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Omiš - the city of pirates

Omiš is an old town. The first time Omiš was mentioned is more than 2000 years old, as a settlement called Oneum. Through the history it was famous by being the city of - pirates!

Through XII and XIII century, Omiš pirates ruled the Adriatic sea on the area between Split and Dubrovnik. Sailing through their area required a payment. If you decided to skip the payment you were sentenced to a combat - a real pirate combat, and your chances were not good because Omiš pirates were good in what they did. The whole two centuries pirates attacked trade ships of Venetian republic, Dubrovnik republic and other trade giants.

Their power grew over time. Few wars against them were made, but few were successfull. Finally, in XV century, they were defeated. Dukes Kacic ran, and Omiš became the part of Venetian republic, and became administrative and military center. Because of that, it got defensive walls around the city, walls that limited building area, so Omiš got its architecture - small houses and narrow streats.

After the Venetian republic collapsed, the walls didn't have the purposa anymore, and the residents of Omiš demolsih them to expand the city. Today, only leftovers of the city walls can be seen as city gates in the eastern part of the town, and a forteress Turun in Fošal street.

In XIX century, Omiš became the part of Austro-Hungarian monarchy, then part of Napoleon's France, in XX century it was part of two Yugoslavias, and finally a part of Croatia.

Today, Omiš is mainly a turist town. It can offer its rich cultural herritage, great gastro offer (many great restaurants in narrow Omiš streets) and rich cultural life such as dalmatian accapella singing - Klape.