When: Year round
Duration: Half day. Full day with Promona or Salona visit
From: Zadar, Šibenik, Split
Croatia is so rich in Roman heritage, boasting places like
Salona near Split,
Diocletian's Palace, Cavtat and Pula,
the Brijuni
Islands,
that it's amazing that sites like the military complex at Burnum, historically
significant Varvaria (Bribir) and magnificent Asseria near Benkovac are still
considered "lost Roman cities".
These three important archeological digs still, for the most part, hide entire
cities--with all their streets, temples, baths, mosaics, monuments waiting to
be revealed.
Let's take an in-depth look at Burnum, which some
claim originates from the year 33 B.C.. The famous Roman write Pliny the
Elder (AD
23 - 79) wrote about the fortress at Burnum and it'sknown that several Roman legions were located there in succession. The first,
legio XX Valeria Victrix, was there at the beginning of the Pannonian uprising
(Bellum Batonianum) AD 6-9.to control the movement in and
around the Krka River. The Roman governor for Dalmatia
Publius Cornelius Dolabella is credited with actually starting the city
which was continued by the Roman Emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus
Germanicus. By the time Claudius was emperor, around 50 A.D, Burnum was
well-established and.both Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis and Legio
IIII Flavia Felix were encamped here.
Today, Burnum is the most recently excavated Roman
military arena in Europe!
Next, Asseria, who's blossoming as a town took place during the 1st and
2nd centuries AD, when it was one of the main settlements of the Liburnians.
The oldest remains in Asseria found to date are from the 5th century BC, and
reveal a town with walls 7m high and 3.2m thick, built as part of the military
belt protecting the rich cultural life on the coast from barbarian invasion
from the inland. Built as a classic Roman city, Asseria had a town square, a
water system, public baths and a necropolis where cylindrical gravestones known
as "cipus" have been discovered. Asseria's most important Roman monument is a
triumphal arch, one of seven entrances into the city, built in 113 AD in honor
of Roman Emperor Trajan.
Our "Lost Roman Cities Tour" takes you on an unforgettable historical
journey to discover of Burnum, Asseria and Varvaria and includes olive oil (upon request) and
wine tasting (included) at ancient Scardona (today's Skradin) and entrance tickets when
needed.
The tour is about 5 hours long but can be shortened or extended to also
visit spectacular Promona - the site of last battle in which Romans under
Augustus finally defeated the wild Delmati tribe to complete their conquest of
the eastern Adriatic shores.
The program can be arranged to start from Zadar or the Šibenik area and
can even be explored from Split.
Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended!
Price
For 2 - 3 - 80 Euros per person
For 4 - 8 - 60 Euros per person
... contact us for more people
The cost
includes:collection
from your hotel, villa or private apartment by our English-speaking
driver/guide, comfortable sedan car of van,
road tolls and parking, all taxes and VAT, tickets, wine tasting in Skradin
Options
Depending on the starting point, this tour can include tours of Salona, Promona or Nin near Zadar. It can also be combined with authentic lunch and olive oil tasting in Skradin. The tour can include some sites of medieval history like Templar fortress in Vrana or to include the tour of Renaissance Šibenik with exclusive lunch at prestigious Pelegrini restaurant or with wine tasting at bibich wine cellar in Plastovo.
Highlights
Roman ruins of Asseria, Burnum and Varvaria. Roman military arena at Burnum. National Park Krka, Ravni Kotari region, Skradin (Roman Scardona), megalithic walls of Asseria, multi-cultural remains on Varvaria (Brbirska glavica), historic sites and landscapes of Zadar and Šibenik hinterland.
