The history of Trogir can be followed from the original inhabitants,
Illyrians, who had their settlement on the grounds of today’s Trogir. The
first colonizators of the Adriatic islands and coast were Doric Greeks
from Syracuse who founded Issa on the island of Vis in 390 B.C., and in
the 3 rd century B.C. the colony of Tragurion.. Greek historians and
geographers Ptolomey and Strabo mention Trogir as an Isseian “island and
city”.
After his victory over Pompey, Caesar punished Issa, by abolishing its
independence and taking away its mainland properties, including Trogir.
Pliny the Elder, Roman historian, mentions Trogir-Tragurium in the 1 st century as Roman city,
well-know for marble, whereas Peuntiger’s Table and Antoninus’s Itinerary show Trogir as an important port
and state granary. With fall of the Western Empire, Trogir and other old Roman cities in Dalmatia became part
of a special military province (temat) of the Byzantine Empire.
In the chaos of the early Middle Ages, the Roman natives, with no strong Byzantine garisons, lived in fear
of attacks by the barbarian nations, who unprotected, prayed to the new Cristian God. Due to its islet location
between the mainland and the island of Ciovo, the town did not meet the tragic fate of Salona, destroyed during
an attack of the Avars and Slavs. From the seventh century Croatian princes built their castles with the
endowment church of St. Martha, not far from Trogir, in Biaci. Gradually, the Croats enter the town developing
certain Roman-Croatian ethnic symbiosis. After the great conquests of Carlemagne (?814.), the Dalmatian
cities, including Trogir, came under Frankish rule. The document on the foundation of the Monastery of St.
Doimus (1064.) contains only Croatian national names. Croatian princes and kings after stayed in Trogir which
enjoyed their protection and privileges. After the fall of the Croatian national dynasty, due to the diplomatic skills
of the Bishop Ivan Orsini (1111.) the citizens of Trogir opened the city gates to the Hungarian king
Koloman who was also crowned the king of Croatia in Biograd na moru.
A difficult period for Trogir was the invasion of the Mongolians in pursuit of the Hungarian-Croatian king
Bela IV who in 1242. rescued himself by escape to the safer Trogir. There he had an opportunity to admire
recently finished portal of Master Radovan, the masterpiece of Middle Age Croatian Art.
In the Middle Ages the town was ruled by the Statute (the oldest preserved one from 1322.). Members of
the Great Council were elected from the Small Council and the Secret Souncil, which discussed the important
security issues of the city. A pharmacy in Trogir is mentioned already in 1271., as the first one in this part of
Europe. It shows the level of economic civilizational achievments of the free Middle Ages Comune with
widespread. commercial and cultural relationships troughout the Mediterranean and Europe. In June 1420, after
a bloody battle, the Venetian troops of Captain Petar Loredano entered Trogir. All the city’s liberties were
abolished, and Venice took all the power which lasted till the end of the 18th century. After the brotherhoods
were dissolved, the citizens united in citizens’ assemblies through which they tried to restrain the despotism of
the governer and nobles. Many distinguished inhabitants of Trogir fled from their city. Among them was Petar Berislavic, later
Viceroy (Ban) of Croatia and Bishop of Zagreb, who died by a Turkish sword in 1520., deceived and
exausted by heavy fighting for the freedom of Croatia. The majority of nobles studied in Italian cities where
they got humanistic education. Among them was Ivan Lucius-Lucic, the father of modern Croatian
historiography.
