TUČEPI -
Croatian touristic destination champion in 2001. (3. in 2000., 2. in
1999.)
Tučepi
(population 1770) is located 4 km south-east of Makarska. Until the
earthquake of 1962, the majority of its inhabitants were living in hamlets
at the foot of Biokovo. Today, its inhabitants are engaged in agriculture
and tourism. Tučepi has become one of the most attractive summer resorts
in Croatia. It is distinguished by the most beautiful and longest gravel
beach of the Makarska Riviera, a pine wood, olive-groves, luxury hotels,
beautiful houses and sports grounds. There is a marina in the place,
protected from the wind by its breakwater. The settlement dates back to
antiquity. Fragments of furniture of the early Christian church from the
5th-6th century and several medieval tombstones were found in the
graveyard. 
The
settlement was first mentioned with the current name in 1424. The church
of St. Juraj was built in the transitional Romanesque-Gothic style by the
end of 13th century. Next to the church, there are a Roman tombstone
stele, a medieval tombstone slab and two large standing tombstones.
According to a folk legend, the Venetian duke Pietro Candian was buried
there. In the 18th century, rich Makarska families built villas in Tučepi.
The summer house of abbot Grubišić is today "Kaštelet" hotel.BRELA
Brela
(population 1500) is situated 15 km north-west of Makarska, on the steep
Biokovo foothills. The population there is engaged in winegrowing, olive
growing, growing of marasca cherries and figs, and tourism. Brela is the
springs of beauty because of its natural features: a thick pine wood
descending all the way to the beautiful gravel beaches and the clear sea.
It has been known as one of the most attractive tourist places in Croatia
for several centuries already. It is the winner of thr European ecological
award "Blue flag" for years 1999-2001. There is a small marina
to harbour boats and yachts. Brela was raised at the site of Roman
settlements (1st-4th century). For the time in history, it was mentioned
by Constantine Porphyrogenitus (about 950.) with the name Berulia. The
today's settlement was raised in more recent times with the arrival of the
population from villages at the foot of Biokovo. In Brela, there is the
church of Gospa of Karmela, a significant monument of architecture from
the 18th century, and the parish church of St. Stjepan from the 19th
century. There is a medieval necropolis in the graveyard - today an
archeological park - with eight tombstones decorated with reliefs.IGRANE
Igrane
(population 400) is located 17 km south-east of Makarska. Its inhabitants
are engaged in agriculture (oil works with cold-pressing technology),
fishing and tourism. The settlement descends towards the sea in form of
terraces thus creating a beautiful architectural whole. It is situated on
a small peninsula the right side of which is covered by a wide sandy
beach. There is a breakwater in the port, fit for mooring of smaller
yachts. From the top, on which the belfry of the Baroque parish church of
Gospa od Ružarija rises (with an addition to it built in 1925) and the
Zalina Tower (17th century), all the way to the sea, houses with gardens
are strung in clusters. Igrane abounds in historical monuments. The
settlement existed already in the Roman times. "The Chronicle of the
Priest Dukljanin", a very important document for Croatian history and
culture, has been preserved here. The most important medieval monument of
the Makarska Littoral, the church of St. Mihovil (11th-12th century), is
situated in olive-groves above the village. There are the remains of the
old tower, called Kulina, there too. On the coast, there is an interesting
castle, the Baroque summer house of the Šimić-Ivanišević family, built
ill 1760.MAKARSKA
Makarska
(population 15000) lies at the foot of Biokovo, in a natural harbour
closed by the Osejava promontory from the south-east, and by St. Petar
peninsula on the north-west. Makarska is an economic, cultural and tourist
centre of the Makarska Littoral. There is ferry landing pier for the
destination Sumartin on Brač island in the port. It consists of the old
core of the Mediterranean type and a newer part with hotels, restaurants,
shops, etc. It has a beautiful 1500 m long beach in a pine wood and
numerous sandy coves. It developed from Makar, a settlement at the foot of
Biokovo which was mentioned as Muccurum in the documents of the council in
ancient Salona of 4th May, 533. We find the name Makarska only in the
beginning of the 16th century in Turkish, Croatian and Latin sources. The
monument of the poet Andrija Kačić Miošić (the work of lvan Rendić,
1889) raises on a big steep town square named after him, as well as St.
