Makarska travel guide

Background

Makarska was founded as the Roman Mucurum, though the original settlement was devastated by the Goths in 548. It was next mentioned in 950 by the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine VII, in De Administrando Imperio (On Imperial Administration). Describing the coastal strip running from the River Cetina in the north to the River Neretva in the south, an area he referred to as Pagania, he noted four castrum (fortified towns): Berullia (Brela), Mokron (Makarska), Ostrok (Zaostrog) and Labinetza (Lapčan, present-day Gradac).

This entire territory later fell to the Ottoman Turks, who captured Makarska in 1499 and established it as a port and administrative centre. During the mid-16th century, the emir (local governor) ordered that the town be fortified and paintings from that time depict three towers connected by sturdy walls. Sadly, they are no longer in existence.

The Turks were pushed out in 1646, though locals did not fully recognize sub- sequent Venetian rule until 1681. However, under Venice the economy thrived, and the centre of Makarska gained its present-day appearance during the 18th century, when the baroque Crkva Sv Marko (Church of St Mark) was erected at the top end of Kačićeva Trg, the main square, around which wealthy local merchants built elegant town houses.

Tourism has a long tradition here. The first hotel was built in 1914, under the Austrians, and the Society for the Beautification of the Town was founded in 1922. In 1962, a terrible earthquake caused considerable damage to Makarska and the surrounding villages, but just a decade later it became a popular holiday destination. As the economy boomed, more hotels were constructed along the coast, and locals built increasingly large houses with rooms and apartments to let.

Bus

Makarska bus station is on the main road above town, T021-612333. About 20 buses per day run between Split and Makarska (1 hr 10 mins), many of them on long- distance hauls along the coast between Rijeka and Dubrovnik.

Ferry

Jadrolinija (no Makarska office, for information contact Split office, T021-338 333) run a ferry service from Makarska to Sumartin (30 mins) on the eastern tip of the island of Brač, with an average 5 ferries per day in summer and 3 ferries per day in winter.

Medical services

Dom zdravlja, T021- 612033. Pharmacies: Ljekarna, Kačićev Trg 10, T021-611 890.

Post offices

Trg 4 Svibanj bb, Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat 0800-1300.