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History |
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From the very beginnings the town of Makarska has been the center of the micro-region, Makarska Riviera, owing to its geographical position, cultural and historical importance. It is situated in a naturally protected harbor; the Osejava cape closing in from the southeast side and peninsula of St. Peter's from the northwest. The town expands amphitheatrically up to slopes of mountain Biokovo.
 The Tabula Peuntingeriana from the first half of the fourth century mentions "the antique settlement of Inaronia" as a stop on the coastal road from Salona to Narona and the authenticity of the settlement has been proved by many archeological remains. The antique finds on St. Peter's peninsula, at the central town square, and near the Franciscan monastery, as well as by Lower Harbor, prove that the town has grown on remains of a one-time Roman town or even an older, pre-historical settlement.
According to the documents of the Synod of Salona on 4th May 533., Mucurum was the place where the diocese was founded.
The Ravenat's itinerary from 7th century mentions the settlement as "Aronia id est Mucru". All through the 7th century Croatian tribes settled the coast between the Cetina and the Neretva rivers. The Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphirogenet refers to them In this book "De administrando imperio", written in the middle 10th century, as to "the Arentanians" and he calls their land "Pagania". The same source mentions the district of "Mocro", "where there are vessels by the sea". That was the reason why the Venetian dodge Peter Candian carne down to Mucules on 18th September 877. There he was defeated in a sea battle and Venice had to pay to people living by the Neretva in order to sail the Adriatic free.
But the power of the Neretva Principality slowly expires in the 13th century. Centuries that follows witnessed continuos struggles for power among the princes of Bribir, Bosnia and Herzegovina sovereigns, Hungarian and Croatian kings, as well as Venice. Most of Dalmatian towns prosper under aegis of the Venetian Republic, and Makarska becomes the center of Venetian and Turkish struggles of interests.
 In 1502 Mohammed Musin, the town of Foca kadi, mentions in one of his documents Makarska by that name for the first time. By name time Makarska was the center of Primorje nahija (district) and the Turks had their emin and military troops. They took great care of maintaining a ferry used for trading with neighboring countries. In the middle of the 16th century the Turks fortified the town of Makarska by three towers connected by protective walls in order to fend away Venetian attacks. One can still se what they looked like on the graphic made in 1572 by Venetian map-maker G.F. Camozio and at the same time that is the oldest picture-document of Makarska that is kept from decay. St. Peter's church on St.Peter's peninsula can easily be recognized and on the eastern side, outside the town walls, the Franciscan monastery and St. Mary's church have already been built.
In 1646 the nobility and the people of Kraina recognized the Venetian authority and yet, not until 1681 Makarska was "de facto" annexed to Venice. The foundations of the future town grew under a hundred-year-long rule of the Venetian lion. Alberto Fortis, the Italian writer of travels, wrote about it, admiring the beauty of new building and the three church towers. At the end of 17th century St. Peter's church was restored in baroque style. It was first mentioned in the sources in the early 14th century and later demolished. In 1962 it was by an earthquake, and in 1992 it was finally completely reconstructed. The Franciscan monastery has also been widened and reconstructed.
Makarska began to get its modern physiognomy at the time when bishop Nikola Bjankovic lived. St. Mark's chatedral was built and consrecated in 1766. Right in front of it is a spacious square and a late baroque style drinking-fountain built in 1775. In 1758 the church and the oratorio of St. Philip Neri were built on the very shore of Makarska. Due to intensive trading and profit the town of Makarska expanded to the west. Young aristocracy built luxurious houses and palaces in Dalmatian baroque style. It is important to mention the baroque palace owned by Ivanisevic family situated in the eastern part of the old town, as well as the Tonolli family palace that today houses the Town Museum.
The Campoformi agreement in 1797 declared Makarska as part of Austria and the Peace agreement in Bratislava 1805 declared it French. The new government introduced new way in order to modernize educational system, economy and infrastructure. An obelisk, raised in honor of the French marshal Marmont, today is located by the western entrance into town.
In 1813 Makarska comes again under Austrian crown. New ideas of the Croatian national revival in the 19th century that promoted freedom and the usage of Croatian language were readily accepted. Therefore it is easily understood why right in Makarska, among all Dalmatian towns, on 24th October 1865 the Croatian national party won elections and gained political power and predominance in public life. That is the day we now days celebrate as the City Day. But the act or raising the monument of Andrija Kacic Miosic, by the Croatian sculptor Ivan Rendic. crowned Croatian strains and attempts to unite all parts of the country. Through the 19th century libraries and reading-rooms in coastal towns, as well as in Makarska, became centers of cultural, public and political life. In the middle of 18th century Makarska was the first among all Dalmatian towns to get the public library owing to archbishop Antun Kadcic. On that tradition grew foundations of future cultural and public life. The existence or a theater, a philharmonic orchestra, drama and singing companies witness the active society life of that time. That philharmonic orchestra made it possible to establish the modern City Music Band and in the first years of 20th century many sport clubs were founded (for ex. a rowing club, a mountain-climbing club, a football club ...).
During the period under the Austrian rule many new houses and public building were built. Just further up St. Marko's chatedral, towards the north, there is a "the old school" built in 2nd half of the 19th century in classicistical style. The original intention was to have Glagolitic monastery there and today accommodates The City Art Gallery of Antun Gojak, The City Library, The Elementary Music School, the editorial of the local newspaper "Makarsko primorje" and local radio "Radio Makarska Riviera". On Marineta, a part of town situated by the seashore, there is a romantic late 19th century palace that belonged to the noble Kacic-Peko family built in new-renaissance style and looking much like a fortified castle.
In the early twenties Makarska began to get the image of a tourist resort owing to its urban planning and natural advantages. And because of tourism Makarska (with approximately 15,000 inhabitants) makes every effort to modernize its infrastructure, economy and health system as well as tourism, cultural, recreational and sports life. Veliko Brdo, Puharici, Makar and Kotisina, small villages situated at the foot of Biokovo mountain, attract visitors because of their natural beauty, old fortifications, rural way of building and the traditional way of life. From there one can reach the highest peaks of Biokovo climbing up trodden down and well marked paths. You can enjoy walking through beautiful parks, valleys, pits, and meadows. The mountain is rich in endemic plants and big game such as chamois and mouflons which makes it possible to continue the long tradition of hunting tourism.
The City Sport Center and the Tennis Center, as well as many sport clubs in city, offer many possibilities for sports and recreation. And the specialized hotel "Biokovka" offers possibilities of highly developed health-and-recreation programs to all who find it attractive.
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