The Veli Varoš
The tour...
Up until recently, this neighbourhood was known as the symbol of craftsmen and artisans, but modernisation has done its job thoroughly. All the ropemakers, laundresses, seamstresses and farmers are gone - all but the fishermen!
They are still gathering in their port called the Matejuška. I know you will discover Matejuška on your own, so I’m taking you up the hill, through the net of “kaletas” – narrow, irregular streets which keep alive that original Dalmatian atmosphere
... goes like this
Streets were built just wide enough for one pair of creatures to pass – a man and his donkey. And believe me, there is no way to determine which one was more stubborn! The fact is that stubbornness is exactly what kept them both alive through difficult times, so it’s the key element of our mentality. We are not even trying to hide it – exactly the opposite, we are very proud of it.There is no splendour nor nobility at the eastern slope of the Marjan hill, but there are a lot of heart-warming and heart-breaking stories waiting to be told. The Veli Varoš is a real treasure chest of anecdotes and if you would like to discover the true story of the commoner and experience what life used to be like some hundred or more years ago, this is the perfect tour for you.
I’ll walk you through this charming maze of folk architecture and help you discover local flavours.
Step by step itinerary
15:00 St Frances church
Bajamonti fountain, 10 min
St. Frances, 20 min
Šperun, 15 min
Uvodića širina, 15 min
Crkva sv Križa, 10 min
Kapelica/Bilanova/Kamenita, 10 min
Smojina, 5 min
Sv Mikula, 10 min
Senjska, 5 min
Sv. Luka, 10 min
Dujkin Dvor, 15 min
Piškera, 5 min
Matejuška, 10 min
18:00 End of the tour
Program includes
Licensed local tour guide
Tasting of local products
(seafood or meat snacks)
Program does not include
Any additional food or drinks
Souvenirs, insurance
Tips or transportation
Modifications
Modifications according to the guest’s food preferences and/or allergies are available upon notice of at least 48 hours before the start of the tour and with prior no consultation with the service provider. It is not possible to adapt the tour to persons with reduced mobility.
Highly recommended
Comfortable, but appropriate attire Appropriate sun protection
Available: All year round, any day of the week
Average duration: Up to 3 hours
Class timings: 9AM – 12AM / 15PM – 18PM
Language: English or Croatian
Highlights: Prokurative square, st. Francis church, Matošića street, Šperun, sv.Križa street, Matejuška (fishermen harbour)
Start time:
9 AM OR 3 PM
Group size:
2-8
Meeting point:
St. Francis church
Program terms and conditions
The tour can start according to the guests’ wishes, but not later than 4PM. The exact time has to be confirmed by the service provider.
If the guests are staying less than a 15 minutes’ walk from the city center, pick up can be arranged in front of the accommodation at no extra charge.
Any special requests regarding allergies and/or food preferences must be sent when submitting the booking request.
Cancellation policy
The cancellation fee for canceling between 7 days and 48 hours before the start of the tour is 30 % of the total amount. The cancellation fee for cancellations 48h from the start of the program or less is 100% of the total amount.
For the best experience, this tour should be arranged after you’ve already seen the Diocletian’s Palace. It doesn’t matter what kind of tour it was, but it must involve at least a tiny part of the emperor’s residence built in the 4th century AD. So, after covering the basics, Veli Varoš will be waiting for you to proudly reveal its story. The tour is quite flexible as to the starting hour, and we can arrange for the tour to start anytime between early in the morning until early afternoon. We can also offer this tour all year round, Monday to Sunday, even on some bank holidays, but definitely not on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Christmas means that I am eating my mother’s „pašticada“ and that I am not able to walk or talk. On New Year’s Day I am so full of my mother in-law’s famous roast that I simply cannot move. And to be honest, I am not brave enough to tell any of these ladies that I am not coming to the family gathering that they have organized. And cooked for. And worked so hard for. And… I think you know the drill. Nevertheless, I’ll be glad to check your emails any day of the week so do not hesitate to contact me at my email address dalmatian.lifestyle@gmail.com even on bank holidays. Once we agree on the dates, everything will be easy to arrange. I look forward to receiving your email!