King Zvonimir in the year 1078 granted an estate in the Field of Kaštela to the convent of Benedictine nuns. A pre-Romanic church of St. Kuzma and Damjan was built there in the 12th century, over remains of an ancient necropolis and an early-Christian church (findings of early-Christian sarcophagi). The relics of St. Virgin Mary, St. Kuzma and Damjan, and the king Stephen of Hungay are kept there near a Roman villa rustica. An oak, over 700 years old, stands in front of the church, under which, according to the legend, Croatian king Zvonimir rested there once.
In 1545 Benedictine nuns completed building of Kaštilac on a reef called Gomilica. The entrance was protected by high keep and a drawbridge. A few families from a ravaged settlement Kozice lived also in the fortress. The other residents built their houses near by the sea.
Fulgencije Bakotić, a wood carver and a priest was born in Kaštel Gomilica in the 18th century. He was well-known for his crucifixes. One of them is in the parish church, two in the Poljud monastery, one in the Museum of the Town of Kaštela and a few in Italian monasteries.
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About Kastela
Our town is specific because of the fact that it developed around 7 settlements (Kaštel Štafilić, Kaštel Novi, Kaštel Stari, Kaštel Lukšić, Kaštel Kambelovac, Kaštel Gomilica and Kaštel Sućurac) or around castles. Each village has its own particularity merged into character of this part of Mediterranean...
Beaches
Divulje Beach is located in the westernmost part of Kastela and is situated several hundred meters below the Split airport. The beach is pebbly outside and sandy in the sea. Beach is popular among families with small children and the elderly because of a very gentle sea entrance. There is shower, rent a deck chair and beach bar...
Walking & hiking
Kaštela, owing to its geographic location, can be both a seaside holiday spot and a great mountaineering destination, with a breath-taking view of Kaštela Bay. Kozjak is a mountain located above the town of Kaštela, stretching from Klis in the east to the pass of Malačka in the west...
Legend of the wine
Crljenak kaštelanski is an old, almost forgotten, Croatian species of grape which recently captured interest of the wine-making public. The reason for that was discovery that Crljenak kaštelanski and an American species Zinfandel have the same genetic profile. It was established that the two species are the same...
Kaštela – flavours of Dalmatian cuisine
The Dalmatian cuisine is a combination of Mediterranean cooking and the traditional customs of Dalmatian lifestyle. The traditional Dalmatian diet consists of regular intake of cereal, fruit, vegetables, beans and nuts, with plenty of olive oil, fish, red wine and dairy products...
Romeo & Julia from Kaštela
A legend from the second half of the 17th century tells of the tragic love of two young people from Kaštel Lukšić. A daughter, Dobrila, was born to the noble Vitturi family, and a son Miljenko to the Rušinić family. The two later fell in love, but their relationship was forbidden due to hostilities between their families...