned by the Pera family.

The Nehaj tower was built in 1548 at the western part of Kaštel Štafilić by Ljudevit and Ivan Lodi. The tower was built up to the windows of the first floor. Building was stopped after death of the Lodi brothers. They didn’t have male successors and their daughters and sons-in-law decided to abandon the building. The Nehaj tower, although not finished capture the eye of painters, poets and tourists. Sometimes, when the tide is high it seems like the tower floats on the sea.

The first church was built in1566. It lived through many modifications to its present Baroque appierrance. A miraculous icon from the 16th century is kept in the church, as well as traditional Kaštela golden jewelry and statues of St. Blaž and St. Lucija (work of Marin Studin).

St. Juraj od Žestinja is an old Croatian church from the 17th century with nice stylized leaves and cross over the door.

An old gravesite with stećci (Gnostic Christian’s tombstones) surrounds the church. A shape of crescent Moon is on one of them. A medieval village Žestinj – Miran was in this area, on slopes of Trečanica Mountain.

The church of St. Nofar was built at the top of Veliki Bijać (208 m). An inscription about restoration of the church in 1475 is at the front of the church, which proves that the church dates from earlier times. The church has a nice Gothic arc.

Bellow the hill there is Bijaći, an important historic settlement. It was inhabited from the Roman to the Medieval times. An early-Christian basilica was built over ancient remains. The church of St. Marta was built here in the 9th century. From the 9th century to the end of 10th century here was one of the most important centers of the Croatian state. St. Marta, one of the oldest Croatian churches was discovered here. It was a pre-Romanic three-nave building with a square apse and foundation of a bell tower at the front. Remains of late-Roman and old –Croatian gravesites are discovered there. Archeological researches were performed at this site. Some stone furniture decorated by pleter was found. Artifacts from this site are kept in the Croatian Museum of Archeological Monuments in Split (big ciborium) and in the Museum of the Town of Kaštela.

Present church was built by don Frane Bulić next to the ruins of St. Marta in1908.

Numerous findings are proof that Croatian people's rulers had their seat here. In the Trpimir's deed of donation of 4 March 852 is written: "Ja knez Hrvata" ("I duke of Croats") and "Učinjeno u mjestu koje se zove Bijaći" ("Made at a place called Bijaći"). This further corroborates earlier mentioned statement.

Hunting house Tikvenjak could be reached by a macadam road between Trećanica and Opor in the direction of Prosika. The house is under management of the Hunting Association of Lower Kaštela.

There is the Mujina Cave on the western edge of Kaštela area. Archeological excavations have been conducted there for a number of years. Many stone tools, processed bones and fireplaces were found there. It was proven that this place was inhabited 45 000 years ago. The Neanderthal men lived and hunted in this area when land stretched where the island of Vis is today.

An olive older than 1500 years, an exceptional natural monument, grows in Kaštel Štafilić. It originates from Southern Italy or Greece. This old olive (Olea Europea) is locally called Mastrinka.
It was declared a monument of nature in 1990. Annual crop of olives is processed into oil which is packed into replicas of glass lacrimatoriums. This is an autochthonous souvenir of Kaštela.

Resnik i Adria hotels, camp and private accommodation are guaranties of pleasant stay to every tourist who visit Kaštel Štafilić.

The town of Kaštela is located on the coast of the Bay of Kaštela. It has over 40 000 inhabitants, and it is the second largest town in the Split and Dalmatia County. It stretches over the length of 17 kilometers.

Our town is specific because of the fact that it developed around 7 settlements (Kaštel Štafilić, Kaštel Novi, Kaštel Stari, Kaštel Lukšić, Kaštel Kambelovac, Kaštel Gomilica and Kaštel Sućurac) or around castles. Each village has its own particularity merged into character of this part of Mediterranean. Radun and Rudine emerge in recent years as the two new smaller centers.

The eastern part of the city is a little industrial center. Cement factories, a steel mill and many shopping malls are situated there. Agriculture based on crops traditional for this region is developed in the Field of Kaštela an on the slopes of Kozjak. Growing of olives, grapes and cherries flourish in the recent times.

The western part of the town is more tourism- oriented. This is the area with most accommodation capacities: tourist apartments, rooms, camps and hotels.

