Kaštela is a city in Split-Dalmatia County. The town is an agglomeration of seven individual settlements. The city of Kaštela is a unit of local self-government and has the status of a large city.
Geography and population of Kaštela
The town is located northwest of the city of Split, west of Solin and east of Trogir, on the central Dalmatian coast. With a total population of 38.667 as of 2011 census, it is the 15th largest town in the country.
The Town of Kaštela consists of following settlements (populations parenthesised 2011):
- Sućurac (6,829)
- Gomilica (4,881)
- Kambelovac (5,027)
- Lukšić (5,425)
- Novi (6,411)
- Stari (7,052)
- Štafilić (3,042)
The Kaštela Riviera is a fertile area, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) in length, featuring the first Roman floating docks and 50 places on the long, verdant area, northwest of Split.
The Jadro River (the original water supply for the ancient city of Diocletian’s Palace) flows through the town of Solin and provides water supply to both Split and Kaštela. Contemporary studies indicate favourable water quality levels of the river near the headwaters at Jadro Spring.
History
The rich and long history of Kaštela comes from the earliest times of prehistory to the present day.
Traces of all historic periods could be found in the area of the town of Kaštela. Cavemen have hunted here (Mujina Cave on the western slopes with artifacts dating 45 000 years BC). There are many Illyrian stone heaps scattered over the Kozjak Mountain. During the Greek and Roman rule these lands experienced their economic and cultural prosperity. Remains of many antic villas and the Siculi settlement at Resnik are the proofs of that.
Croatians migrated to the gentle slopes of Kozjak in the 7th century and formed their first settlements. Old Croatian churches are the silent witnesses of that time. This area in the embrace of the slopes of Kozjak and the sea of Kaštela Bay has always attracted people and inspired them to reach the achievements of high civilizations.
One of the most important Croatian historical written sources, Trpimir’s Grant, dates from the area of our city. For this reason, the date of its publication, March 4, 852, is now “the Day of the City of Kaštela”, thus expressing the memory of the first prominent name Croat.
Aristocrats and clergymen from Trogir and Split built their castles on these rocky shores. The Venetian authorities approved of that to protect crops and peasants. These fortified mansions– castles appeared as fortresses on their land sides with keeps, moats, loopholes and drawbridges. Their sides facing the sea were built as Renaissance villas with wide windows and balconies. Inhabitants of the old settlements on the slopes of Kozjak sought refuge and security by building new fortified settlements around them.
Agriculture and growing of olives and grapes were the basis of economy and the foundation of economic might of these parts. Big churches with bell towers (decorated by most famous artists of that time), golden and silver gifts in church treasuries and folk costumes noted for their golden decorations and golden embroidery witness about that might.
Location City of Kaštela in Croatia
Adriseismic in Kaštela
The City of Kaštela recognized the need for protection of cultural heritage as well as for strengthening the resistance of cultural heritage in extreme conditions. The City of Kaštela has experience in improving the capacities for sustainable use of cultural heritage through development and innovative management tools to protect and minimize the impact of harmful weather conditions. With other seven partners from the Adrion area (Adriatic-Ionian) we will protect cultural heritage in spite of extreme conditions.
Pilot location in Kaštel Sućurac – Podvorje
The proposed pilot location is located in the area of Kaštel Sućurac in a protected cultural and urban zone. The location is specific in that in a small area you can find more styles of construction with more materials.
Thus we encounter historic stone buildings, concrete buildings and clay bricks. The basis of the location is a historical complex of stone buildings dating from the 15th century. They were built on a location that combines a stone base, or buildings made on the gorge and the base created by the embankment of the sea.
Diversity of different buildings type on small area.
There is a city museum and a shop on that location. The location is bounded by a low-intensity road because it is in a calm traffic zone. There is also a 16th century church bell tower. An Allied bombing destroyed the church in World War II. It’s a building particularly attractive for pilot activities.
Protected historical urban area in Kaštela
Private concrete and brick buildings were built next to the location and reinforced concrete building in which the post office is located.
The location is specific precisely because in a small area it includes almost all building styles that are present in Kaštela, and it also includes the different soil structure on which the buildings are located.