Marko church from 17th century, in which valuable sculptural and painting
works of art are kept, as well as applied art works. The most beautiful
altar in the church is the work of the Venetian sculptor Pietro Onighi. In
front of the church is a drinking-fountain from 18th century. On the
peninsula of St. Petar there is a church with the same name dating back to
the 9th century, demolished by the earthquake of 1962, and renewed in
1992. In the Franciscan monastery of St. Marija from the 16th century
there is a very rich library, a malacological museum with one of the
richest collections of seashells in the world and the collection of the
Baroque church painting. On the coast, the late Baroque church of St.
Filip Neri and Town Museum are situated. The monument in the form of a
slender pyramid, raised in 1808 in honour of the French marshal Marmont,
is situated at the entrance to the town. Close to Makarska, there is
Vepric, the sanctuary of Gospa Lurdska. Due to its natural beauty and
consecrated atmosphere, it is widely known place of pilgrimage. At the
foothill of Biokovo, as protectors of Makarska, the villages Veliko Brdo,
Puharići, Makar and Kotišina are situated, with a Biokovo botanical
garden in the latter. Those places have kept the beauty of original
popular architecture, so that they are attractive excursion targets today.ŽIVOGOŠĆE
Živogošće
(population 460) is situated 20 km south-east of Makarska. Its economic
basis rests on agriculture, fishing and tourism. It comprises several
hamlets, but most of the residents live next to the sea. It is situated on
the slopes of Biokovo and is fringed by beautiful sandy beaches. There are
Illyrian mounds in the territory of the village. Živogošće was first
mentioned by the middle of the 13th century, while it was mentioned in the
Croatian language in 1434. On the cliff called Pokrivenica, there is an
inscription from antique times in the form of a song of thanksgiving for
an invigorating spring of cold water. It was carved by Licinian, the
leader of a Roman Empire representation which was passing through these
parts on their way to conclude peace with Goths. On the eastern side of Živogošće,
there is a Franciscan monastery from the 18th century, which makes an
architectural whole with the church and the belfry. During French
occupation, the monastery was demolished. It was restored in the beginning
of the 20th century. There is a rich library in the monastery.BAŠKA
VODA
Baška
Voda (population 2200) is situated 9.5 km north-west of Makarska. The
population is engaged in agriculture (olives, grapes, cherries, figs),
fishing trade and tourism. It is one of the oldest and most visited summer
resorts in the Makarska Riviera. Long gravel beaches, thick pine wood and
nicely arranged streets are the decoration and the distinction of this
place. Baška Voda has a small port, with its southern part suitable for
harbouring vessels. It was inhabited already in ancient times. There are
traces of a settlement and a late antiquity fortress on the Gradina
elevation. Seven antique tombstone monuments steles from the 2nd-5th
century were found in the wider territory of Gradina. The name of Baška
Voda was mentioned in the 18th century, when the inhabitants of Bast
settled in this territory after the Turks were driven away. The name of Baška
Voda was also mentioned by A. Fortis, an Italian biologist and travel
writer. There is a late Baroque church of St. Lovre in Baska Voda, raised
on an antique locality, as well as the parish church of St. Nikola, built
by the end of the 19th century. Not tar from Baska Voda, there is the
valley Baško Polje, a more recent tourist settlement. Above Baska Voda,
on the very slopes of Biokovo, surrounded by its cliffs, Bast is situated,
a typical village of the Biokovo foothills with white stone houses, and
the hamlet of Topići.PROMAJNA
BRATUŠ
KRVAVICA
PODGORA
Podgora
(population 1500) is situated 7 km south-east of Makarska. Its residents
are engaged in agriculture (grapes, olives, figs), seafaring, fishing and
tourism. It consists of older hamlets on slopes of Biokovo, which are
weakly populated today, and the newer part next to the sea. There are many
springs of drinking water in the territory of Podgora and the medicinal
salt water spring Klokun. It is attractive due to its natural beauties,
wonderful gravel beaches and abundant greenery. It became a settlement in
the Middle Ages. At the time of Turkish breakthroughs, it became an
important Venetian stronghold. The church of St. Tekla was erected on the
medieval location Sutikla and it was first mentioned in the 18th century.
In the graveyard, there are medieval tombstones and the monument dedicated
to the writer and politician Mihovil Pavlinović (Podgora, 1831-1887), the
work of Ivan Rendić. From the summer house of the Mrkušić family, which
is entered among the leading examples of the Baroque architecture of the
Makarska Littoral, the portal and the chapel have been preserved. The
monumental statue Seagull's Wings, raised in 1962, overlooks the port from
the elevation above it. The long touristic tradition of this place is also
reflected in its numerous luxury hotels and the diverse tourist offer.
Today, Podgora has two small ports: one in the former old "porto",
and the in Čaklje.DRAŠNICE