From October 19th to 21st we went on a three-day field trip to Dalmatia. During this field trip we explored the cultural-historical sights of the towns of Šibenik and Trogir, participated in traditional olive picking and making olive oil, and enjoyed a variety of workshops in the Dalmatian Ethno Village.

On the first day we took a sightseeing tour of the old town of Šibenik. Šibenik is the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic. We visited some of the most important cultural-historical sights while enjoying the true Mediterranean charm of this town.

The town of Šibenik has four fortresses that successfully protected it from various attacks throughout centuries - St. Michael's Fortress, St. John’s Fortress, Šubićevac Fortress and St. Nicholas Fortress. We took a boat ride to the St. Nicholas Fortress which is located on the islet of Ljuljevac in the St. Anthony Channel. While approaching the Fortress, we were admiring how fascinating it looked like and realised why it was known as Šibenk’s Proud Sea Guardian. We have found out that the fortress was built in 1540 by Venetians to protect the town of Šibenik from the Ottoman rule. The fortress is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and renovated in 2019.

On the second day we participated in traditional olive picking in an olive grove raised by the Family farm ‘Uroda’ in Pirovac hinterland. The farm owners welcomed us with opened arms. We rolled up our sleeves and tried to pick as many olives as possible. We experienced this beautiful tradition while enjoying the autumn sun and fresh air. The reporters of the Croatian National Television filmed us while picking olives and broadcasted on the daily TV shows ‘Dobro jutro, Hrvatska’ and ‘Hrvatska danas’. We picked 200 kg of olives. To produce one litre of olive oil, between four and five kilograms of olives are necessary. After olive picking we enjoyed a delicious homemade brunch.

We all know that olive oil, sometimes called liquid gold', is one of the treasures of our gastronomic heritage. After olive picking we took the olives to the olive mill in Vodice to be pressed into olive oil.  We could see the whole process: how the olives were first crushed into the paste, then pressed to extract the oil juice and finally the oil is separated from the rest of the olive components. At the end, our effort was rewarded with a bottle of quality olive oil. In the afternoon we visited the Dalmatian Ethno Village where we participated in the education program. We made olive oil soaps, olive oil bread and olive branch wreaths.

On the third day, we visited the town of Trogir. Trogir is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We took a sightseeing tour walking down the small streets and visiting the main sights - Kamerlengo Fortress and St. Lawrence Cathedral. Kamerlengo Fortress was built in the 15th century by the Venetians and it used to house the army, but also served as a governor’s palace. The Cathedral of St. Lawrence is famous for two things - the Radovan portal and the 14th century bell tower. A few of students climbed up to the top of the Cathedral of St. Lawrence and admired the view.

To conclude, this field trip was exciting, interesting and educational, and everyone enjoyed it. According to the students’ feedback, we very much enjoyed making pizza, olive oil soaps and olive branch wreaths in the Dalmatian Ethno Village. Altogether we loved the warmth and irresistible charms of the Mediterranean towns and ambience. The memorable moments are ‘captured’ in our Dalmatia Field Trip Scrapbook.

Journalist Group: Umika, Karla, Mayon and Luna