Goals
The natural space in which the Kotišina area is located abounds in many natural, historical and landscape values.
In addition to the endless vista provided by the collision of mountains and sea, there are numerous traces of human life, buildings woven into the foothills of the mountain massif, many sources of drinking mountain water, the richness of indigenous plant communities and floral elements, and the wealth of visual, auditory and olfactory stimuli that fill the senses and without exception provide an unforgettable experience of the union of man and nature.
All of the above are the reasons why Kotišina was chosen for this program in which cultural heritage objects have been revitalized, and interactive and sustainable year-round recreational and cultural content has been set up for all visitors.
This project provides a new picture of the rich and different tourist offer of our region.
It is worth noting that the project consists of 6 important elements:
– establishment of the Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center
– arrangement of the open-air stage of St. Anthony
– arrangement of educational trails and renovation of the Church of St. Martin
– realization of adrenaline and walking tours
– arrangement of the Makarska Center – Kotišina walking and cycling trail
– Promotion activities that also include branding of this new cultural and tourist content
Each of the above elements has a significant role in the formation of the project, with special emphasis on the most important part, the Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center, which has been renovated and put into operation, that is, equipped with the most modern multimedia technology.
As such, it represents the central place for the interpretation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage of Kotišina, through three exhibition themes: archaeological, ethnological and natural heritage.
Thus, part of the archaeological exhibits that were found at the Kotišina site under the leadership of the Makarska City Museum are also exhibited, while ethnological stories present the way and style of life of the population with special emphasis on the connection between human activity and nature.
A large part of the center is dedicated to the natural heritage and the phenomenon of great plant diversity in the wider local area, especially the heritage of the Biokovo Botanical Garden Kotišina and the legacy of its founder, Fr. Jure Radić.
All these innovations in interpretation aim to raise awareness and public interest in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage and to improve the evaluation of cultural heritage as a relevant and more desirable attraction.
The arrangement of the open-air stage of St. Anthony in the first phase included the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the church foundations and the implementation of the open-air stage PROSLAP. The ambient quality of the landscape in which this stage was adapted gives visitors the impression that events are taking place in the middle of untouched nature, at the foot of the mountain cliffs with an unforgettable panoramic view.
The arrangement of educational trails and the renovation, or rather, the complete reconstruction of the church of St. Martin have also created new cultural and tourist facilities.
As part of its activities, the Tip Extreme Tourist Agency has realized and promoted two very attractive hiking adrenaline tours Kaštel Kotišina and Kotišina – forgotten peasant paths.
Also, by arranging the Makarska center – Kotišina bicycle path, three innovative, fully equipped rest areas on the cyclo-tourist route were realized, one of which also serves the purpose of bird watching.
Finally, promotional activities were designed with visitors to the Split-Dalmatia County in mind, as well as presentation on foreign markets.
At the same time, this part also ensured the specific requirements of all the aforementioned and different components of the project, with an emphasis on branding the entire new cultural and tourist content.
