Trogir is about 38 miles (61km) from Sibenik and only 17 miles (27km) from Split and has a population of just over 10,000. Trogir was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 and is home to a number of fascinating historic sights, the best of which is the Cathedral of St Lawrence. Its proximity to Split Airport also means that Trogir is very easy to reach.
Getting to Trogir
As mentioned, the nearest airport is Split Airport – the town is, in fact, only 3km from the airport. There is actually a direct bus from the airport to Trogir Bus Station – local bus line 37 – which stops on the road outside the airport (i.e. not outside the terminal building); journey time is only 10 minutes. As the town is so close to the airport, you might also consider getting a taxi.
For details of which airlines fly to Split Airport, please see our Getting to Split page.
History
Although findings in the local area suggest that there must have been settlements at the site of Trogir in prehistoric times, the town’s history really starts with a Greek settlement in the 3rd century BC. Greeks from the island of Vis founded the settlement Tragurion, which then went on to become part of the Roman Empire which was expanding through Dalmatia at that time.
Trogir came under Hungarian and Croatian rule over the next few centuries, including the rule of Croatian-Hungarian King Bela IV in 1242. In 1420, again as with much of Dalmatia, it became part of the Venetian Empire, until the Empire’s fall in 1797. Trogir then became part of the Austrian Empire (with a brief period of French occupation in the early years of the 19th century).
After World War I, Trogir was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which became Yugoslavia), although was occupied by Italy during World War II. In 1991, the town was part of Croatia when it declared its independence.
Sightseeing in Trogir
Trogir’s best sight is the Cathedral of St Lawrence (Katedrala sv. Lovrijenac) on which building work started in 1213 on a site where a previous cathedral once stood; the main part of the cathedral was completed in 1250. The cathedral’s bell tower was built between the 14th and 16th centuries and can be climbed to see fantastic views from the top. A must-see within the cathedral is the Chapel of St John, built in 1468, which is considered the best Renaissance sight in Dalmatia.
Part of the city walls, built between the 13th and 14th centuries, are visible today on the southern side of the city. In the middle of the city wall is the city gate, which was built in 1593.
A city loggia stands near the cathedral, constructed in the 14th or 15th centuries. Over the years, it has had a number of uses, including that of a court. Within the loggia is a relief by Ivan Mestrovic, depicting Petar Berislavic of Trogir. He was a Croatian Ban (viceroy) and Bishop of Zagreb; he died in 1520 in a battle against the Turks.
The Cipiko Palaces, opposite the cathedral, were home to the town’s noble family in the 15th century.
Kamerlengo Fortress is located on the southwestern tip of the island of Trogir – you will see it looming large over this part of town. You can climb up to the height of the walls for good views over the Riva, the Old Town and out to sea.
Events in Trogir
KulaKula Festival is a fun 3-day summer event, taking place every July, with live music at various outdoor sites around town including Kamerlengo Fortress.
Moondance Festival is an electronic music festival that takes place in Kamerlengo Fortress at the end of July/early August.
Eating and Drinking in Trogir
Restaurant Vanjaka is a smart, contemporary restaurant located in a 17th-century building. Typically Dalmatian fare is on offer, and they have an excellent selection of Croatian wine.
Restaurant Bocel offers tasty seafood dishes in a glorious location with views over the marina.
Konoba Skrapa (Hrvatskih mucenika 13) has a good selection of tasty seafood and fish dishes, plus hearty meat offerings, topped off with friendly service.
Lounge Bar Garden is a relaxing place to come for drinks or a lighter meal in a comfortable outdoor setting.
Bubalus Burger Bar is the place to come for a quicker food fix – there are all sorts of enticing burger combinations along with tasty fries, and a good atmosphere to go along with the food too!
Il Ponte is the place for a special meal, offering up as it does some excellent choices that fuse together traditional and modern cooking. They have a six-course tasting menu (a wine pairing is also available) that they say offers “the best of Dalmatia”. Other menu highlights include their Ribs a la Pasticada and the Brujet mixed fish dish.
Accommodation in Trogir
Take a look at hotel and private accommodation available in Trogir on the map below:
Full details of the town’s hotels, apartments and private accommodation options are in our Accommodation in Trogir section.
General/Useful info
The area code is 021.
The Tourist Office is at Trg Ivana Pavla II. Br. 1, 21220 Trogir, Tel: 021 881 412 Fax: 021 881 412, Email: tzg-trogir@st.htnet.hr
Stasher.com – the world’s largest urban storage network – has a location in Trogir for anyone needing to store luggage.
More info at the lovely Trogir Online and the Trogir Tourist Office website.