Formal celebration of the completion of works on the Interpretation Center Veliki Kaštel
In Kotišina, on St. Martin’s day, on the newly renovated stage in front of the church of St. Anthony at the moment while deputy mayor Dražen Nemčić was announcing the completion of works on the Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center, this restored historical fortress was covered with a hologram in colours of the Croatian flag.
– I congratulate everyone on this valuable project by which Kotišina has gained a new historical, cultural and tourist significance. I convey to you the greetings of Mayor Jure Brkan, who was prevented from coming for business reasons, and he wanted it with all his heart and soul because he is family related to this hamlet – said Nemčić, reminding that the idea for the project began in 2015, the realization began in 2017 ., and now we mark the completion of the project ‘Revitalization of cultural and historical heritage of the hamlet of Kotišina. He particularly emphasized the synergy with the local population during the preparation and fieldwork.
The ceremony began in the church of St. Martin in which the faithful celebrated the feast of the saint marked by mercy and kindness. The mass was led by msgr. Pavao Banić thanking everyone who worked on the renovation of the church.
In front of the church of St. Anthony, which was part of the project, the vocal group of the folklore ensemble Tempet gave the audience, who complied to the epidemiological conditions, a performance of ‘Lijepa naša’ and an old tune.
The final event and conference of the project was led by Toni Štulić. It was pointed out that the holder of this extremely important and valuable project called ‘Revitalization of the cultural and historical heritage of the hamlet of Kotišina’ is the City of Makarska. In partnership with the Makarska Tourist Board, Biokovo Nature Park and Tip Extreme travel agency, the project has been implemented since July 2017 with the aim of redirecting the tourist profile of Makarska and Podbiokovlje by developing a unique cultural and tourist offer of the revitalized the hamlet of Kotišina. The project is funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds – Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020, as part of the Call for Proposals “Preparation and implementation of Integrated Development Programs based on the restoration of cultural heritage”, with total eligible project costs of over 14,5 million kunas, of which 85 percent is a grant.
We are witnessing how much the natural area where the Kotišina area is located is rich in many natural, historical and landscape values. In addition to the endless view provided by the collision of mountain and sea, there are numerous traces of human life, buildings woven under the mountain massif, many sources of drinkable mountain water, the richness of indigenous plant communities and flora elements and a wealth of visual, auditory and olafactory stimuli they give an unforgettable experience of the connection between man and nature. All of the above are the reasons why Kotišina was chosen for this program in which cultural heritage facilities were revitalized, and interactive and sustainable year-round recreational and cultural facilities were 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: the establishment of the Interpretation Center Veliki Kaštel, arranging an open-air stage in front of the church of St. Anthony, arranging educational trails and renovation of the church of St.Martin, the realization of an adrenaline and hiking tour, the arrangement of the hiking and cycling trail Makarska center – Kotišina, and the activities of the promotion itself, which includes the branding of this new cultural and tourist content.
Each of these elements has a significant role in the formation of the project, with special emphasis on the most important part, the Interpretation Center Veliki Kaštel, which has been renovated and put into function, that is, equipped with the latest multimedia technology.
As such, it represents a central place for the interpretation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage of Kotišina, through three themes of the exhibition: archaeological, ethnological and natural heritage. A part of the archeological exhibits found at the Kotišina site under the direction of the City Museum is also on display, while ethnological stories present the way and style of life of the population with special emphasis on the connection between the actions of man and nature.
Most 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 have the goal of encouraging the raising of awareness and public interest in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage and improving the valuation of cultural heritage as a relevant and desirable attraction.
The open-air stage of the church of St. Anthony was arranged, which in the first phase included the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the foundations of the church and the implementation of the open-air stage Proslap. The ambient quality of the landscape in which this stage has been adapted gives visitors the impression that the events take place in the middle of untouched nature, at the foot of mountain cliffs with an unforgettable panoramic view. By arranging educational trails as well as renovation, that is, the complete reconstruction of the church of St. Martin, new cultural and tourist facilities were realized. As part of its activities, the Tourist Agency Tip Extreme has realized and promoted two very attractive walking and adrenaline tours: Kaštel Kotišina and Kotišina – forgotten farming routes. Also, by arranging the bicycle path Makarska center – Kotišina, three innovative, fully equipped cycling rest areas were realized, one of which also serves for the purpose of bird watching.
Promotional activities are designed by keeping in mind the visitors of the Split-Dalmatia County, but also the presentation on foreign markets. At the same time, through this part, the specific requirements of all the above and various components of the project have been ensured, with an emphasis on branding the entire new cultural and tourist content, said Štulić.
Lidija Vukadin Vranješ, director of JU MARA, spoke on behalf of the project team that has been working on the preparation and implementation of the activities of this project for the last three years.
– How special the project is is also shown by the specificity of the location of Kotišina, ie its exceptional landscape and cultural value. Precisely for this reason, the activities carried out at certain moments were not easy to implement, and the problems and challenges required a comprehensive approach and involvement of all participants. On the other hand, the project was funded by EU funds and in this respect required compliance with numerous rules and procedures. And therefore, in the end I can express great happiness and pride that we have reached the very end of the project that has spawned a completely new cultural, tourist and educational content of the City of Makarska.
From the very beginning, the project was ambitiously conceived in a way that the development of segmented tourist offer becomes an example of good practice in our county and beyond.
Therefore, much remains to be done on this content in synergy with the local population, while respecting the laws of nature and the locality itself. The differentiation of the new tourist offer from the previous one and its independence from the sun and the sea will contribute to the extension of the tourist season, strengthening and expanding the tourist offer in Makarska, Vukadin Vranjes emphasized. She thanked the Ministry of Regional Development and the Central Agency for EU Financing and Contracting, the project team that worked on the project, the main conservators Anita Gamulin and Silva Kukoč, the designers of the main reconstruction project of the Marčić office, designers of the detailed project of the art exhibition and interior design of Kaštela by Kocka, the contractors Reliance and Polinom, interior and multimedia contractor Smart Audio Visual, Makarska City Museum, which conducted archaeological research, and Don Pavle Banic, who recognized the importance of the project and for the purpose of the project gave the City the use of parish property, architect Sonja Duka and Mrs Mila Lukic.
The joy of completing the project was also expressed by one of the oldest citizens of Kotišina, 88-year-old Jako Lovreta, who pointed out that his heart is big when he sees that his Kotišina is moving forward. – I have been in construction all my life, this terrain is difficult and demanding, and I can say that all this was a great challenge for those who participated and worked, said Mr Jako.
The ceremony was then transferred to the Veliki Kaštel Interpretation Center, which was blessed by msgr. Pavao Banić. The renovated historical fortress, where you can see the archeological site of Kotišina, experience the natural and cultural heritage of Kotišina and the mountain Biokovo, will be managed by the Makarska City Museum, and will be open to visitors from April 2021.
