In 1979, the historic center of Split was included into the
UNESCO list of
World Heritage Sites. Split is said to be one of the centres of Croatian culture. Its literary tradition can be traced to medieval times, and includes names like
Marko Marulić, while in more modern times Split excelled by authors famous for their sense of humor. Among them the most notable is
Miljenko Smoje, famous for his TV series
Malo misto and
Velo misto, with the latter dealing with the development of Split into a modern city.
Despite colorful settings and characters, as well as a cinema tradition that could be traced to early 20th-century works of
Josip Karaman, there were relatively few films shot in or around Split. However, the city did produce several famous actors, most notably
Boris Dvornik.
Also well known is
Ivo Tijardović, and his famous operetta "Little Floramye" (
Mala Floramye). Both Smoje and Tijardović are famous artists thought to represent the old Split traditions that are slowly dying out due to the city being overwhelmed by large numbers of rural migrants from the undeveloped hinterland.
Museums and galleries[edit]
The Archaeological Museum (
Arheološki muzej) main collection is housed at Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25 in Split. There is also a branch building in
Solin (
Salona and Tusculum Collection) and two regional centres at Vid near Metkovic (
Narona Collection), and on the island of
Vis (
Issa Collection). The Split Archaeological Museum is the oldest museum institution in Croatia, founded in 1820 by the decree of the Dalmatian government in
Zadar. Some 150,000 artifacts cover
prehistoric times, the period of
Greek colonization of the
Adriatic,
Roman Provincial and Early
Christian era to the early
Middle Ages and the period of Croatian popular rulers). Of special interest is the collection of stone inscriptions from Salona and the collections of Graeco-Hellenistic ceramic objects, Roman glass, ancient clay lamps, bone and metal articles, as well as the collection of gems. In addition, the museum houses an extensive collection of ancient and medieval coins, a submarine achaeological collection, and a rich archive library.
[53]
The
Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments (
Croatian:
Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških spomenika ) is the only museum in Croatia dedicated to researching and presenting cultural artifacts of the Croats in the Middle Ages, between the 7th and 15th centuries, particularly the time of the early medieval Croatian state from 9th to 12th century. The collection of early medieval wicker, clay figurines, and old Croatian Latin epigraphic monuments is the largest collection of its kind in Europe.
[54]
The Split City Museum (
Croatian:
Muzej Grada Splita) at Papalićeva 1, is housed in the former Papalić Palace. The collection presents the urban, cultural, artistic and economic heritage of the city. The museum is also home to the
Emanuel Vidović Gallery, dedicated to the most important Split painter of the 20th century.
[55][56]
The Ethnographical Museum (
Croatian:
Etnografski muzej) at Severova 1, has a wide range of
ethnographic content mainly from
Dalmatia. Founded in 1910, the museum collects original and contemporary applications of traditional heritage. They also track contemporary popular culture living with traces of old foundations and preserve and promote the value of folk heritage, renewing them and presenting exhibitions.
[56]
The Croatian Maritime Museum (
Croatian:
Hrvatski pomorski muzej) at Glagoljaška 18 - Tvrđava Gripe has a collection of marine equipment and supplies, weapons and navigation equipment, medals, ship models, uniforms and equipment, and related artwork. A permanent exhibition is planned to complete the presentation of military maritime and naval history, with a presentation that covers the period from the arrival of the Slavs to the present day.
[56]
The
Ivan Meštrović Gallery (Croatian: Galerija Meštrović), on the
Marjan peninsula is an
art museum dedicated to the work of the 20th-century
sculptor,
Ivan Meštrović. The gallery displays some of his most significant work, and the building itself is an art monument.
[59] The permanent collection includes works of
sculpture,
drawings,
design,
furnitureand
architecture. The gallery building and grounds were based on original plans by Meštrović himself, and included living and working areas, as well as exhibition spaces.
[60] Not far from the Gallery lies Kaštelet-Crikvine, a restored chapel that houses a set of wooden wall panels carved by Ivan Meštrović.
