Čiovo Island

The idyllic Adriatic island of Ciovo is located in Central Dalmatia and can be reached easily and quickly from the Split airport. Ciovo is situated at the western exit of the Kastela Bay and extends over a length of 15.3 km and a width of up to 3.5 km. The island of Ciovo is a perfect destination for holidays, offering year-round sunshine and amazing beaches which are ideal for swimming and relaxing. From Ciovo, you can reach the Unseco jewel of Trogir and the correspondingly popular Riviera by using the 2 bridges that connect the island to the Croatian mainland. The connecting bridge leads directly into the historic center of Trogir, situated on an island and the other bridge connects the old city with the mainland.

Already Mentioned in Roman Writings, Asylum for Lepers and Getaway Spot

Ciovo was mentioned by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, who had not much to do with idyllic islands in the sun being busy as a scholar, officer and administrative officer, but he did write a pretty impressive natural history encyclopedia. In the Middle Ages there were several settlements on Ciovo and it was used, among other things, as a quarantine station for those who were sick, so lepers. Near Slatine are the remains of an old church dedicated to St. Peter, the medieval Church of St. Maurice in Zedno which has been preserved from pre-Roman settlements and the pre-Romanesque church "Our Lady Pokraj Mora". In the 15th century the population of the island increased abruptly by people who were fleeing from the Turks. Dated from the 15th century, the Dominican monastery is definitely worth a visit, which is located only a few kilometers away from Trogir. The Franciscan Abbey of St. Anton is home to many famous paintings and sculptures and located on the coast is the beautiful church of St. Jerome. Further along the coast, dug directly into the rock, is the Sanctuary of "Our Lady of Prizidnica". On the southwestern coast of Ciovo, visible from the beach, is the small island of Fumia situated. Here the island is home to the remains of a late antique or early medieval church under the patronage of St. Fumia and ruins from former farms.

Slatine, Arbanija, Okrug - settlements on Ciovo

Slatine is a typical tourist spot on Ciovo situated about seven kilometers away from Trogir. The approximately 1,200 inhabitants only spend time here, to a large extent, in the summer when they visit their vacation homes and weekend cottages. From the Split airport Slatine can be reached by a direct ferry, but there is also a bus from Trogir. The monastery of Sveti Kriz dates back to the 15th century and is in the small village of Arbanija halfway between Slatine and Trogir. Whoever wants to visit Zedno, should take the exiting street in Arbanija.

The municipality Okrug, divided into Okrug Gornji and Okrug Donji is situated in the western potion of the island. Originally, the two traditional Dalmatian settlements Okrug Gornji and Okrug Donji were independent fishing villages. The tiny region has a Mediterranean climate. The intense sun makes the Mediterranean and subtropical plants that adorn the surrounding smaller islands flourish and its peninsulas and bays are full of beautiful beaches that attract tourists for swimming and relaxing. For those who want to vacation here should use the bridge connecting the old town center of Trogir to the Split airport. Okrug Gornji and Okrug Donji are today tourist centers with numerous small restaurants and cafés, where traditional Dalmatian cuisine is served.