The island of Šolta has been mentioned in antiquity by the Greek geographer Pseudoskilak (XNUMXth century BC) under the name Lyλ )ντα (Olynta) which was the name for an unripe fig. Then the Romans called it Solent from the root of the word salt meaning sun. Petar Hektorović called Šolta in his work 'Fishing and Fishing Complaints' break out, and with the arrival of the Venetians, the name was Romanized into the form of Šolta.
The first legends about the island are associated with the Illyrians, whose queen Teuta, according to legend, had a fortress above the bay of Senjska, on the south side of the island, whose remains are still visible. Remains of several settlements and several objects and stone inscriptions date from the Roman period. If you ask the locals, they will tell you that Solta was the first choice of the Illyrian queen Teuta. It is on the south side of the island, in Senjska bay, built their palaces while fishermen, in order to gain the Queen's favor, threw fish from the catch to all four corners of the world.
///Two visits to Teuta's castle
On Šolta, the Benedictines were an order with the most deeply rooted tradition, especially in the monastery in Stomori which is actually a Croatized version of the name Santa Maria at the foot of the Great Guard, in today’s Gornje Selo.
The island was in a position suitable for plunder from different sides, changed states and rulers several times. The biggest robbery took place in June 1240, when pirates from Omis set fire to the church of Sv. Stjepan in Grohote.
Stomorska – the cradle of maritime science
The cradle of seafaring, a place with the longest maritime tradition, which gave birth to generations of excellent sailors and shipowners, was beautiful, picturesque Stomorska, in whose spirit the maritime tradition still rests today as an integral part of its essence.
In the early XNUMXs, shipowners from Stomorska reconstructed wooden sailing ships and created ships equipped for tourist cruises throughout the Adriatic. Today, Stomorska is attractive nautical center on the island with a number of excellent restaurants, along with the nautical part of the harbor with 25 berths for sailboats and two berths for megayachts.
Gaštald – village headman from a prominent Šolta family
Coming under Venetian rule, the people of Šolta, as sailors of the Venetian Republic, often took part in wars against the Ottomans. The island did not suffer direct war destruction and was a refuge for the Uskoks of Senj. In administrative terms, the supreme power in the Split commune was held by Prince Captain. He was at the head of each of the four villages on Šolta gastald - the head of the village who was elected from more respectable and wealthy Šolta families.
The first towers for defense were built on the island in the 15th century during the Venetian battles against the Turks. During that turbulent period, the people of Split ordered the construction of defensive towers in the villages of Šolta. The people of Šolta themselves built their "courts" with high walls, fortified houses ballads which were movable like medieval bridges. The towers were first built in Grohotama and Gornje Selo. One is - Nightingale Tower in Grohote was renovated and today exists as the administrative center of the Municipality of Solta.
Šolta, an island with two faces
The island of Solta due to its proximity Split and Trogir it is often a destination for boaters starting or ending charters in one of its bays. However, Solta is much more than a convenient accommodation for boaters near Split. It is an island of Illyrian legends, ancient ponds, medieval poetry, rich maritime tradition and increasingly notable oenology and typical Mediterranean gastronomic specialties.
///“Whose is Mrduja?” The islet between Šolta and Brač changes hands every year
What is best for today's visitors to Solta is the fact how the spirit of the past you can still feel relaxing in one of its bays, small seaside towns or visiting populated places in the interior of the island. Namely, due to historical circumstances, villages in the interior of the island have long been the only permanent settlements. Their ports eventually became island resorts, and today small charming nautical centers.
The indigenous wine variety from which Plavac Mali was derived
On Šolta you can find an autochthonous variety of wine Dobricic which is little known in Croatia, but highly valued by the profession, which even explains that this variety is the predecessor of our most famous black variety Swimmer small. It was also enjoyed by the Hungarian king Bela IV, and he wrote about it Marko Marulić – Šolta is his home. In addition to wine, Šolta is proud of its local products, as many as 25 of which carry the island product label.
Šolta olive oil is widely known Association “ZLATNA ŠOLTANKA” which has won numerous awards at olive oil events. In the last few years, "Šoltan" oil has risen to the very top of the best olive oils in the world. Solta olive oil was also awarded a gold medal in the category of ecological single-variety oil at the prestigious olive oil competition in New York.
Source: Visit Solta, Croatia.hr
Cover photo: Call Me Fred / Unsplash