Turkish devastation in the near of Trogir from the 17 th century completely destroyed the town from the
economic point of view. At the end of the 18 th century Venetian Republic was abolished. During Napoleon’s
wars from 1806-1814., Trogir was annexed to the Illyrian provinces under Marshal Marmont. After Napoleon’s
military defeat Trogir became the part of Austria-Hungary. In 1867., with the support of Bishop Strossmayer,
the National Library was founded and became the focal point of national renaissance. Twenty years later,
after long political struggles with Italy-oriented population demanding autonomy, the commune of Trogir passed
into Croatian hands. With the fall of the Austrian Empire after the World War I in 1918, Trogir joins Kingdom
of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians. General dissatisfaction and stagnation was gradually increasing. In April 1941,
Italy occupies Trogir without resistance and in 1943., one-year German occupation of Trogir begins. Trogir
gained its freedom in the end of 1944., after numerous victims and destroyed economy. The period of
economical development, particulary shipbuilding and turism, follows, together with the increase of life standard
of the citizens. But, the narrowness of the national awareness and democratic freedoms in South-Slavic
Federation causes a great discontent of the citizens. After the first democratic elections, held in 1990. by general plebiscitery of the Croatian for free and
independent state of Croatia, Trogir gives new victims as the foundation of the freeedom of the Croatian
people and the involvement of Croatia in European civilizational and economic prosperity.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS AND FAMOUS WORKS OF ART
The old town core has been formed between the 13 th and 15 th century inside defence wall that was restored by Venice in the 15 th
century. They also added two forts that are still preserved: citadel Kamerlengo, and the tower of St. Mark. The Kamerlengo citadel, that
is used to be connected with the city walls, is on the south-western part of
the island. Its present shape it got in the 15th century. More in the south is
the tower of St. Mark from the 15th century, and between the tower and the citadel, there is a gloriet built in the style of classicism, from the time of
the French occupation. In the part of the town that developed on Ciovo
there are a few interesting small churches. The older, eastern part of the town has developed around the main square with the cathedral. The
western part, Pasika, was built later. In the past, the town was one of the cultural centres of Dalmatia: in the 13 th century master Radovan worked
there, and in the 15 th century there were famous sculptors, architects, builders, humanists and historians (Ivan Lucius). The Radovan Portal
finished in 1240, is a monumental and perhaps unique work of this great Croatian artist, of whom the inscription on the base of the lunette says he is "the best of all in this artisanship".
The entrance into the town from the north is through the renaissance town gates from the 17 th century
with the sculpture of Blessed Ivan Ursini, the patron saint of the town. On the main square there is the
cathedral from the 13 th - 15 th century with characteristics of both Romanesque and Gothic styles. The most
important port of the cathedral, and the most valuable work of the Romanesque sculpture in Dalmatia is the
portal of master Radovan from 1240. The sculpture of St. Lovro and triangular gable were added to it in the 14
th century. In the cathedral there are also: the baptistery from 1464, the most important preserved work of the
sculptor Andrija Alesi; octagonal stone pulpit from the 13 th century; Gothic chorus benches; ciborium
from the 14 th century; paintings of the local and Italian masters; Gothic chapel of St. Jeronim from 1438;
and chapel of the Blessed Ivan Ursini, the most beautiful renaissance monument in Dalmatia, the work of
Nikola Firentinac from the 15 th century.
The most beautiful objects from the treasury are embroideries, ivory Gothic triptych, and medieval illuminated
codices.
On the square there is the town loggia from the 15 th century, clock tower, and the small church of St.
Sebastijan that was built in the renaissance style. The small, early medieval church of St. Barbara, from the
9 th - 10 th century, is located behind the loggia and it is the oldest church in Trogir. The square is close by the
Cipiko Palace. Opposite to it, is the town hall from the 15 th century. The renaissance church of the St. John the
Baptist from the 13 th century, with remains of the medieval frescos and the tomb of the Cipiko family, is on the
coast. Further down the coast is part of preserved defence walls with tower and renaissance town gates from
1593.
Other interesting historical and cultural monuments:
- fort Vitturi
- south City Gate
- Benedictine Convent and Church of St. Nicholas
- City Hall
- Cathedral of St. Lawrence
- baptistry and Chapel of the St. Ivan of Trogir
- Chapel of the St. Ivan
- Clock Tower
- Chapel of St. Mary
- Church of St. John the Baptist
- old and new Cipiko Palaces
- Lucuc Palace
- Garagnin-Fanfogna Palace
- Church of St. Peter
- Andreis Palace
- Church of Our lady of Mt Carmel