Dalmatia

The chances are that you’ve probably heard of Dalmatia the moment you have heard of Croatia.
But besides the sandy beaches, endless sunshine, beautiful nature, and delicious cuisine, how much really are you familiar with the term Dalmatia?

Here are ten general facts to boost up your knowledge about this beautiful region and, believe us, every native Dalmatian would be truly amazed at a foreigner knowing about their homeland!

1. Dalmatia is a geographical region on the eastern side of Adriatic sea and is considered a southern region in Croatia. It has borders with three countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina (the longest border on the East), Montenegro on the South and a maritime border with Italy on the West
2. The name comes from an ancient Illyrian nation the Delmas who inhabited this area before the Roman colonization.
3. Dalmatia has a continuous and rich history. After the Roman colonization which left us amazing monuments, it served as a capital for several kings during the Croatian Kingdom.
   For centuries after the Kingdom, Dalmatia was under the reign of several forces back in the past. Venice, Ottoman Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Italy, Yugoslavia and finally – Croatia, where it always belonged demographically, culturally and emotionally.
4. Besides tourism, beautiful beaches, and clean aquamarine sea, Dalmatia also has some other treasures.
   On the very South of the region around Ploče, Metković and Opuzen grow incredibly delicious and sweet oranges and tangerines as well as other citrus fruit sorts.Olive oil is called liquid gold for a reason, knowing it’s endless benefits for health, beauty, and cooking. Dalmatia has a lot of olive groves, and it’s not rare that an average family owns an olive grove for personal purposes. But a lot of families produce their own olive oil, and Croatian oils have won numerous international awards for their quality.Zadar area is known or it’s specific sort of cherries called Maraska, and a first alcoholic beverage made from them called Maraschino- a favorite souvenir when in Zadar.Dalmatian cheese, prosciutto, and salt are world-known delicatessens in the gastronomic area.When a region is settled by the sea, one of its popular products are definitely are the fruits of the sea – fish, shells and other seafood. It’s well known how loaded seafood is with healthy ingredients and how many variations exist to prepare it.  That’s why Dalmatian restaurants hold top spots in gastro reviews and are included in many popular TV shows worldwide because of their quality and imagination when it comes to cooking seafood!
   (p.s. take a glance on this tour where you can experience how oysters are cultivated!)
5. According to 2011. Population census, around 860 000 people live in Dalmatia, 90% of them native Croats.
6. The biggest city in Dalmatia (often referred as the capital of Dalmatia) is Split.
7. Dalmatian people are religious and devoted to religious practices such as going to church and attending mass as well as celebrating all important religious holidays. The region itself has a strong bond to Catholic church which is visible in the form of many beautiful churches across the seaside.
8. The patron of Dalmatia is St. Jerome.
9. The climate in Dalmatia is Mediterranean which means it is mild and warm through most of the year. Even the winters in Dalmatia are mild, and if it snows there, it’s so rare that it makes the TV news!
10. Dalmatia has it’s own dialect – the Chakavian dialect!