There is a newly built Marina Kaštela in Kaštel Gomilica capable to accommodate large number of private and charter boats.

Kaštela is of the places with the best traffic infrastructure. We have an international airport Split – Kaštela, a railway station at Kaštel Stari, and access to Split – Zagreb highway at Prgomet and Vučevica.

There are many organizations and institutions which enrich cultural life of the town throughout the year.
The Museum of the town of Kaštela found its place in the Vitturi castle, and an exhibition room in onetime bishop’s summer residence in Kaštel Sućurac .

In February, traditional carnival festivities are held in Kaštel Sućurac, Kaštel Kambelovac and especially in Lower Kaštela (Štafilić, Novi, Stari) with tradition over 150 years long.

Every year from July 1 – August 31 the”Kaštela Cultural Summer” takes place. There are over 60 exhibitions, theatre shows, pop and classical music concerts, folklore, sport events and festivities (fishermen’s, hunters’, mountaineers’). Events are held at the most attractive places at the historic centers, castles and by the sea.

We especially highlight the “Evenings of Dalmatian Songs” held every July in Kaštel Kambelovac. Traditional a cappella singing arranged in modern or traditional manner is cherished there.

Traces of all historic periods could be found in the area of the town of Kaštela; cavemen have hunted here (Mujina Cave on the western slopes with artifacts dating 45 000 years BC).

There are many Illyrian stone heaps scattered over the Kozjak Mountain.

During the Greek and Roman rule these parts experienced their economic and cultural prosperity. Remains of many antic villas and the Siculi settlement at Resnik are the proofs of that.

Croatians migrated to the gentle slopes of Kozjak in the 7th century and formed their first settlements. Old Croatian churches are the silent witnesses of that time.

Aristocrats and clergymen from Trogir and Split built their castles on these rocky shores. The Venetian authorities approved of that to protect crops and peasants. These fortified mansions– castles appeared as fortresses on their land sides with keeps, moats, loopholes and drawbridges. Their sides facing the sea were built as Renaissance villas with wide windows and balconies. Inhabitants of the old settlements on the slopes of Kozjak sought refuge and security by building new fortified settlements around them.

Agriculture and growing of olives and grapes were the basis of economy and the foundation of economic might of these parts. Big churches with bell towers (decorated by most famous artists of that time), golden and silver gifts in church treasuries and folk costumes noted for their golden decorations and golden embroidery witness about that might.

Around 16 castles seven villages were formed: Kaštel Štafilić, Kaštel Novi, Kaštel Stari, Kaštel Lukšić, Kaštel Kambelovac, Kaštel Gomilica and Kaštel Sućurac. These villages grew, developed and finally merged to the town of Kaštela. The villages preserved authentic Dalmatian architecture: houses with open front stairs, balconies, wine cellars, narrow streets and squares at their centers.

Traces of all historic periods could be found in the area of the town of Kaštela; cavemen have hunted here (Mujina Cave on the western slopes with artifacts dating 45 000 years BC).

There are many Illyrian stone heaps scattered over the Kozjak Mountain.

During the Greek and Roman rule these parts experienced their economic and cultural prosperity. Remains of many antic villas and the Siculi settlement at Resnik are the proofs of that.

Croatians migrated to the gentle slopes of Kozjak in the 7th century and formed their first settlements. Old Croatian churches are the silent witnesses of that time.

Aristocrats and clergymen from Trogir and Split built their castles on these rocky shores. The Venetian authorities approved of that to protect crops and peasants. These fortified mansions– castles appeared as fortresses on their land sides with keeps, moats, loopholes and drawbridges. Their sides facing the sea were built as Renaissance villas with wide windows and balconies. Inhabitants of the old settlements on the slopes of Kozjak sought refuge and security by building new fortified settlements around them.

Agriculture and growing of olives and grapes were the basis of economy and the foundation of economic might of these parts. Big churches with bell towers (decorated by most famous artists of that time), golden and silver gifts in church treasuries and folk costumes noted for their golden decorations and golden embroidery witness about that might.

Around 16 castles seven villages were formed: Kaštel Štafilić, Kaštel Novi, Kaštel Stari, Kaštel Lukšić, Kaštel Kambelovac, Kaštel Gomilica and Kaštel Sućurac. These villages grew, developed and finally merged to the town of Kaštela. The villages preserved authentic Dalmatian architecture: houses with open front stairs, balconies, wine cellars, narrow streets and squares at their centers.

