Cruise

Ports of call:

September 1-3: Split (Dalmatian Capital since Roman Times)

When Emperor Diocletian was considering retirement from governing the Roman Empire, he shopped around, found no decent accommodations and decided to build his own. Thus, Split was born. This magnificent walled city palace, built to Diocletian’s exacting standards, today retains enough of its original charms to attract visitors by the thousands.

Split is the economic and administrative center of Central Dalmatia, with about 200,000 inhabitants. It is a busy port.  An international airport and regular ferry services connect Split to the nearby islands, the Northern and Southern Adriatic, Italy and Greece.

The new campus of University of Split will accommodate and host the School, our lectures and hands-on training activities will be held at the Faculty of Science.

September 3-4: Šibenik  (one of the first Croatian cities on the Adriatic)

Our cruise will start on Sept.3rd from Split. We sail towards Šibenik, the third largest city in Dalmatia and the most important one founded by Croatians in the middle ages (not Greeks or Romans). The evening poster session is to be held in the port, in the heart of the city, nearby it’s world famous Cathedral of St. James (UNESCO Heritage site).

September 4: Kornati  (Croatia’s most beautiful National Park)

According to a legend, the Kornati, a labyrinth of straits and islands, was created from a fistful of rocks that were left over when God created the world. He threw them into the sea, looked down and decided that they were perfect as they were. “The gods wanted to crown their work and on the last day they created the Kornati Islands out of tears, stars and breath,” wrote George Bernard Shaw about the most labyrinthine island group in the whole Mediterranean. We will sail through Kornati  in the morning of Sept. 4.  Be awake early!

September 4-6: Sali, Dugi Otok  (The Capital)

The vicinity of the Nature Park Telašćica and the National Park Kornati, seal the position of Sali as a tourist hot-spot. However, Sali is a place of a thousand-years-old fishing tradition, present in written documents from the 10th century. The ancient olive groves surrounding the village witness the intensive agricultural activities throughout the centuries. The cultural heritage of Sali is represented by sacred buildings such as the parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a gorgeous wooden altar from the 17th century and inscriptions written in Glagolitic, as well as the churches of St. Roch and St. Nicholas. There are also remains of layouts of other Christian churches in the fields of Sali. The cultural heritage and cultured spirit remains visible in the public library and reading room that is the focal point of public life of the village. To honor this the School will stay the longest in Sali. The community of Sali will borrow us their new lecture room.

September 7: Zadar  (heritage and modernity)

The particularity of the city is irresistible for those who respect and admire historical monuments and cultural heritage, artists, tourists and its citizens. Zadar is a city monument, surrounded by historical ramparts, a treasury of the archaeological and monumental riches of ancient and medieval times, Renaissance and many contemporary architectural achievements such as the Sea organ. The University of Zadar is situated in the old town, a short distance form the Sea organ. The evening stroll between these two points on the Riva will reward you with a magnificent sunset. Our Closing lectures and the Farewell party will be held at the University in these beautiful surroundings. Try not to stare through the windows during the lectures…

September 8-10: Stari Grad  (Island of Hvar)

The oldest town of the eastern Adriatic, its position at the end of a long, protected bay and next to prime agricultural land has long made it attractive for human settlement. It was originally named Faros (Greek: ΦAPOΣ) by the Greek settlers from the island of Paros, who arrived in 384 BC. In Roman times, the town became known as Faria, which was turned into Hvar by the incoming Slav population. When the administrative capital of the island was moved to today’s Hvar town on the south coast, the old town became simply known as Stari Grad. (“Stari” translates as “old” and “grad” as “city” in Croatian.). The most ancient part of Stari Grad falls within the UNESCO Protected World Heritage Site of the Stari Grad Plain, while the entire municipality lies within the surrounding buffer zone.

This year Stari Grad celebrates 2400 years anniversary by organizing an International Maritime Festival >>>. The School will participate in the festivities with our ships.