CROATIA

APARTMENTS

GRADAC TOURIST INFORMATION - CROATIA TOURIST INFORMATION

Gradac (Croatia, Central Dalmatia) is situated on the south end of Makarska Riviera, 40 km from Makarska, halfway on the road from Split to Dubrovnik. Visitors have over 1600 beds at their disposal in private accommodation and small hotels and 1500 beds in local hotels.

Along with its extensive gastronomical offer, Gradac offers many sports facilities, tennis courts, diving center, water sports, cycling, walking along beautiful beaches, cruises and numerous excursions to Korcula, Hvar, Peljesac, Dubrovnik , Medugorje, etc.

Because of its unique combination of mount Biokovo and few of the probably most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic and proximity to several attractive trip destinations Gradac is a very attractive place for a real vacation and a place guests are very eager to come back to.

HISTORY

The area surrounding Gradac was populated since prehistoric times, which is indicated by the many remains from the Bronze and Iron Age. During the time of antiquity a Roman town Biston, a part of Roman colony Narona was situated there. Narona served as a major Roman fort in Croatia.

At the hill Gradina a part of monumental Roman structure was discovered, dated from 2nd-3rd century AD, as well as few Roman coins. After the Roman Biston in the area of present day Gradac Croatian town Lapcanj, Lapcan or Labinac, named Labineca by the Byzantine emperor in 10th century.

Gradac is firstly mentioned in 1649. It was named after a fort, situated on the hill above the present day church of St. Mihovil , which was probably built on the eve of Candia War (1645-1665). Going by the sketch by Venetian military engineer and an architect Giuseppe Santini, that shows land and naval battle between Venetian and Turkish forces near Gradac in 1666. (the sketch is preserved in the Split town museum), it was previously a round fort. The sketch shows it to be in flames, and it was razed down totally to prevent it from serving as a Turkish stronghold.

In the abandoned settlement Cista close to gradac Gradac there are still the remains of an old fort dating from the 17th century. Surrounding it are the remains of several abandoned houses built in classic local architectural style. One of the oldest buildings here is a chapel of St. Paskval on the hill Plana, with barrel-like ceiling and ad a two-layered roof. One of the oldest religious buildings here is a chapel on Gracke stine from 1730. with a carved statue of Madonna with Child. Dating from the second half of 19th century a chapel on Grma with a carving of Gospe od Andela.

New parochial church of St. Mihovil, dating from 1852. in the center of the town in the Gradina area It has three altars with statues, the most fascinating of which is an old wooden statue of St. Roko. Church also has an old stone baptistery that probably remained from an old church. Gradac is now a modern tourist town. First hotel was opened in 1919, and it experiences a more intensive tourist development in the 60's.