Protected Park architecture of Kaštela

The beauty of Kaštela and the Field of Kaštela inspired many poets who described their beauty in many poems.

"Seven villages like seven swans" became a motto of the town of Kaštela. In the most parts of the Field of Kaštela vineyards, olive groves, cherries, figs and autochthonous Mediterranean vegetation trade places with monuments of natural heritage and park architecture.

An olive (Olea Europea), more than 1500 years old grows in Kaštel Štafilić, which people of Kaštela call Mastrinka. It is considered that it was brought from Southern Italy or Greece. Due to the fact that estates of the Roman were in this area, it was presumed to be a remnant of an agricultural estate from those times. The olive is of an oil-producing species with small leaves and fruits. The system of roots occupies space of more than 100 meters. The span of the tree is 6 meters, the span of the tree top is 22 meters and the height is 10 meters. Annual crop of olives is processed into oil and packed into replicas of glass lacrimatoriums as an autochthonous souvenir of Kaštela.

An oak (Quercus Pubescens Willd) by the Romanic church of St. Kuzma and Damjan in Kaštel Gomilica capture interest by its beauty and size in this old Kaštela surrounding.

Park around the Palace Hotel in Kaštel Stari is also a monument of park architecture. It was founded in 1910 by Dr. Petar Kamber, former owner of the hotel and a man fond of Kaštela. The park stretches on 35 000 square meters.

Kaočina gaj, a forest on eastern slopes of Kozjak in Kaštel Sućurac is an example of preserved high maquis and other autochthonous species in vegetative and floristic sense. The forest is protected by the law.


Historic Vitturi Park

Radoš Micheli Vitturi, a nobleman from Kaštel Lukšić, well-known agronomic expert and president of the Agronomic Academy of Kaštel Lukšić raise the first park in Kaštela in the second part of the 18th century. A painting of the Vitturis with an image of St. Roko who holds a park on his palm witness that. The park dates around the year 1760. Today this park is known as the Vitturi Park. It is situated at the seaside in Kaštel Lukšić. The area of the park is 7450 square meters. Time of its raise could be seen from its classicistic frame and the Renaissance-Baroque groves of box-wood (Buxus sempervirens L.).

It was declared a monument of nature and culture in 1968. In the explanation of the Regional Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments was written: "The Vitturi Park with its space and its access from the sea presents a unique monument of our old horticulture. Such parks are rarely preserved in Dalmatia. Due to this fact this park along with Gučetić's at Trstenu, Garanjin's at Trogiru and Borelli's at St. Filip and Jakov is a rare monument of our garden architecture".

Box-wood groves, old specimen of cypress trees, Aleppo pine, Italian stone pine, laurel (Cupressus L., Pinus halepensis L., Pinus pinea L., Laurus nobilis L.) and other plants are preserved even today in the park. Especially interesting are exotic trees like firmiana (Firmiana simplex Bois.) from the cocoa-tree family, scented callicantus and other trees. The garden was uncared for decades. Fortunately, its area is intact and maintained regularly.
Project documentation is needed for restoration of the park. The next steps would be restitution and revitalization of the park. Such a park would become one of our tourist attractions.


School Botanical Garden of the Ostrog Primary School

Soon after relocation of the primary school in Kaštel Lukšić to the new building in1976, cultivation of completely neglected area around the school started. From the very beginning whole work was done by teachers and students.

On the 4 hectares of land more than 1400 different plants is growing, originating from all over the world. However, most of the plants originate from Mediterranean subtropical climate. The larger part of the park is arboretum built in the landscape style of an English park.

The southern garden the richest part of the school botanical garden due to its size and micro-climate. There are groups of autochthonous and exotic trees, bushes and flowers such as camphor tree, eucalyptus, avocado, acacia, sequoia, cedar of Lebanon, cedar of the Himalayas, jasmine, bougainvillea.

Very interesting is the group of aromatic and medicinal plants, plants of rocky terrains and a field with plants of humid habitats.

