On the way to Dubrovnik, a little south of the
Makarska Riviera, you can't help but pass the delta and the
valley of the river Neretva. First thing that comes to our mind when the river Neretva is mentioned must be the fruit
mandarins.
But Neretva is not only known for this sweet and delicious fruit. The river that is
225 km long, flows only with last 20 km in Croatia, but it has a lot of
interesting stories to tell.
Neretva river delta and valley is an
important swamp area in Croatia, interesting because of its
biological diversity, and with more than 300 different bird species, it is the
second largest ornithological area in Europe. Part of the Neretva river, from
Metkovic to its estuary, is on the UNESCO list since 1992.. It’s a less known fact that the
spring of the Neretva river is very cold, with temperatures around 7 degrees, even during the summer, and it is considered
one of the coldest rivers in the world.
Originally the Neretva delta had
12 tributaries, but the number has come down to 4
due to cultivation of the agricultural area. Today this is a rich area with
fruitful soil known by
citrus fruits, watermelons and olives. Of course, the most famous of them is the
mandarin, which is also a
protected original Croatian product. During the harvest, in October and November, you can join the locals and
participate in picking this sweet fruit.
The second thing that comes to mind when the river Neretva is mentioned is,
believe it or not - pirates! The area of the delta and Neretva river valley was
inhabited by an old Croatian tribe. The Neretvans were known as pirates and
obstacle to the Venetians in their plan to take over this part of the Adriatic coast.
Stories and legends about the Neretva pirates have been passed down
from generation to generation through centuries. The ships that pirates sailed on were
not used only for their ventures. A shallow rowing boat was used daily for
transport of the locals, animals, agricultural goods, wood, furniture etc.
The locals didn’t forget their pirates. In their honour in 1998. they started annual
marathon called “Marathon lada”. The marathon is held once a year, on the
second Saturday in August, starting in Metkovic, and finishing after 22,5 km in
Ploce. Over the years, this manifestation has outgrown the local context. It has become an important part of not only the sport offer of the Neretva, but one of the
most important tourist and cultural offers in Neretva river delta and valley. Every year
more than 10.000 viewers are supporting the competitors along the entire route.
Pirates are not the only ones to have
left their trace in this area. Like in the most of the parts of Adriatic coast, we can find
Roman traces along the Neretva river. The biggest and most important monument of the Roman civilisation is the
In situ Narona museum, opened in 2007., in a
village called Vid. This area used to be a Roman colony called
Narona, with a few thousand inhabitants.
Explorations of this area and search for Roman traces started at the end of 19th century and continued through the 20th cent. The most interesting story goes like this - in 1995. one of the locals started digging he foundations for his new house and has found an old, but
well preserved statue. He called the archaeologists and, to their delight, and to his misfortune, they have made an
amazing discovery - the
Roman temple Augusteum and 17 marble sculptures. The museum was founded on the site and has
around 900 exponents that were found in this area.
Another monument that can be found on the banks of the Neretva river is
Kula Norinska - a tower built
for defence purposes at the beginning of the 16th century when the Turks started to invade this area. The tower kept its main function until the 19h century, when it was
turned into a windmill. Today the tower itself and the village that was named after the tower, remind the locals as well as the tourists of the past.
If you are up for some
outdoor activities, you don’t have to leave the delta and Neretva river valley. We recommend you to
visit Trovro hill near Rogotin, where you can find the first wind organ in the world. With help of the
maestral, bura or jugo winds, this unique organ provides the opportunity to
hear how each of these winds sounds. The trail leads to the top and the organ itself. From the very top there is a beautiful view of the Neretva river delta and valley. Another location for a wonderful experience and another nice view is
Marin Vijenac - a peak which is becoming more and
more popular for the hikers and tourists. On the way to the top, on which
7m tall stone cross can be found, on the hillsides you will meet
wild horses.
If you head towards the Adriatic Sea, you will be amazed by the
sandy beach with shallow water, suitable for families with children, but also for adventurers, as this beach is becoming more and more popular for
kite surfing.
After the outdoor activities or the cultural experiences, it’s time to take a break and
taste the local cuisine. We recommend you to visit one of the restaurants and try local specialties. On their menus you can find
frog and eel dishes, as well as
dishes made from swamp birds. The most famous dishes are
frog and eel brudet (type of stew),
breaded and baked frogs, eel on a skewer, frog risotto, cooked waterhen, as well as dishes from river and
sea fishes, crabs and clams. Thanks to the rich soil, Neretva river delta and valley is also known for its
vineyards, therefore you can enjoy a glass of local wine, as well as the schnapps - the most famous one is
made of dried figs.
In Neretva river delta and valley
something can be found for everyone - an active vacation, tasting the local cuisine, birdwatching or exploring the history of the area.
To have a
full experience, one day is definitely not enough. We recommend you to stay in
one of our beautiful villas with pool in South Dalmatia, where you can
relax and enjoy your holiday, but also get to know the Neretva river delta and valley.
Neretva river delta and valley is a
phenomenal blend of cultural and historical heritage with nature, gastronomy and various activities.
Tina Sarson
12.4.2023
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
