Why visit
Why visit Omiš Pirate Fortresses
Omiš sits at the mouth of the Cetina river, where medieval Croatian pirates used the narrow gorge as a natural hiding place — even the Venetian navy struggled to root them out. Two fortresses cling to the cliffs above town: Mirabella, a short brutal climb from the old town, and Starigrad (Fortica) higher up, a full hour's hike.
At a glance
Estimated visit
Half a day
Best season
Summer for river rafting
Where
Omiš, Croatia
Category
Fortress
History
Omiš sits at the mouth of the Cetina river, where medieval Croatian pirates used the narrow gorge as a natural hiding place — even the Venetian navy struggled to root them out. Two fortresses cling to the cliffs above town: Mirabella, a short brutal climb from the old town, and Starigrad (Fortica) higher up, a full hour's hike. Below, the Cetina canyon offers some of the country's best rafting and zip-lining.
“Omiš's medieval pirates were so effective that Pope Honorius III organised a crusade against them in 1221 — they held out anyway for another century.”
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