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History


Ploca PODSTRANA
- FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE PRESENT -


Reljef  ;     ;   Torzo


1. THE ANCIENT PODSTRANA
    According to archeological finds and preserved epigraphs, the part of coastal Poljica, from Strozanac to Podstrana, had already been populated in prehistory; Illyrian tribes called Pituntini were the first to settle there. The main settlement of the town-like type called Kastil (castle) Petuntium was mentioned by the Roman writer Plinius the Elder.The material and spiritual culture of that Illyrian tribe come to us through accidental findings of objects of everyday use or relief representation of their shepherd god Silvan whose satyr figure originated from cattle breeding tradition of Illyric tribes.

    The Romans came afterwards; during the times of the Roman Empire the Pituntina area was inhabited by the Roman citizens. Part of fertile lands was joined to the Salona estate (ager) which resulted in the constration of numerous villae rusticae - spacious estates of Salona citizens in the region of St. Martin of today. These had, besides farm buildings, fine and luxurious residental buildings. These were mostly inhabited by veterans, merchants, freed persons as well as high officials of the Roman state like Lucius Artorius Castary and governor of the province of Dalmatia. Gravestone inscriptions also mention Cania Urbana, manager of estate and numerous members of the family of Atius and Viscius Valensa and many others.

2. THE PERIOD FROM 7th TILL 18th CENTURY

    The begining of the 7th century, saw the coming of Slav tribes to the Balkans peninsula. This specific area was settled by the Croats who occupied the mountainous parts and slopes of Podstrana because of economic reasons and easier defence from pirates who used to come by the sea and Venice whose aim throughout centuries had been to impose their rule upon the Adriatic coastal region which was the reason for their numerous conflicts with Croatian rulers. Croatian prince Mislav who was the ruler of Dalmatian Croatia forced Venetian doge Pietro Tradenico to make peace with the Croats and pay tribute for free navigation of Venetian ships along the coast. According to the records of Venetian chronicler Ivan, the peace was signed in 839 A.D. in the castle of Prince Mislav in St. Martin, Podstrana, which was situated at the location of today´s St. Martin church.

    In the early Middle Ages Podstrana was part of Primorska or Klis parish which belonged to Dalmatian Croatia. Since 1444 Podstrana had been joined to Poljica Principality which occupied the region between the rivers Žrnovnica and Cetina and the Adriaric sea.

    Venice took possetion of Dalmatia in 1420 and Poljica Principality recognized its authority in 1444. In return Venice acknowledged its autonomy and assigned to the Principality the whole of Poljica coast area from the Zrnovnica river to the boundaries of Omiš so that Podstrana became part of the Principality through this act. Poljica Principality based its organization and authority upon the Poljica Statute, well known in law science, which as early as the end of 15th cent. class character because it provided most power to the so called "bosansko plemstvo" (Bosnian nobility) or Didići and to Croatian-Hungarian nobility or Ugricici. Of the twelve Polica villages, eight were inhabited by gentry and four by common people. Podstrana was also a commune of common people. Common people within the boundaries of Poljica Principality had a right to ellect officials and they participated in the sessions of people´s assemblies which were law-making bodies whereas the Prince and his procurators (collaborators) were chosen only among the ranks of nobility. This inequality of the common people was the reason for many an uprising and dissatisfaction.

    Poljica Principality recognized Turkish authority from 1514 to 1686 In spite of this they seized everly opportunity to fight the Turks on the Venetian side which caused many severe penalties they had to suffer.

    In 1686 the Poljica people liberated their Principality and recognized Venetian rule again.

    French army occupied this territory in 1806. Next year the people of Poljica clashed with French army. The uprising was unsuccessful and the consequences were grave. Podstrana suffered most as the conflict took place there. The Governor of the French authority Visco Dandolo abolished Poljica autonomy. After the fall of Napoleon in 1813 the Principality recognizes Austrian authority once again but it refused the demand of the Poljica people to unite again and to enjoy former privileges. The inhabitants of Podstrana, as well as those of Poljica as the whole, had never lost their national identity.

3. THE MODERN SETTLEMENT OF PODSTRANA

    In 1848 the first auxiliary elementary school began work and a regular state elementary school began work in the village which gave an impulse to improvement of cultural and economic life. After the road had been constructed through the coastal Poljica in 1856, present-day places Strozanac, Grljevac, Sv. Martin and Mutogras started to set up. A Public Library was opened, a school building was constructed as well as a social hall of culture, a port etc.

    In 1908 Podstrana takes part in founding the Mosor Tourist Association for the Poljica region and in 1937 Tourist Association of Podstrana was founded.

    Due to the intensive settling down of inhabitants in the recent twenty years Podstrana has been integrating into the process of Split growth. In that period Podstrana has transformed from an agricultural area into an urban part of Split agglomeration in which agricultural households have been losing ground steadily. Traditional farming has now very little importance. There are more than a hundred owners of private business in activities like catering, trade, transportation and handicrafts.

    Podstrana is birthplace of famous Croatian artist Ante Kastelancic so in his family house is kept great colletion of his paintings. He mostly painted everyday motives; nature; tipical dalmatian motives of his village Podstrana (sea, boats, sky and trees), everyday people (fishermen, old women) etc. creating his own expression.

Luka   Žena

ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDINGS

The Romans left there several outbuildings, the traces of which are still to be found on Vinine and Javor localities and on the graveyard in Sv. Martin.

Remains of roman stone statues, tombstones and mosaics were founded on the graveyard in St. Martin. Also remains of roman vilae rusticae was found in Strozanac.

There are also some records of Strozanac in the documents from 11th century.

Medieval early Croatian churches, preserved on the hillsides extending all along the coastal Poljica, are also the testimony to existence of medieval settlements.

Sv.Ante       Ploča2

There are some preserved buildings with characteristic style of the time they belong to, telling us that the old village Podstrana had been probably established at some time in 17th century.



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