Starigrad Fortress is a historic fortification located in the city of Omis, Croatia. The fortress is situated on a steep hill overlooking the Cetina River and dates back to the 13th century.
In our opinion, hiking up to Starigrad Fortress was one of the best things that we did whilst we were in Omis, and the views from the top are just incredible.
If you’re looking for something to do that involves hiking, a good bit of exercise, amazing views and something interesting and historical to explore, then this is the thing for you to do.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Starigrad Fortress.
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What Is Starigrad Fortress?
Today, Starigrad Fortress Omis is an important historical site that can be visited by tourists and locals alike. The fortress features a number of preserved buildings and structures, including two churches, the city walls, defensive towers, and other military installations.
It was built by the Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Dubrovnik) as part of its defence system against invading armies, and it served as an important strategic location for centuries.
In addition to its historical significance, Starigrad Fortress Omis is also known for its breath-taking views of the Adriatic Sea and nearby islands. From the fortress, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the coast and take in stunning sunsets over the sea.
Does Starigrad Fortress Have a Historic Backstory?
Omis has a history of being the ‘city of pirates’. Back in the 12th and 13th centuries, the pirates of Omis ruled the seas and they were known to be some of the most scary pirates in the Mediterranean.
The Starigrad Fortress was built during this time, when the Venetian Empire ruled the area, as a look out point. Not only was it a look out point but it also acted as a great place for people of the town to retreat to if they were under attack.
Where Is Starigrad Fortress Located?
Starigrad Fortress is located in the town of Omis, Croatia, which is only around a half an hour drive away from Split, so is easily reachable by car from Split.
It is situated on a steep hill overlooking the Cetina River and the easiest way to reach the fortress is to hike up to it from the town of Omis.
The hike up to the fortress is signposted from the town of Omis and is pretty easy to follow, or you can follow this route on the All Trails app – Omis – Starigrad | Fortica | Map, Guide – Split-Dalmatia, Croatia | AllTrails
Please be aware that the hike is quite steep, it is certainly not the most accessible fortress and I wouldn’t recommend the hike to anybody with any mobility issues. The hike took us around 1.5 hours in total up and down.
TIP – If you’re feeling adventurous, another great way to reach the fortress is by Via Ferrata – Via Ferrata Omis Tour: from Split or Omis | Croatia (tripadvisor.co.uk)
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit the Starigrad Fortress?
Starigrad Fortress can really be accessed at any time of the year, weather dependant.
We visited at the start of December and we had dry, pleasant weather which wasn’t too hot.
If you visit in the summer, please note this is quite a strenuous hike, and it especially would be in the hot sun, so we wouldn’t recommend doing this hike at hot points of the day, best to do it first thing in the morning before the sun rises or later on in the evening when the weather starts to cool down.
Just as much as we wouldn’t recommend doing the hike in really hot weather, we wouldn’t recommend doing it in rainy or stormy weather either as it’s steep with lots of loose ground which could be difficult in bad weather.
What activities are there to do near Starigrad Fortress?
With its rich historical heritage, the nearby city of Omis is an ideal place to stay and explore more of the area’s attractions.
Omis really has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a bit of adventure whilst you’re in Croatia, or just looking to chill out and relax.
In the summer time, you can enjoy rafting, climbing, sailing, canyoning and even zip lining!
Omis is also a wonderful town to stroll around and take in some of the attractions such as St Michael’s Square, the more easily accessible Fortress Mirabella or hit the beach to relax.
Final Thoughts
At Starigrad Fortress Omis, visitors can experience a historic location with incredible views and an awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Enjoy taking in the breath-taking scenery and explore one of Croatia’s most important fortresses.
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I love everything about travel, from seeing new places, learning about new cultures and trying new foods! I believe that travel is one of the best forms of education you can get, I have learnt so much about myself and about the world from travelling all over. Travel is something I feel so passionately about, and I love the fact that we are now lucky enough to have this opportunity to do what we love as much as we can, it’s a dream come true.
Before we started travelling, I worked in local government in administration. I had been in this job for several years and had reached a complete brick wall where I was so fed up, but didn’t know what else to do. The only thing I knew that I wanted to do was to travel, and had wanted to do that for many years.
There were hundreds and hundreds of places on my wishlist that I wanted to go to, and I knew that going on a weeks holiday maybe twice a year if we were lucky wasn’t going to cut it.
After being in lockdown due to the Covid pandemic, and working from home staring at the same 4 walls every day, 2021 seemed like the perfect time for us to take the risk to finally do what we had dreamed of for so long.
It was a hard decision to completely change our lives, but so far it has been the best decision we have ever made!
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