Croatia has got a new tourist attraction
The beautiful little village of Kotišina, only a few kilometres away from Makarska, has become a real miracle for all who love natural beauty and a touch of history. Views of the mountains and the sea, historical remains of human life, buildings in the cliffs, sources of drinking and mountain water, diverse flora, fresh air and enchanting scents that provide an unforgettable experience of the combination of man and nature. A number of well-kept educational trails, the multimedia Interpretation Center Veliki Kaštel, restored churches and natural beauties are definitely worth your visit.
Kotišina is a small village that developed at the foot of the cliffs of Biokovo in the highest massif and faces the sea. Thanks to the project “Revitalization of cultural and historical heritage of the hamlet of Kotišina”, which is funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds – this place has received a number of landscaped educational trails and renovated and equipped several facilities that will delight you when you visit them. Below you can find out which facilities have been renovated and what you must visit when you come to Kotišina.
If you go to Kotišina, be sure to visit the church of St. Martin, which according to the latest archaeological research was built in 13th –14th century. The church was built in the Romanesque style with a semi-circular apse, and was extended in the late 17th or early 18th century, and modest Baroque stylistic elements were added. It was renovated in 2019, and during the renovation, archaeological excavations of graves inside and outside the church were carried out. In the spring, the church will receive additional value – the Foot of St. Martin, an European feature of the monuments dedicated to St. Martin, Bishop of Tours.
Visit and see the harmonious Neolithic church of St. Anthony, which is located above the center of Kotišina. An open-air stage Proslap was built next to the church during its reconstruction. The stage gives visitors the impression that the events take place in the middle of untouched nature, at the foot of the mountain cliffs with an unforgettable panoramic view.
What you must definitely visit if you find yourself in this area is the fortress Veliki Kaštel built into the cliffs of Biokovo. After the renovation and reconstruction within the fortress, the educational Interpretation Center Veliki Kaštel was implemented. It is equipped with the latest multimedia technology. It is the central place of interpretation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage of Kotišina, through three themes of the exhibition: archaeological, ethnological and natural heritage. In the premises of the Interpretation Center, which spreads over several floors, you can see archaeological exhibits found at the site of the village of Kotišina. There are numerous ethnological stories and a series of educational content that represents the way and style of life of the local population and the synergy of humans and nature. As the Biokovo Botanical Garden Kotišina is located in Kotišina, most of the Interpretation Center is dedicated to the natural heritage and rich 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.
Walk to the centre of the village. Namely, in the ambient centre of the old village, the birth house of a local and a descendant of the ancient Kačić tribe, Petar Perica, was renovated as a memorial home. Petar Perica was a Jesuit, poet and martyr and the author of extremely popular songs.
Lovers of plants and nature can enjoy the Biokovo Botanical Garden Kotišina all year round. It is a mountain botanical garden located in the centre of the village, on the slopes of the mountain Biokovo and is part of the Biokovo Nature Park. The garden is designed as “Biokovo in miniature”. It is specific for its appearance and characteristics because it contains native flora that is indigenous to the area of the Nature Park and Podbiokovlje. In the garden you can find various habitats, rocks, arable land, cliffs and the canyon Proslap, where during heavy rains a waterfall of the same name is created. About 250 different plants can currently be seen in these habitats, many of which are endemic or strictly protected species. Since all species are native, flowering plants can be seen in every part of the year, regardless of climatic conditions, so this garden is also called “Garden of twelve flower months”.
Kotišina is a place that will delight you all twelve months of the year.
