Marina between a cave, churches and hiking trails

In Marina, you can explore a range of topics, from the botanical trail and a cave with archaeological traces to the history of its churches.

Botanical Trail and Exercise

The Put Grote botanical trail offers a themed hiking experience. It leads through Mediterranean vegetation toward the Cave of Saints Philip and James. From Komorje Hill, there are views across the Marina field. The vegetation, views, and cave offer different points of interest along the way, without needing to conflate these themes: the cave is the destination toward which the trail leads.

Another place to exercise in Marina is the fitness park at Fangare Beach. It is part of Marina’s health trail and complements the botanical trail as a distinct feature of the local paths and activities.

The Cave of Saints Philip and James

The Cave of Saints Philip and James, also called the Grotto, lies on the southeastern slope of Plića Hill. It is elliptical, about 62 meters long and up to 19 meters wide. Inside are a chapel and altars; the cave has served as a sanctuary. Its dimensions and shape give the cave a clearly defined spatial form, while the chapel and altars reveal its religious history.

A Gothic inscription from the 14th century, ancient wall remains, and medieval tombstones can be found in and around the cave. Not all of these traces are inside the cave: the archaeological evidence is also spread across the area in front of and around it. This makes it possible to consider both the cave’s sacred use and the finds in its surroundings.

Churches and Historic Alterations

St. Marina’s Church was built at the beginning of the 16th century at the end of Marina Bay, probably on the foundations of an older medieval church. In the 1980s, it was converted into a gallery and no longer serves a religious purpose. Its history thus links an older church building with a lasting change of use.

The Church of St. James stands outside Marina’s defensive walls. Stones from the Renaissance walls were used in its construction, and its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. Its location, reused building materials, and floor plan are three distinct aspects of the church’s architectural history.

Marina Tower was also rebuilt and converted into a gastronomic and tourist facility. A free tour brings local historical figures to life through costumed interpretation at medieval sites. Alongside the buildings, the stories of local historical figures offer another way to engage with the cultural heritage.

Context in the wider destination of Općina Marina

The Camino Central Dalmatia and Camino Šibenik pilgrimage routes pass through the wider destination of Općina Marina. The municipality is also the endpoint of the Camino Srednja Dalmacija route and the first stop on the Camino Šibenik route. The Srednja Dalmacija route is divided into seven daily stages and marked with Camino signs; the route’s GPS file is also recommended for navigation.

Other cultural sites also belong to the wider destination of Općina Marina, not to the places described in Marina: in Poljica, the Church of St. Luke dates from the 13th or 14th century and still displays Gothic features. In Stari Trogir Bay, the remains of ancient baths, a cistern, a frigidarium, and mosaic fragments can be seen along the coast.

For regional orientation, Općina Marina is located on the Adriatic Coastal Road D8, roughly halfway between Split and Šibenik and ten kilometers from Trogir.

Discover more destinations: Vrsine, Poljica, Blizna Donja, Gustirna, Sevid, Vinišće, Mitlo.

Go to the wider travel overview: Općina Marina.