There is the "little park" built in the French style at the northern garden. It is built in strictly symmetrical lines with low box-wood hedges and a rich collection of oleanders. There is a stone stage for cultural and artistic events at this place.
Olive grove with its 170 trees and 45 domestic and foreign species of olives is an integral part of the garden. It is the largest collection grove on the Croatian Littoral.


Biblical Garden Stomorija –Gospa od Stomorije Shrine

In the year 1189 in Kaštel Novi on the southern slopes of Kozjak a little church of Marija od Špiljana, known today as Gospe Stomorija was built.

At this place where coexistence of nature and spirituality could be felt, the Biblical Garden was founded. Planes, olives, figs and vine grew there for centuries. These are the plants mentioned in the Bible. Due to the effort of the nature lovers many other plants like Jude’s tree, laurel, acacia, spices, aromatic herbs and many other plants. There is a memorial stone, a work of Marko Gugić at the entrance with the inscription: "In memory of the second visit of the Holy Father John Paul II we founded this garden at Stomorija above the bay. People of Kaštela on 27 September 1998. Opposite to the stone which was consecrated by the Holy Father at Split, the Pope's olive was planted.

Terrace-like area called Jidro is to the north of the church. There, under old olives is the Column of Stone Megaliths honoring the great men of Croatia who were inspired by the Bible in their work – St. Jeronim (translation of the Bible into Latin), Juraj Dalmatinac (builder of sacral objects), Marko Marulić(poem "Judita" etc), Bartol Kašić (translation of the Bible into Croatian) and Ivan Meštrović(sculptor of Biblical themes).

Noah’s Ark, a wooden sculpture on an islet in the creek, work of the renowned artist Vasko Lipovac, would greet every visitor.

Gospina njiva could be accessed by stone Way of the Cross, where the Stations are represented by bushes of fragrant myrtle and where is the Cross of Life, a work of the sculptor Kažimir Hraste.

There is a lookout with a beautiful view at the Field of Kaštela and the Bay of Kaštela. A small vineyard as a monument of the peasants and vine of Kaštela was planted at the lookout. Among other indigenous species of vine there is the Kaštelanski Crljenak, known worldwide and especially in California (USA) as Zinfandel. The vine from United States originates from Kaštela.

Due to the efforts of the municipal administration to renew town parks and devotion of local organizations to balance needs of life and environmental protection, the town of Kaštela was awarded the bronze "Entente Florale" award by the European Association for Flowers and Landscaping from Bruxelles in the category of towns.

The Bay of Kaštela is surrounded by mountains Kozjak, Opor and Trećanica. The mountains gentle slope to the sea. Highest and longest among them is Kozjak. It stretches 16 kilometers in length from Klis on the east to the Malačka saddle to the west. Its rocky part along the ridge, the longest in Croatia, is impressive, but not its height (50 – 250 m). The highest point is Veli vrj - 779 m.

Vegetation of Kozjak is interesting. There are myrtle, Spanish broom, strawberry-tree and other plants characteristic for Mediterranean low vegetation on the southern slopes. To the north we meet black and white hornbeam, black ash, oak and other species distinctive to sub-Mediterranean flora. There are a number of endemic plants on Kozjak and among them the orchids.

There were many caravan trails through Kozjak in the past. There is ca 80 km of marked mountaineering paths through Kozjak and neighboring mountains suitable for recreational mountaineering. The rocks of Kozjak are well-known for rock-climbing routes (some of them are near the "Malačka" mountaineering house). These routes are not demanding and could be climbed by recreational mountaineers.

A fire-fighting road traverses slopes of Kozjak from east to west making each mountaineering house accessible by bike.

The “Mountaineering Path of Dalmatia" and the “Mountaineering Path Cradle of Croatian Statehood Bijaći – Klis" lead along the highest points of the mountains of Kaštela. There are 19 control points along the 30 km of paths. These control points are mostly at sacral objects built in the time of Croatian people\'s rulers (St. Marta at Bijaći, St. Nofar, Stomorija, St. Juraj od Raduna, St. Ivan Biranj, St. Kuzma and Damjan, St. Juraj od Putalja and other) till its end at Šuplja crkva (Hollow church) in Solin. It is rare to find four mountain houses (Putalj in Kaštel Sućurac, Koludar in Kaštel Kambelovac, Split and Malačka in Kaštel Stari), a mountain refuge (Orlovo gnjezdo in Kaštel Kambelovac) and a hunting house at such a small area, where mountaineers can get refreshment or a place to sleep.

