Biorine: Stećci, History and Camino Imota

Biorine brings together archaeological remains from different periods with a section of the Camino Imota. This gives you two distinct areas of interest to consider when planning your trip: the history of the archaeological sites and a multi-day hiking route whose final day climbs up to Biorine. Historical references to the Church of St. George add to these attractions.

Archaeological traces in Biorine

The Biorine-Kosiri archaeological area contains a prehistoric tumulus about 30 metres in diameter and around five metres high. Its proportions make it a broad, relatively low structure. A medieval cemetery with Stećci, the characteristic medieval tombstones, developed on and beside the tumulus in the 14th and 15th centuries. This site thus brings together two clearly distinct periods: the prehistoric burial mound and the later cemetery.

Another archaeological site of interest is Lazine, also listed as a separate cultural property in Biorine. The medieval cemetery there comprises eight chest-shaped Stećci and one gable-shaped Stećak west of a dry-stone wall; four more chest-shaped Stećci lie to the east. The wall gives the arrangement a clear spatial reference. Lazine lies north of the field road that crosses the karst field between the hamlets of Zelići and Budimiri. Biorine-Kosiri is also listed as a separate cultural property in Biorine.

The two sites have different emphases: at Biorine-Kosiri, the focus is on the tumulus and the later cemetery, while the information about Lazine brings the number and shape of the tombstones, and their distribution on either side of the dry-stone wall, into focus. If you are interested in medieval Stećci, this specific arrangement offers an additional point of comparison with the older structure at Biorine-Kosiri.

The final day of the Camino Imota

The Camino Imota is a four-day hiking route. On the final day, the route climbs up to Biorine. The climb offers a different perspective on the area than exploring its individual archaeological sites: depending on conditions, you may enjoy views of mountains and broad landscapes in the Dalmatian hinterland. Visibility depends on conditions. Check the route details before setting out so you can plan according to the current route information.

The distinction is clear when choosing the focus of your trip: the Camino Imota offers a multi-day hike and a final climb, while the archaeological sites tell the story of prehistoric and medieval history. You can therefore consider the route and archaeological sites as different interests when planning your trip, without combining them into a single circular route.

Church history and historical heritage

The Church of St. George is another historical landmark in Biorine. Baptismal registers of the former parish of Ugljane record baptisms at St. George’s Church in Biorine from 1747 onward. The parish church has been fully renovated; the new altar was consecrated during the celebration of the Feast of St. George on 23 April 2022. The registers and the renovation mark different points in the church’s history: recorded baptisms dating from the 18th century and the completed renovation in 2022.

Together with the archaeological sites listed as separate cultural properties, these features give a multifaceted picture of the town. The archaeological details differ from the church history: Biorine-Kosiri and Lazine focus on sites and tombstones, while the information about St. George’s Church concerns baptismal registers and a later renovation.

Regional context: Općina Cista Provo

Within the broader destination of Općina Cista Provo, the site of Cista Velika – Velika and Mala Crljivica is located in Cista Velika. It is one of Croatia’s two components of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Stećci – Medieval Tombstone Graveyards”. This regional context broadens the perspective on Stećci without equating the sites in Biorine with those in Cista Velika.

The Crljivica archaeological zone is also in Cista Velika, directly beside the main Trilj–Imotski road, and stretches for about 200 metres. Both examples belong to the regional context of Općina Cista Provo. When deciding where to visit, you can therefore distinguish between Biorine’s local highlights—tumulus, cemetery, Stećci and church history—and other archaeological sites in Cista Velika.

If you choose Biorine for your trip, these highlights can help guide your hotel search according to your interests: archaeological heritage, church history or the final hiking day of the Camino Imota. Check the route details if the hike is part of your plans, then focus your hotel search on Biorine.

Discover more destinations: Cista Velika, Cista Provo, Svib, Dobranje.

Return to the main travel overview: Općina Cista Provo.