Kastela – One Hundred Years of Tourism

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In the Museum of the Town of Kastela, an exhibition was recently opened on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of organized tourism in this town. The exhibition is organized by the Town of Kaštela Tourist Board, the Town of Kaštela, the Split-Dalmatia County and the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board. The important anniversary has also been marked with the publication of the book “A Chronological Survey of Tourism in Kastela – 100 Years of the Šoulavy Pension”, by Sanja Acalija. The dawn of tourism in Kaštela is considered to be the opening of the first tourist pension with a developed beach in Kaštel Lukšić. It was opened by the Czech physician Henrik Šoulavy in 1909, who bought the castle Tartaglia there. 1909, therefore, is the year when the development of tourism officially begins on the Kaštela Riviera. Almost two decades later, Petar Kamber opened the Hotel Palace in Kaštel Stari, a representative tourist facility for the time. To raise the quality of the tourist offering even more, in 1936 a Municipal Bathing Committee was established for the “Lower Kastels” (Kastel Stafilic, Kastel Novi, Kastel Stari and Kastel Luksic).
Located to the northwest of Split, the town of Kastela is comprised of what used to be seven villages – Sucurac, Gomilica, Kambelovac, Luksic, Stari, Novi and Stafilic. Each one of these is specific in its own way. Though they are connected, they differ in the mentality and interests of its inhabitants, and all boast a rich cultural heritage and numerous monuments. The Kaštela Riviera features many private accommodation facilities and a couple of hotels. Yachtsmen can use the marina located in Kastel Gomilica. Characteristic for the entire area is its rich park architecture. The most renowned park is the Park Vitturi in Kastel Luksic, the oldest park
on the Riviera, built in the second half of the 18th century. It is spread over 7,450 square meters and was proclaimed a nature park in 1968. Also well known are the Botanical Garden of the Ostrog Elementary School
and the Bibilical Garden, built in the honour of the second visit of Pope John Paul II to Croatia and located in the Marian sanctuary Lady of Stomorija. The garden features numerous plant species mentioned in the Bible and sculptures of eminent Croatian sculptors Vasko Lipovac, Kažimir Hrasto and Matko Mijić. The arrival of the Czech physician Šoulavy to Kaštel Lukšić, which he never left, intrigued the great Czech director Jiřij Menzel enough to put the story in his documentary filmed in Croatia.
Menzel is shooting the film, entitled “My Croatia”, in cooperation with the crew of the Croatian national television, and wants to show through it that it is precisely the Czech who were the very first tourists in Dalmatia.