Morgan
And we were off to Spleet (Split) for the day. Today was one of those days with a jammed pack schedule that effortlessly flew by. After our hour-long bus ride with our new driver (missing Franjo and his luxury coach bus…), we arrived at the Institute of Adriatic Crops on the outskirts of Split. After some olive oil tastings, accompanied by correlating agricultural PowerPoint presentations by Dr. Mirella Zanetic and Dr. Goran Zdunic, we were able to tour some of the laboratories. Dr. Zanetic even took us to their sensory labs (where the magic happens!), and explained that she tastes olive oil every day. When asked how this impacts her health, she explained the importance of a balanced diet. She expanded this to include how this is necessary in life and is so vital in Croatia. With a diet high in fat and salt, Croats must be cognizant of their intake and make an effort to counteract the effects. It was fun to finally taste the much-anticipated olive oil of the Dalmatian coast, as pictured above. The indescribable sensation lived up to the hype, yet the art of olive oil tasting and quality may have been slightly lost on me.
And we were off to Spleet (Split) for the day. Today was one of those days with a jammed pack schedule that effortlessly flew by. After our hour-long bus ride with our new driver (missing Franjo and his luxury coach bus…), we arrived at the Institute of Adriatic Crops on the outskirts of Split. After some olive oil tastings, accompanied by correlating agricultural PowerPoint presentations by Dr. Mirella Zanetic and Dr. Goran Zdunic, we were able to tour some of the laboratories. Dr. Zanetic even took us to their sensory labs (where the magic happens!), and explained that she tastes olive oil every day. When asked how this impacts her health, she explained the importance of a balanced diet. She expanded this to include how this is necessary in life and is so vital in Croatia. With a diet high in fat and salt, Croats must be cognizant of their intake and make an effort to counteract the effects. It was fun to finally taste the much-anticipated olive oil of the Dalmatian coast, as pictured above. The indescribable sensation lived up to the hype, yet the art of olive oil tasting and quality may have been slightly lost on me.
We then headed into the heart of Split to explore the awe-inspiring Diocletian's Palace. Our tour was supplemented by the incredibly knowledgeable and informative, Dr. Katja Marasovic. As an architect responsible for much of the restoration and conservation efforts within the expansive palace walls, Dr. Marasovic was an expert who in the most modest terms knew the lay of the land. We gathered for a quick presentation in one of the restored western towers, which span the length of the city walls at increments. Afterward, we were able to stroll the length of the northern wall, with a stunning view (see above), then we took a quick detour to view a recovered marble table that was found under meters of rubble in the palace. Solid and in near-perfect condition, the table is a stunning sight. Next we swung by the now-converted church that once acted as Diocletian’s mausoleum. Later our group headed for the underbelly of the beast; the substructure of the emperor’s apartments, where we were surprised to find an Arch reminiscent of UGA, which is pictured. Unfinished at the time of Diocletian’s reign, the expansive space was converted by fleeing refugees in the 7th century to contain homes and streets. In essence, it was transformed into a small city underneath the magnificent palace floors. Over the next millennium, homes were built on top of substructures within the palace, and holes in the floors of these homes acted as a trash shoot- emptying into the substructure, forming a landfill.
Our tour ended here, but we were able to have a few hours of free time to continue exploring the city. There was much gelato eating and olive oil purchasing, needless to say. As we exited the city we were able to make a pit stop at the absolutely stunning Mestrovic Gallery. The photo above does not begin to capture the breathtaking view of the sea from the property. Located on the property bequeathed to the Croatian people by the world-renowned sculptor, the gallery is filled to the brim with priceless pieces, one of which is pictured above. The enormity of the genius behind each piece is utterly mind-boggling and it was extraordinary to observe the sheer volume of the collection, knowing that it wasn’t even close to complete. Many pieces are located in the States, where Mestrovic had citizenship, but also throughout former Yugoslavia. In Zagreb we saw at least a half a dozen sculptures scattered throughout the city’s streets. Revered equally for his work as he was for his self-identification as a Croat, Mestrovic was one of the most influential Croatians of his time.
Our day ended with a scenic and winding bus trip back to Makarska where we dined at the always-delicious Roma restaurant. Needless to say, Spleet (like all of our other outings) lived up to its big name and Diocletian’s Palace is absolutely a must-see Croatian gem. So excited to continue exploring the Dalmatian coast!!
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