Hiking in the Marjan Forest Park

Thursday May 16 was a bit windy, but it was a warm 23C and by mid afternoon there was a total blue sky and lots of sun.  Another beautiful day.  

We passed a film production just a few minutes from our place.  Allan talked to one of the crew who said it was a German production based on a fantasy book called "Momo".  Croatia has really become a hotspot for filming after Game of Thrones. The country also offers film incentives.

Filming in our 'hood

We decided to explore part of the Marjan Forest Park, a 300 hectare (742 acre) protected area, known as the "lungs of the city."  It is located on the Marjan Peninsula in the western part of the city.  The hill is 178 metres high and at its highest point is 3.5 km long.  The park's forestation process began in 1852 and over time, it has become a haven for locals and visitors.  There are many Aleppo pines and some ancient olive trees, some of which are believed to be over a thousand years old. 

We accessed the park through the "Marjan Stairs" not far from our Airbnb. The steep stairs led to a spectacular view terrace next to a café/ eatery.  We stopped here for an amazing view of the Old Town.

Great view of Split

We continued on the path to the small church of St. Nicholas.  It was commissioned in 1219.    A Romanesque- Gothic bell tower was later added to the south-east wall of the church.  On the façade, there is a Gothic-Renaissance statue of Christ with grapes and wheat.  There was also a hermitage next to the church, but it was removed in 1922 during the widening of the access road.

Back of church with bell tower

Front of church with statue of Christ

Towering tree in front of Church

Signage in the park

We climbed up the path a bit further.  We had views down towards the residential area of the Marjan Peninsula.  We walked to an area with the zoo (now fallen into disuse), a children's playground (being used) and a botanical garden, which was closed.


View towards the homes on the Marjan Peninsula  (the Ivan Meštrović Gallery we visited a few days ago would be closer to the water)

We didn't go all the way to the top, but walked back to the café at the first view point to have a bite to eat and enjoy the view.

Great view of the Old Town and environs---the Riva, St. Dominus Bell Tower, even a building with Split soccer team logo (middle of the photo)

Finishing our salad-- high in the hills

We made our way back down the steps and headed into the Old Town.  We stopped at the Gothic-style Old Town Hall in Narodni Trg Square ( known as Pjaca, People's Square) just outside the walls of Diocletian's Palace.  It is the only remaining part of a complex of municipal buildings built between 1433-1455.  Today the building is used for temporary exhibits by artists. 

Outside of the Old Town Hall building in People's Square

Poster for the exhibit entitled "Assembly", by Raffaela Zenoni

Raffaela Zenoni was born and raised in Altdorf, Switzerland.  After her initial studies in educational didactics, she joined the Consular Services of the Swiss Foreign Ministry in 1990 and in parallel began painting.  She completed her painting studies in 2008 at Studio HC, Independent Academy for Music, Dance and Art, in Bern.  She is a permanent member of the artist group "Art Gaucin" and has had a number of solo exhibits around Europe.  She lives and works in Zagreb and Gaucin (Spain).

On the left: The Other Ancestral Gallery-Her van Hogendorp, 2019,
"Her van Hogendorp has even more of these white collars Brussel lace.  
Something can always happen at breakfast. Otherwise he is easy to look after."  
On the right: The Other Ancestral Gallery-Silvan Fuentes, 2023, "Silvan Fuentes and the Fado. Melancholy in the sunset at the Vasco da Gama bridge."

 
There were a number of pieces From the Talking Heads Cycle, 2017-2021.

Talking Heads

More Talking Heads

Madame Nika Tika, 2023

We wandered a bit more and picked up a coffee to go at D16.  We decided to go hang out on the Riva in the sun.  When we got there, we discovered that a 5km run was going to start at 6:00 p.m.  Folks were decked out in their company's T-shirts.  Allan talked to a runner who said they were expecting about 700 people in the run.
Milling about- getting ready for the run

On your mark, get set...

Go.....

On the run...

It was perfect timing to start the run at 6:00 p.m.  Still lots of sun and a nice breeze off the Adriatic.  Allan often does 5 km at home... but he didn't take his good runners on this trip.

We headed back to the apartment for a late dinner of chicken, potatoes, green beans, salad and Croatian wine.   


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