Omiš

Omiš (, Latin and it, Almissa) is a town and port in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, and is a municipality in the Split-Dalmatia County. The town is situated approximately south-east of Croatia's second largest city, Split. Its location is where the Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea. Omiš municipality has a population of 14,936 and its area is .

Name

It is supposed that the name of this city, ''Omiš'', developed from the Slavic ''Holm'', ''Hum'' as a translation from the Illyrian - Greek word ''Onaion'', ''Oneon'', meaning "hill" or "place on the hill", or from Greek onos (όνος) meaning donkey, perhaps from the shape of the rocky promontory by the city (naming a city after a natural form was common practice then, as it is now); there is also the possibility that the name of the settlement ''Onaeum'' was derived from the name of the river which was called ''Nestos'' by the Greek colonists in its lower flow, during Antiquity. According to Petar Šimunović, Omiš is derived from Proto-Indo-European ''*almissa'' ("rock", "cliff").

Latin names during Ancient Rome were ''Onaeum'', ''Oeneum'', ''Alminium'', and ''Almissum.'' During Medieval times the name was recorded as ''Olmissium'', ''Almiyssium'' and from the end of the 15th century, when the city fell to the authority of Venetian Republic, its name was the Italian ''Almissa''.

History

Omiš was well known in the past by the Corsairs of Almissa (''Omiški gusari'') whose Sagittas (ships) (Genitive case: ''Sagittae'', translated as ''The Arrow''), brought fame to them because they were built for attack and fast retrieval into the mouth of the Cetina River, protecting the town from foreign invaders. At a very early date, neighbours of the Corsairs of Almissa, the highlanders of the Poljica Principality (''Poljička Republika''), became their friends and allies. This allowed them to harass the seaborne trade, without fear of a sudden attack from inland.

*Historical monuments:
** Church of St Euphemia by the coast on Brzet, from the early 6th century
** Mirabella Fortress (Peovica) from the 13th century
** Starigrad Fortress (Fortica) from the 15th century
** Renaissance church of the Holy Spirit from the 15th century
** Old cemetery, the 16th century or 17th century
** Parochial church from the 17th century
** Franciscan Monastery on Skalice from the 18th century

In the Priko neighborhood, on the right bank of the Cetina River, stands the site with the most historic significance: the pre-Romanesque Church of St. Peter (''Crkva Sv. Petra'') from the tenth century A.D. This single-naved edifice, with a cupola and apse, was used in the 18th century as a Glagolithic seminary for novice priests.

Economy

Today, Omiš's economy is based on farming, fishing, textile and food-processing industries and tourism.

Settlements

Within the limits of the town lie the following settlements:

* Blato na Cetini, population 465
* Borak, population 158
* Čelina, population 222
* Čisla, population 302
* Donji Dolac, population 373
* Dubrava, population 300
* Gata, population 567
* Gornji Dolac, population 119
* Kostanje, population 605
* Kučiće, population 607
* Lokva Rogoznica, population 397
* Marušići, population 151
* Mimice, population 216
* Naklice, population 236
* Nova Sela, population 224
* Omiš, population 6,462
* Ostrvica, population 196
* Pisak, population 202
* Podašpilje, population 20
* Podgrađe, population 280
* Putišići, population 46
* Seoca, population 140
* Slime, population 270
* Smolonje, population 79
* Srijane, population 270
* Stanići, population 534
* Svinišće, population 98
* Trnbusi, population 162
* Tugare, population 885
* Zakučac, population 148
* Zvečanje, population 202

Culture

Omiš is best known for the traditional festival of the Dalmatian a cappella singing groups. This festival is the highlight of Omiš's summer, the expression of the town's beauty. Omiš's Summer Festival - during which various concerts and recitals are performed - takes place at the plazas and in churches.

*Omiš as a town has eight churches:
** church of Saint Michael
** church of Holy Ghost
** church of Saint Rock
** church of Saint Peter
** church of Saint Luca
** church of Saint Mary
** Franciscan Monastery with church of Our Lady of Carmel
** church of Saint Stephan and
** remains of church of Saint John in Borak.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Omiš is twinned with:

* Bol, Croatia
* Havířov, Czech Republic
* Nepomuk, Czech Republic
* Zagorje ob Savi, Slovenia
* San Felice del Molise, Italy
* Ryazan, Russian Federation
* Krupina, Slovakia
* Poprad, Slovakia

Image gallery

File:Church of St. Peter in Omis.jpg, alt=Church of St. Peter, Church of St. Peter
File:Grb 1541.JPG, alt=Coat of arms of Omiš, Coat of arms of Omiš
File:Omis bridge.jpg, alt=Omis bridge, Omis bridge
File:Omis city beach Punta.jpg, alt=city beach Punta, city beach Punta
File:Omis old city street.jpg, alt=Old city street, Old city street
File:View of Omis from fortress Peovica.jpg, alt=View of Omis from fortress Peovica, View of Omis from fortress Peovica
File:River Cetina Canyon.jpg, alt=River Cetina Canyon, Cetina Canyon

References

Bibliography

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External links

*
Omiš tourist board official websiteUnofficial Website of Omis, Croatia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omis

Cities and towns in Croatia
Populated places in Split-Dalmatia County
Populated coastal places in Croatia
Seaside resorts in Croatia