Remains of the city walls
Throughout history, Omiš has been a true example of a city that knew how to defend itself. Its defense system was not just a set of walls and towers, but a carefully designed network of obstacles that gave the enemy headaches from all sides. Although the city walls were mostly demolished in the 19th century, their remains are still clearly visible in the urban fabric of the city today. Three sides of the city (west, south and east) were protected by walls, while the northern side was guarded by the inaccessible Omiš mountain Dinara, a natural barrier that was almost impossible to cross.
During the Venetian rule, from the 15th century, Omiš was given a square defensive perimeter with bastions and towers at the corners. The western side was additionally protected by the Cetina River, and the southern rampart had a defensive ditch, today's Fošal, which was then filled with water and made passage even more difficult. Today, the only preserved entrance to the old city is the Land Gate on the eastern rampart, through which residents and visitors still pass. The eastern rampart, up to 6 meters high, is the best preserved, and next to it is the Turjun Tower in the southeastern corner of the old town.
It is particularly interesting that during the 20th century, thanks to the enthusiasm of local volunteers, parts of the Starigrad fortress were renovated - the cistern, chapel and triangular bastions. This preserved the authentic structure with loopholes and battlements, and today these remains form the core of the popular Pirate's Trail, which connects the key defensive points of Omiš.
What makes the Omiš walls special is their layering: ancient foundations, Romanesque towers, Venetian bastions and pirate defensive tricks are intertwined in a small space. For example, the Peovica (Mirabela) Tower from the 13th century, which still dominates the town today, had two floors connected by wooden stairs and a terrace on top from which the entire Cetina estuary was monitored. Interestingly, a coin of the Byzantine Emperor Basil I was found in that tower, which shows that Omiš was an important strategic point as early as the 9th century, on the border of the Frankish and Byzantine Empires.
Another interesting fact: the Fortica fortress (Starigrad) was not only used for defense, but also as a shelter for the population in case of danger. When pirates or enemies approached, the people of Omiš would leave their houses along the coast and retreat to the fortress on the hill, from where they could monitor every movement down in the valley.
If you are interested in how Omiš protected its sea, take a walk to Fošal – a former defensive ditch, and today the main promenade, where you can still feel the spirit of old times and imagine what the city looked like when the walls were intact. The walls of Omiš are a real mosaic of history, and every stone has its own story.
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