How can I see Trogir and Šibenik in one day trip from Split and achieve the following objectives? Is there a very educated and knowledgeable guide or tour I could take?
I will be there in September 2025. I will not have a car.
In Trogir, I would like to:
1. Understand what makes buildings Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque;
2. Understand how the plan of contemporary Trogir reflects the Hellenistic layout in the location, dimensions, and shapes of its residential blocks;
3. Walk on the two ancient main streets, the cardo and the decumanus, which are still in use;
4. Understand how Trogir demonstrates the influence of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Hungarian and Venetian cultures, as exemplified through its town and the architecture of its buildings;
5. Understand how Trogir’s way of life, and its contribution to national and universal culture and science make it one of the most important Adriatic towns;
6. Visit the Cathedral of St Lawrence and understand how it represents Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles;
7. Visit the ancient town of Tragurion, which lies at the eastern end of the islet. The plan of two concentric circles of houses and streets, within the former walls, is still visible.
I will skip:
1. The Cipico Palace. It is not open to the public per Lonely Planet. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/croatia/dalmatia/trogir/attractions/grand-cipiko-palace/a/poi-sig/1065674/358790)
- Kamerlengo Castle. No guide and little information other than the main sign at the entrance of the castle on the south side. The inner courtyard is empty. The castle, in its current state, is more a ruin than a museum. The railings are not very safe. (Fourth & Fifth paragraphs at https://entercroatia.com/cities/trogir/kamerlengo-castle/#:~:text=The%20castle%20dates%20from%20the,was%20occupied%20by%20Venetian%20soldiers)
In Šibenik, I would like to:
Visit the Cathedral of St James and
(1) see the frieze decorated with 71 sculptured faces of men, women, and children;
(2) understand how the Cathedral’s form and the decorative illustrate the successful fusion of Gothic and Renaissance art, including definitions of Gothic and Renaissance; and
(3) understand how the Cathedral of St James reflects interchanges of influences between Northern Italy, Dalmatia and Tuscany in the 15th and 16th centuries. These interchanges created the conditions for unique and outstanding solutions to the technical and structural problems of constructing the Cathedral’s vaulting and dome.
My research comes from the UNESCO World Heritage List – specifically, Trogir (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/810) and Šibenik (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/963).