Description of the attraction
The Croatian Maritime Museum is located a short drive from Peristyle, on the Grip Hill. The Grip Fortress itself is worth seeing as it is the best preserved remains of the 17th century Dalmatian fortification.
The fortress was built to protect against the constant attacks of the Turks, who threatened the Palace of Diocletian. The first attack on Split took place in 1645 and, given the development of artillery at that time, the inhabitants asked Venice, which at that time ruled the region, for permission to build a fortress on Mount Grip. This location was ideal for placing enemy troops before the attack on Split, so it was necessary to act quickly to get ahead of the enemies.
In 1657, the construction of the fortress began with regular sorties from the side of the Turks. On June 21, the Turks launched an active attack, which they managed to repulse only with the help of Venetian soldiers - volunteers from Trogir, Makarsk, Hvar. The next day the Turks managed to capture the fortress, but only for one day. The fortress played a military role until 1990, after which it was transferred to the civil administration of Split.
The museum was created in the former Yugoslavia in 1926 with an unlimited budget and occupied 4 floors. Now the museum is located on one floor and consists of two parts: the military and civil maritime history of Croatia. Models of ships, instruments and equipment that have survived make this museum a fabulous place for anyone interested in maritime history or simply for lovers of the sea. There are exhibits from different eras and one of the most impressive is undoubtedly a huge Roman vase found in the shallow waters of the Catholic Church several years ago.
The museum actively organizes interesting thematic exhibitions on an annual basis. In 2010, for example, there was an exhibition on the history of shipbuilding in Split.
But the real treasures of the museum are in the military unit. There you can find treasures of national history as well as many World Heritage Sites. The museum houses the world's oldest collection of torpedoes. The most striking exhibit is the hall dedicated to the groundbreaking torpedoes invented by Whitehead-Lupis in the 19th century. Among other interesting exhibits, a special place is occupied by a wonderful collection of models of ships of the partisan fleet of 1941-1945.
The Croatian Maritime Museum is a wonderful place where you can learn a lot about the history of the turbulent Croatian past and the Dalmatian region over the centuries, see many unique and interesting exhibits. This is a museum for those who are in love with the sea and life at sea!
