On Tuesday June 11, Jörgen Eriksson from Bearing participated as expert speaker at an event in Solin, outside of Split in the Dalmatia region of Croatia. The event was well attended by media, including national television and national and regional newspapers. Click on the picture on the right to view an article.
The topic of the event was the launch of a process to develop an integrated RIS3 project, focusing on the archaeological park and museum in the ancient Roman settlement of Salona and modern developments facilitating tourism, such as hotels, yacht marina and enhancements of museum, development of local gourmet industry and other local attractions for visitors.
There are good reasons to develop the area. “The Croatian Riviera” is becoming an increasingly more popular tourist destination with the expansion of regional airports and the cruise ships business. Split, being a city in southern Croatia and a seaport on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, has much to offer.
By developing an integrated project where differentiation of the place brand through enhanced knowledge of the historic heritage is at the core, and including developments throughout the Quad Helix, in both government the academic sector, civil society and the business sector, the region can establish a strong foundation for economic growth through an expansion of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism as a lifestyle experience.
The areas setting by the sea and local archipelago is spectacular. High mountains lie to the north and east of Split and gourmet products such as olive oil, fruit, and especially wine, have long traditions of being produced locally.
The historic heritage is quite impressive. In the 6th century bc, the Greeks established colonies in the kingdom of Illyria, of which Dalmatia then formed a part. When, after many years of fighting, the Romans conquered Illyria in the 1st century ad, the Greek colonies became prosperous Roman municipalities.
The Roman monuments in Split includes the remains of a vast palace built by the famous Roman emperor Diocletian, a native of Dalmatia, who became emperor at the age of 39, in 284 BC.
Diocletian’s competent reign is especially remembered for expansion of the boundaries of the Roman empire and improved control over its territories. He reformed the administrative machinery of the empire by creation of 101 provinces, grouped into 12 larger divisions, each called a diocese, and into 4 major parts, over each of which a caesar or augustus was placed.
In 305 AD Diocletian abdicated his power, retiring to his palace at Salona, where he remained until his death in 313 AD.
The Avars, who conquered most of the Dalmatian towns in the 6th century, founded the city of Split. About 640 ad the Croats conquered the Avars; Dalmatia was included in the kingdom of Croatia until 1102, when the latter country was united with Hungary.
From 1115 to 1420, Dalmatia was the scene of numerous wars between Hungary and Venice, resulting finally in the subjugation of Dalmatia by the Venetian Republic. After the fall of the republic in 1797, during the French Revolution, Dalmatia became a crown possession of the Austrian Empire.
The archaeological park that is to be developed is focused on the ancient Roman settlement of Salona. In the picture below, the Roman town is superimposed on an aerial photo of the modern landscape.