Mountaineering association would be glad to provide mountain guides to groups and individuals and enable them to enjoy view at Kaštela, the Bay of Kaštela, Trogir, Split, Central Dalmatian islands and the Kaštela Hinterland.

Crljenak kaštelanski is an old, almost forgotten, Croatian species of grape which recently captured interest of the wine-making public. The reason for that was discovery that Crljenak kaštelanski and an American species Zinfandel have the same genetic profile. It was established that the two species are the same. The mystery of origin was resolved.

Under the name of Zinfandel this species from the Imperial State Plant Nursery (where numerous plants of the monarchy were collected) was introduced to the United States (Long Island) in the early twenties of the 19th century. It becomes a respectable species in the southwest of the country, as an edible fruit at first. In the colder areas it was grown even in the hothouses. Some thirty years later it was transferred to California, where it spreads quickly, especially during the Gold Rush. In the eighties of the 19th century it becomes the most spread species of grape in the United States.

Popularity of the Zinfandel lasts up today. It takes over 23% of all the vineyard areas, and grown by more than 200 producers. It is a very valued species in the US, resulting usually in strong and full, intensively colored wines. Unlike some other black species Zinfandel wines are soft and drinkable with aroma of the species. This aroma could vary from discretely flowery to distinctively developed fruity scents. The quality and character of the wine depend largely on area and age of grove, and technology applied.

A rosé wine of this species called the White Zinfandel is famous. It was at the top of popularity among the American wines for a long time. Number of the Zinfandel enthusiasts and producers grew every year, and in 1991 an association called Zinfandel Advocates and Producers – ZAP was founded. The goal of the association is to promote the species and wine, ant to support professional and scientific researches related to this species. Many researches focused on its origin. That mystery was intriguing from the very beginning of its cultivation. It was known that this species same as other quality vines have been brought from Europe. But, due to its meaning in the American culture and history it was considered an America's vine and wine. The first discovery regarding its background dates from 1967. Austin Goheen a professor from the University of California Davis, tasted wines in Italy and among others a type called Primitivo which reminded him of the Zinfandel. Results of various comparative studies of the Zinfandel and the Primitivo led to the conclusion that they were indeed the same species. Professor Carole Meredith from the Davis University gave the final confirmation of their genetic matching by using DNA – fingerprinting. But, the Primitivo was grown in Italy relatively shortly, much shorter than the Zinfandel in the United States. According to some documents it was brought to the Italian region of Puglia from the eastern coast of the Adriatic. The question of the origin was still opened, and the Croatian coast emerged as a possible homeland of this species.

Due to the morphological similarity with the Primitivo and the Zinfandel a species named Plavac Mali was being mentioned some twenty years ago as a possible third name for the same vine. This hypothesis gained more and more supporters with time. In order to continue her work on the origin of the Plavac mali , professor Meredith ask for help some American producers (among them was Miljenko Grgić, the famous American wine-maker who is Croatian by birth) and some researchers from the Agronomy Faculty of the Zagreb University (Ivan Pejić, Edi Maletić, Jasminka Karoglan Kontić, Nikola Mirošević). She visited Dalmatia and gathered over 150 samples of Plavac Mali from different locations. The results showed that the Zinfandel and the Plavac Mali are two different species. They are genetically very close, or to be more accurate the Zinfandel is one of the Plavac Mali’s parent. This discovery incited Croatian scientists Maletić and Pejić to continue the search and they discovered the other parent of the Plavac Mali – Dobričić an old species from the island of Šolta. Now, the search was narrowed to islands Šolta, Brač, Čiovo and the central Dalmatian coastline.

Among numerous samples collected was a species Crljenak kaštelanski, taken from the vineyard of Ivica Radunić from Kaštel Novi, recommended by Ante Vuletin. The analysis has shown the identical genetic profile of Crljenak kaštelanski and Zinfandel. This finally solved the mystery of origin of the most popular American vine species. The additional proof of the Croatian origin of this species is a discovery that many other Croatian indigenous species have parental relations to Zinfandel / Primitivo / Crljenak kaštelanski.