Town of Makarska - A place for the privileged

The first mention of the antique settlement Inaronia, as a stop on the coastal road Salona - Narona, can be found in Tabula Peutingeriana from the first half of the 4^th century, and the existence of this settlement is also confirmed by the archeological findings. The antique relics on the peninsula St. Peter's, on the central city square, near the Franciscan monastery, and next to the lower harbor show that the today's city was built in a place of a Roman, or even older settlement.

The documents from the Parliament session in Salona on 4^th May 533, the place of Mucurum is mentioned as the place where bishopric is established. In Revenat itinerary, from 7^th century the place is also mentioned as Aronia id est Mucru. During the 7^th century the Croatia tribes conquer the part of coast between the rivers Cetina and Neretva. In the middle of the 10^th century, Byzantine emperor Constantine Porfirogenet calls these tribes Arentans (Neretvans), and their county Pagania in his act "De administrando imperio". The same source mentions the district Mokro - "that has boats near the sea" (a translated quotation).

This was the reason for which the governor of Venice, Peter Kandian, started a campaign against the Neretvans, who were disrupting their sailing on the Adriatic. On 18^th September 877, there was a significant naval battle near Makarska, in the earliest Croatian history. During the battle, the Venice fleet was destroyed, and the dodge got killed. Having in mind the significance of this battle for the Croatia history, this day is being celebrated as the Day of Croatian War Navy. The citizens of Makarska and the sea-side were celebrating this day till the beginning of the 2^nd World War. Throwing a coronet of flowers to the sea was the paying of respect to the brave Neretvans and all other Croatian sailors. The sailing club "Bura" from Makarska revived the initiative in 1994, and during the global celebration of Day of Croatian War Navy they organize sailboat regatta on route Makarska - Vrbovska - Makarska.

The power of principality Neretva is weakening during the 13^th century. In the following centuries, Bribirian grand dukes, Venice and Bosnian monarchs rule, as well as Croatian and Hungarian kings. During the periods that follow, most of Dalmatian cities develop within the Venice Republic, and Makarska becomes the battlefield between Venice and Turkish interests.

Makarska is under this name for the first time mentioned in the document written by Muhamed Musin, a Moslem judge in Foca, in 1502. At that time, Makarska was the only Turkish port at the Adriatic sea, the center of province Primorje, and the Turks kept a part of their army there, as well as their representative emin. They paid most of their attention to the maintenance of "skela" - through which they were trading with other Adriatic countries. In order to protect the city from the Venice attacks, the Turks fortified Makarska in the middle of 14^th century, with three towers connected with defensive walls, projected by master Hajrudin, the same master who projected the famous stone bridge in Mostar. The appearance of this fortification is kept on the graphic made by a Venice cartographer G.F. Camozi from 1572, what is also the oldest saved picture of the city of Makarska. On the St. Peter's peninsula, there is the St. Peter's church, and on the east, outside the city walls, there was the Franciscan monastery, with St. Mary's church. Already in 1646 the nobles and the people from the region admitted the govern of Venice, and some time later, in 1681, Makarska de facto belongs to Venice. The foundations of the city were built during one century long governing of the Venice lion. An Italian writer, Alberto Fortis, writes about the appearance of the city from this period, who was admiring the beauty of the new buildings, and three bell towers. At the end of the 17^th century St. Peter, church is reconstructed in a Baroque style. This church was mentioned for the first time in the 16^th century and after that, it was ruined by the Turks. The Franciscan monastery was reconstructed and renewed. The bishop Nikola Bijankovic, who is most deserving that the city got its modern appearance, the building of St. Marko's cathedral began, that was completed in 1766. A large square was built in front of this cathedral, and a Baroque fountain spring, was built in 1775. St. Philip Neri church and oratorio were built on the coast in 1758. Thanking to trade and commerce, and gaining funds as well, the city of Makarska spreads to the west. The young nobles build rich housing and palaces, in Dalmatian baroque style. It's worthy of mentioning the Ivanisevic family palace in the eastern part of the old center, and the Tonolli family palace, that is a City museum today. By the Treaty in Campoformi, in 1797 Makarska was joined to Austrija, and after that, by the Peace Treaty in Pozun, from 1805, it got French governing. The French tried by new measures to improve the education, economy and the infrastructure. From that time an obelisk was made on the west city gate, in the honor of French Marshall Marmont. In 1813 Makarska is again under the Austrian crown. During the 19^th century, the free spirit of Makarans accepted the ideas of the Croatian national rebirth. It is not a coincidence that the People's party gets the political power at the elections on 24^th October 1865, in the city of Makarska, which was one of the first in Dalmatia; this day is celebrated as the Day of the City. The culmination in their attempt to unite Croatian countries was in 1890, when Ivan Rendic made the statue of Archbishop Antun Kadcic Miosic. During the 19^th century, the libraries became the center of every social, public and political life in every city on the coast, and also in Makarska. Thanking to Archbishop Antun Kadcic, Makarska was the first city that got the first public library already in the middle of the 18^th century. Based on this tradition, further cultural and public life were developed. During the ruling of Austria, new houses and public buildings were built. Above St. Marko church, there is the building of the "old school", built in the second half of the 19^th century for seminary. Today, it is the City gallery of Antun Gojak, the City library, Primary music school, the office and editor of the city newspaper "Makarsko primorje" and the local radio-station "Radio Makarska Riviera". On the Mala obala - Marineta, there is a palace of the noble family Kacic - Peke, built at the end of the 19^th century, in the shape of neoreinesance castle. The theaters, philharmonic orchestra, acting and singing groups say about the active social life at that period. From the philharmonic orchestra Gradska glazba was formed, and in the early 20^th century, several sporting clubs are formed, such as rowing club, alpinist club, football club, etc.

For its beauty, urbanistic order and natural environment, we can see the rooths of what we today call 'the touristic management' already at the first years of the 20^th century. Thanking to the tourism, the city of Makarska, with 15,000 citizens, is improving its infrastructural, economical, health, touristical, sporting and cultural system.