Runović between Vrlika and Roman History

Runović lies on the banks of the Vrlika, also known as the Vrljika, in Imotsko polje. Fishing is one of the local activities. The river landscape and archaeological past shape the character of the place. If you are looking for a hotel in Runović, you can base your choice of location on these themes while also considering which cultural and natural features of the wider destination of Općina Runovići suit your travel plans.

The River and the Roman Past

The area around Runović is associated with the Roman municipium of Novae. Architectural remains, tombstones, altars, gemstones, fibulae, coins, and imperial inscriptions document settlement activity from the 2nd to the 6th century. The finds therefore include a range of evidence, from structural and funerary remains to objects and inscriptions.

In the wider destination of Općina Runovići, the river is also called the Vrljika Matica. The Vrljika flows through the municipality and is protected under the Natura 2000 programme as site HR2000933. Old mills have been preserved along the Vrljika and other watercourses in the municipality’s karst field. The regional landscape thus brings together bodies of water and built evidence of earlier times.

Churches and Cultural Heritage

The Gospe od Karmela parish in Runović is located at Runovići 90 and has a local telephone number. Check the contact details before visiting, as they may change. The parish church dates from 1869; together with its cemetery, it is part of the tangible cultural heritage of Općina Runovići. The parish house complex, with the chapel of Gospe od Zdravlja and the surrounding buildings, is also part of the municipality’s cultural heritage. The chapel has a bell tower dating from 1894.

The Brvina Bridge over the Vrljika is registered as an individual cultural property, under the designation Z-7066, both in the municipality and in the town of Runović. In Slivno, also within Općina Runovići, the Greblje-Grebnik archaeological site is registered as an individual cultural property under Z-4627. The municipality also includes a late medieval cemetery with stećci. These sites represent different aspects of the region’s cultural heritage: a bridge, an archaeological site, and medieval funerary culture.

Culture and Travel Planning in Općina Runovići

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Slivno houses a large painting by Filippo Naldi from the 18th century. It depicts the Virgin Mary and saints. In Slivno, the Nogalo family also continues to practice traditional blacksmithing: brothers Ante and Nediljko make or repair tools for agriculture, stoneworking, and construction. Blacksmithing has been part of the family’s history for more than two and a half centuries. According to family tradition, the family built a stone house in Slivno in 1774.

The Gospe od Karmela parish feast is celebrated on 16 July and commemorates the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The 24th edition of the traditional Ganga Festival took place on 22 August 2026 in Slivno. Ganga singing, gusle playing, and regional traditional culture shaped the event. The two dates offer different insights into the religious and musical traditions of the wider destination.

The Camino Imota route also provides a regional connection to Runović. A route description from the early 2020s gives the itinerary for day three as running from Zelena katedrala via Kamenmost, Zmijavci, and Runović to Vinjani and Imotski; the route ends at the Church of Sv. Frane. Before setting out on a hike, check whether the current route and waymarking still match the description.

Discover more destinations: Slivno.

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