Trogir walking tour with a local guide

The construction of the Cathedral of St. Lawrence started in 1213 and lasted five centuries. Its massive body has three naves and it’s in the Romanesque and Gothic styles. Its bell tower affords fantastic panoramic views over Trogir, the island of Čiovo, the mainland, and the Adriatic Sea.

Radovan’s Portal – the main entrance of the Cathedral of St. Lawrence was sculpted and carved by Master Radovan – a craftsman from medieval Trogir. This is a unique work of sculptural art from the first half of the 13th century.

John Paul II Square – or Trg Ivana Pavla II in Croatian – is one of the most beautiful historic piazzas I have had the pleasure to visit. Surrounded by some of Trogir’s most important buildings and largely taken over by the tables and umbrellas of the local cafes, it is very much like an open-air lounge. You can easily sit here and just spend a couple of hours enjoying a coffee, an ice cream, and all the history and architecture you can take in on a sunny day. It is such a relaxed, beautiful space.

Town Hall – built in the 15th century, this stone building has an elegant courtyard decorated with coats of arms. The outside staircase is one of the most striking examples of Venetian architecture in Trogir.

St. Sebastian’s Church and Clock Tower – the church was built in 1476 by the citizens of Trogir grateful to have been delivered from the plague. Its architect was Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (in English, known as Nicolas of Florence).

Town Loggia – dating back to the 13th century, this is the covered space next to the Clock Tower. This is where the citizens of Trogir used to congregate in the past to discuss the issues of the day. The local court would meet here, too on certain days in order to proclaim laws and proceed with court cases.

The Great Cipiko Palace – composed of a group of Romanesque buildings, the palace took on its Venetian Renaissance look between the 15th and the 17th centuries when it was extensively remodelled. Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino worked on this project, too. Among other things, he also carved the south portal of the palace.

It’s housed in a series of palaces once owned by the Venetian family of the Garagnin-Fonfogna. You will see the museum as soon as you step into Trogir Old Town through the North Gate. The latter is one of the two main historic entrances into the once walled town.

Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – founded in the Middle Ages, historically this is the church of Trogir’s fishermen, craftsmen, and labourers. You will find it just off the waterfront promenade in the western part of the Old Town. If you are in Trogir on 16th July, come to the church in the evening to see the traditional procession with the statue of Our Lady.

The bas-relief shows the young man standing on tiptoe, ready to fly away in an instant. His arms are outstretched. In his hands, he holds a pair of scales. His long tuft of hair falls over his forehead but the crown of his head is bald. When the right moment comes along in your life, don’t be afraid to seize it by figuratively grabbing Kairos by his long tuft. Otherwise, he will fly away on his wings and you will be left empty-handed grappling at the back of his head.

Riva – this is what the locals call Trogir’s palm-fringed promenade. Wide, flat, and straight, it runs along the water edge and provides splendid views across the sea channel to the nearby island of Čiovo.

The Kamerlengo Castle is an early 15th-century fortress at the end of Trogir’s promenade. It stands on the corner of the tiny island that hosts the Old Town. Right next to it you will see the local football pitch, a small playground for the kids, and the stalls of the local tour operators.