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CULTURAL HERITAGE
Croatia is indeed unique, not only for its crystal
clear, clean blue sea, but also for a thousand years
of different cultures that have replaced each other
and sometimes assimilated in these areas. The Adriatic
Sea is not only a deep gulf in the Mediterranean cut
into the Continent of Europe thereby creating most
economical trade route between Europe and the East,
it is also the cradle of ancient civilizations.There
is much material evidence about that which is finally
beginning to come to light, from the depths of Adriatic
caves and from the deep blue sea. |
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east coast of the Adriatic Sea was inhabited as early
as the beginning of the early Stone Age, and there
is proof that most of the accessible islands were
also inhabited (archaeological findings in caves near
the islands of Hvar and Palagruza, etc.). Thanks to
the favourable geographical characteristics of our
coast, with its numerous bays, inlets and coves, the
coastal belt has ever been a significant mercantile
and nauticalroute.Archaeological findings prove that
in the 6th century BC the ancient Greeks had commerce
with the Illyrians by means of the sea, and that they
founded their colonies there (Pharos, today’s Starigrad,
on the islands of Hvar and Issa – or Vis). Later on,
the Romans arrived, and they not only built palaces
and summer residences but they also spent a considerable
amount of time on the sea, and there are many underwater
findings located between Pula and Cavtat which show
this to be true. Such findings are mainly amphorae,
which were at the time commonly used for storing everything
from wine to wheat, oils and perfumes. Wherever you
choose to go diving, you will find the remains of
Antique ships and their cargoes. One of the most precious
findings from that time are remains of pythos or dolias,
large pottery vessels which were built into ships
and used to transport bulk cargo (wheat, etc). |
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