Old Dalmatia Private Guided Tour from Split

DAY 1:ARRIVE SPLIT Independent arrival in Split. In afternoon hour guided walking tour of Split. In 295 AD the Roman emperor Diocletian started building his palace and finished 10 years later. He spared no expense, importing marble from Italy and Greece, and columns and sphinxes from Egypt. A military fortress, imperial residence and fortified town, today the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most imposing Roman ruins in the western world. The transformation of the palace into the town began in the 7th Century when the inhabitants of nearby Salona took refuge in the palace during the invasions of the Avars and Slavs. Far from being a museum, the 220 buildings within the palace walls are home to about 3,000 people. With just the right balance of tradition and modernity, Split is the quintessential coastal town for exploring on foot and observing Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. The rest of the day and evening on your own are for you to enjoy the dozens of bars, restaurants and shops thriving amid the atmospheric old walls. Overnight in Split. Meals:not included Accommodation:Hotel 3/4*, Split Visit:Split Transportation:not included DAY 2:TROGIR AND KRKA WATERFALLS NATIONAL PARK After breakfast 45 minutes drive to national park Krka, the most beautiful karstic river in Croatia, occupies the area between Knin and Skradin; deep canyons are carved in limestone plateaus; among many waterfalls, the most famous are Skradinski Buk and Roski Slap; between these two wonderful waterfalls is located Visovac Lake and the Franciscan monastery, which is located at the point where river enter the lake. Our next stop is at Trogir, which has changed little over the years. The town occupies the whole of a tiny island connected to the mainland today by a causeway. The profusion of Romanesque and Renaissance architectural styles within its 15th-century walls, as well as the magnificent cathedral at the town centre, inspired UNESCO to name Trogir a World Heritage site. We visit the Venetian Cathedral of St. Lovro, built from the 13th to 15th Centuries and considered to be one of the finest architectural works in Croatia. Evenin you can spend exploring Split. Overnight in Split. Meals:breakfast Accommodation: Hotel 3/4*, Split Visit:Trogir and Krka waterfalls national park Transportation:private car/minivan/minibus DAY 3:ISLAND OF HVAR This morning you will embark a public ferry boat to the island of Hvar (optional supplement for a private motor boat transfer). The island of Hvar is a unique fusion of the luxurious Mediterranean nature and the remarkable cultural and historical heritage. The name of the island derives from the Greek word PHAROS, meaning the lighthouse. Since Hvar lies in the heart of all the main sea routes since the ancient times, many different cultures left their traces to the present day. A Greek colony in the 4th century BC, Hvar gained its glory and power during the Middle Ages being an important port within the Venetian naval empire. Upon arrival to the port of Stari Grad, your guide will take you for a brief sightseeing tour. Stari Grad was the the former Greek colony of PHAROS and the first settlement of the island. A thousand years of history have left many traces in the urban structure of the Town. The Town Walls of Pharos, built by the Greeks the 4th century BC, the Roman mosaics, the early Christian church of St. John, the mediaeval streets and above all Tvrdalj - the Renaissance fortified castle are all the signposts through a millennium long life of the town. A stroll through the town centre, its narrow streets and small squares will bring you the whisperings of the foregone times. Then, through the beautiful landscape of vineyards, olive-groves and lavender fields you will come to Jelsa, a small town with a long winemaking tradition. Throughout the centuries of rich and turbulent history, people on Hvar cultivated their vineyards with great skill and care, blessed with the lushness of Mediterranean. Today you will enjoy a private wine tasting at the Tomić family winery in Jelsa. Following the tradition of their ancestors, Tomić family has dedicated their life to producing high quality wines and promoting wine culture. They believe that Hvar, with its authentic varieties, exceptionally favorable climate and location of vineyards, can preserve the long tradition of winemaking, enriching it continually with new products. After some time for lunch, you will continue to the town of Hvar and a private tour with your guide. New meets the Old in the perfect harmony of the town of Hvar. Your guide will take you for a stroll through the inexhaustible treasury of the cultural heritage of Hvar. You will visit the largest square in Dalmatia, the town loggia and the Gothic and Renaissance palaces, one of the oldest theaters in Europe, the mighty Arsenal, the glorious Cathedral of St. Stephan, as well as the impressive Franciscan Monastery, that today houses a collection of lace, anuscripts and books. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. Overnight in the heart of the old town of Hvar. Accommodation: Hotel 3/4*, Hvar Meals:breakfast, visit wine cellar with tasting and snack Visit:Hvar, Jelsa Transportation:private car/minivan/minibus, total driving time 90 minutes ferry 120 minutes, Ferry from Split to Hvar included DAY 4HVAR – STON – DUBROVNIK After brakfast you will take public ferry which connects Island Hvar with mainland. On your way to Dubrovnik, you will stop in Ston – small town known as the paradise for seafood lovers. Famous Ston oysters are known as the best aphrodisiac from the Roman period. Ston was also an important military fort of the Ragusan Republic, which was well protected by massive city walls and used Pelješac to build another line of defense. At Pelješac's narrowest point, just before it joins the mainland, a wall was build from Ston to Mali Ston. With over 5 km of length; the medieval walls from the 14th century are the biggest city walls in Europe. The wall meant to protect the precious salt pans that contributed to Dubrovnik's wealth, which are still being in use today. Upon arrival to Dubrovnik, check in to your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure. You will enjoy the Bellevue Hotel – the splendid location, stunning views and chic ambiance Accommodation: Hotel 3/4*, Dubrovnik Meals:breakfast Visit:Ston Transportation: private car/minivan/minibus, from Hvar to Dubrovnik,total driving time 4 hours, ferry 35 minutes DAY 5:Dubrovnik city tour and free time City walls were built between the 13th and 16th centuries and still intact today, these powerful walls are the finest in the world. The entire Old Town is contained within a curtain of stone over 2km long and up to 25m high. All motor vehicles are banned from the centre. We begin our walking tour at the Pile Gate, which dates from 1537. Originally, the drawbridge at the gate's entrance was lifted every evening, the gate was closed and the key handed to the prince. The Franciscan Monastery & Museum houses the third-oldest functioning pharmacy in Europe, which has been in business since 1391. The pharmacy may have been the first pharmacy in Europe open to the general public. We see the old harbour, the St Laurence Fortress and the 16th Century Sponza Palace which was originally a customs house, then a minting house, a State treasury and a bank. Now it houses the State Archives, which contain a priceless collection of manuscripts dating back nearly a thousand years. The Rector's Palace is an elegant 15th-century building erected on the site of an old fort in order to house the rector, Dubrovnik's ruler. After lunch you are free to enjoy Dubrovnik’s old city and its Adriatic beaches at your leisure for the rest of the day and evening. Overnigh in Dubrovnik. Included: Meals:breakfast Accommodation: Hotel 3/4*, Dubrovnik Visit:Dubrovnik Transportation:not included DAY 6:DEPARTURE After breakfast independent departure. Meals:breakfast Accommodation: not included Visit:not included Transportation:not included