[61]
One of the most recognisable aspects of Split culture is popular music. Notable composers include
Josip Hatze,
Ivo Tijardović,
Zdenko Runjić - some of the most influential musicians in former Yugoslavia. Also, the more notable musicians and bands from Split are
Oliver Dragojević,
Gibonni,
Daleka Obala,
Magazin,
Severina,
Dino Dvornik,
Jasmin Stavros,
Neno Belan,
Goran Karan,
Dražen Zečić,
Doris Dragović,
Jelena Rozga,
Tutti Frutti,
Siniša Vuco,
Meri Cetinić and guitar player
Petar Čulić . There is great cultural activity during summers, when the prestigious
Split Music Festival is held, followed by the Split Summer (
Splitsko ljeto) theater festival.
Sportsmen are traditionally held in high regard in Split, and the city is famous for producing many champions. The most popular sports in Split are
football (soccer),
tennis,
basketball,
swimming,
rowing,
sailing,
waterpolo,
athletics, and
handball. Residents of Split prefer to call their city as "The sportiest city in the world". The main
football (soccer) club is
HNK Hajduk, the most popular club in Croatia supported by a large fan association known as
Torcida Split, while
RNK Split is the city's second club.Torcida Split is the oldest fan group in Europe est.1950. The largest football stadium is the
Poljud Stadium (HNK Hajduk's ground), with around 35,000 capacity (55,000 prior to the renovation to an all-seater).
Slaven Bilić,
Aljoša Asanović,
Igor Tudor, and
Stipe Pletikosa are some of the famous Split natives who started their careers at Hajduk.
Basketball is also popular, and the city basketball club,
KK Split (Jugoplastika Split), holds the record of winning the
Euroleague three consecutive times (1989–1991), with notable players like
Toni Kukoč and
Dino Rađa both of whom are Split natives.
Split used to be the home to three highest-level waterpolo clubs, the winners of many domestic and international titles: Jadran (twice
LEN Champions League winner), Mornar (
LEN Cup Winners' Cup winner) and now defunct POŠK (one LEN Champions League, one LEN Supercup and two times LEN Cup Winners' Cup winner). Many players from Split have participated at Olympic Games,
World and
European Championships, both for Croatia and Yugoslavia, having won a lot of medals. Several waterpolo players from Split during their careers have been considered the best in the World:
Ratko Rudić, Damir Polić,
Milivoj Bebić,
Deni Lušić.
Picigin is a traditional local sport (originating in 1908), played on the famous sandy beach Bačvice. It is played in very shallow water (just ankle deep) with a small ball. Picigin is played by five players. The ball is the peeled tennis ball. There is a tradition of playing picigin in Split on New Year's Day, regardless of the weather conditions, in spite of the sea temperature rarely exceeding 10 °C.
RK Nada were the pioneers of
rugby union in this part of the World. They were by far the strongest club in former Yugoslavia and they are also by far the most successful club in modern-day Croatia.
Baseball in Split is one of the city's longest traditions. Although the sport began semi-officially in December 1918 when a group of US sailors from a ship in port here introduced the game to some young Croats, it wasn’t until 1972 when a pair of teachers at a local school formed the Salona Baseball Club. Salona is a town about 5 km (3 mi) from Split, the site of the capital of the Roman Empire in this part of the world more than 1,700 years ago.
The first actual game played in Split was on Sept 9, 1978 between Split (the new team moved here and was called Nada) and Jezice from Ljubljana–a 20-1 romp for the locals!
A schedule of games began in earnest and by 1980 there were regular league games. The next major milestone was in 1983 when the World Baseball Federation (IBAF) accepted Yugoslavia as an official member. A Croatian National Baseball Federation was established in 1989.
Today the Croatian national team (with 10 or more members coming from Split’s Nada team) is ranked 25th in the world, ahead of Russia and France!
Split's team, Nada, plays its homegames at old Hajduk stadium, where the rugby club also plays. Alas, without a mound, it is not a regulation field. The team's main rival is Zagreb and there are teams from half a dozen other cities around the country. In addition to playing other Croatian teams, inter-league games are played and the team travels to Belgrade and other cities to play.
Although not a professional team or league, some player/coaches are paid. Several have pro experience and the new coach of the national team was a former major league pitcher with the LA Dodgers! The source material here is from Mladen Cukrov's book "There's no ball like baseball" (Nima baluna do Baseball) and from the writer's experience as an assistant coach of the team for several years.
