麻豆APP

Trogir, Historic City of Trogir. Photo by Tobiasz Janus on

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Trogir Historic Site

Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The historic town has a population of 10,923 as of 2011 and a total municipal population of 13,192 in the same year. Trogir Historic Site is situated on a small island that is between the Croatian mainland and the island of Ciovo.

The historic city lies twenty-seven kilometres west of the city of Split. It is believed that the city was established in the 3rd century BC. Tragurion was founded as a colony by the Ancient Greek colonists on the Illyrian coast from the island of Vis. It developed into a major port until the Roman period.

The name Trogir is derived from the Greek name tragos which means male goat and oros which means hill or mountain. Trogir was so important in the medieval period but the prosperity of Salona deprived it of it. The walled city has two thousand three hundred years of continuous urban tradition.

It is highly concentrated with palaces, churches, towers, and a fortress on a small island. In 1997, Trogir was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a historic site.

Part of the UNESCO report stated, 鈥淭he orthogonal street plan of this island settlement dates back to the Hellenistic period and it was embellished by successive rulers with much fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications.鈥�

Below are the Top 10 Amazing Facts about Trogir Historic Site:

1. Trogir has 2300 Years of Continuous Urban Tradition and Culture

Trogir Historic Site is one of the ancient places in Croatia. It has been in existence for several years right from the medieval period.

It has two thousand three hundred years of continuous urban tradition and has been influenced by several cultures. The culture of Trogir was created under the influence of the ancient Greeks, and then the Romans and Venetians.

2. It was Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

The historic city of Trogir is situated on a small island between the Croatian mainland and the island of 膶iovo. Photo by Dennis Jarvis on

Trogir Historic Site was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. In acknowledgement of the listing, UNESCO gave out a huge report on this decision.

The report stated, 鈥淭he orthogonal street plan of this island settlement dates back to the Hellenistic period and it was embellished by successive rulers with much fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period.鈥�

3. Trogir is the Best Preserved Romanesque-Gothic Complex in Central Europe

In Europe, there are several well-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complexes but some are perfect. Trogir is the best-preserved ancient Romanesque-Gothic complex in all of central Europe.

It鈥檚 surrounded by walls and is the medieval core. The city comprises a preserved castle and tower, and a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

4. Trogir鈥檚 Grandest Building, Church of St Lawrence

Historic City of Trogir (Croatia). Photo by Francesco Bandarin on

The Cathedral of St Lawrence is Trogir鈥檚 grandest building whose main west portal is a masterpiece by Radovan. It is the most significant work of the Romanesque-Gothic style in Croatia.

The cathedral is triple-naved and has lasted several centuries since it was constructed. It illustrates all the styles that succeeded one another in Dalmatia and currently serve as the most imposing monument in Trogir.

5. The Garagnin-Fanfogna Palace

In the Trogir Historic Site, there is the Garagnin-Fanfogna Palace which constitutes two blocks of Romanesque and Gothic buildings. They were incorporated into the ensemble in the second half of the 18th century.

It is a two-story building with a stone stairway located on the south side with an economic purpose. In recent days, the ground floor houses the town lapidarium within which the city walls of the Hellenistic Tragurion are presented.

The first floor contains Cata Dujsin-Ribar Gallery while the main entrance to the Palace with a lobby and staircase is located on the east side. Stucco decorations are embellished on the interior of the original 18th-century drawing room.

6. The Museum of Sacred Art

Historic City of Trogir (Croatia). Photo by Francesco Bandarin on

On the main Trogir square, there is the Late Baroque building which hosts the Museum of sacred art. It dates from the 18th century.

A rich collection of early Dalmatian and Venetian sacred paintings dating from the 14th and 15th centuries are in the museum. Masterpieces of Gentile Bellini, Paolo Veneziano, Quitizio da Murano and others can be found here. Several works of local masters, paintings of Blaz Jurjev or the 13th-century polyptych of the cathedral鈥檚 high altar are exhibited here.

7. The St Sebastian’s Church

Another notable medieval monument at Trogir Historic Site is St Sebastian鈥檚 Church. It was built in 1476 as a votive church or an offering given by the citizens of Trogir in thanks for deliverance from the plague.

The church鈥檚 front was executed by Niccolo di Giovanni Fiorentino and consists of decorations of the sculptures of St Sebastian and Christ the Saviour. It also displays the coats of arms of Bishop Giacomo Torlon and dukes Malipiero.

The two-story tower of the town clock is above the front. A section of the eastern wall consists of remains of a centrally planned church with six apses which were dedicated to St Mary. A plaque bearing the names of the fallen defenders in the Croatian War of Independence is at the west walls.

8. Fort Kamerlengo

Tower of Fort Kamerlengo. Photo by Alex Proimos on

One of the iconic monuments in the Trogir Historic Site is Fort Kamerlengo. This is a castle and fortress in this historic city.

It was built in the mid-15th century by Marin Radoj as part of an expansion of the Veriga Tower. The Fort is used as a location for performances during the summer months.

9. Historical City Core in Trogir Historic Site

Another remarkable part of the Trogir Historic Site is the historical city core. This section is more visited by tourists who want to explore this medieval city. The historical city core has about ten churches and numerous buildings which date from the 13th century.

10. The Memorable Duke鈥檚 Palace

Historic City of Trogir (Croatia). Photo by Francesco Bandarin on

Sitting proudly in the main square of the Trogir Historic Site is the Duke鈥檚 Palace or The City Hall. It is memorable for its large clock tower facade and stunning Gothic architecture.

It was built in the 15th century as a symbol of the political and economic strength of the city and as the residence of the duke. The Duke鈥檚 Palace has a staircase in the courtyard, a winged lion of St Mark, and many coats of arms of local families built into the walls.