Breaking from your travel habits is always rewarding, especially when you go against the crowd. Avoiding tourist crowds, though, is not a goal of most tourists, who choose to visit the familiar, recommended, or most popular places. They are often looking for certain comforts and attractions instead of thinking about the overall experience. People generally know that the most popular travel destinations are neither the most authentic nor the best value for their tourist money. But do they know what they are missing by not visiting lesser-known and less-crowded places? Do they know that these smaller destinations offer a whole different list of attractions and activities? In fact, they often offer more - you can’t go horseback riding or visit a winery in the popular tourist center that is Split, Croatia, but you can when you visit smaller centers like Sinj. And still have great dining choices, etc.
The town of Sinj in central Croatia is a prime example of how tourists are rewarded for traveling ‘out of the box’. Historic Sinj is a treasure in many ways. Located about one hour’s drive from Split, Sinj is a popular tourist town, but fortunately on a smaller and more relaxed scale than Split or Dubrovnik (or Prague, etc.). Selected as a member of the European Destinations of Excellence, vibrant Sinj offers many historic sights and touch points from a long and colorful history dating even before the area’s inclusion in the Roman Empire. The town is also centered in a beautiful rural area known for its offerings of active tourism – horseback riding and expeditions, river rafting, fly fishing, paragliding, canoeing, and more. We experienced more in four days in and around Sinj than I can possibly share in this article (a second article is upcoming).
Above all of Sinj’s attractions and historical riches, however, is its small-town hospitality. We were already so pleased by the warmth and hospitality of the Croatian people – in Sinj, it was even greater. People are happy, relaxed, and eager to please you. They know their town’s history, which they are proud to share with you.Representing Sinj’s high standard of hospitality is tourist board director Jelena Bilic, who toured us around town and arranged accommodations at the five-star Villa Tripalo (http://www.orvas-hotels.com/anu/orvas-hotels/villa-tripalo/) and at Hotel Alkar (http://www.hotel-alkar.hr).
To experience authentic, local food, Bilic brought us to a traditional restaurant (Konoba), Potkova, where we enjoyed local wine with arambašići (rolls of pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with chopped meat). Other delicacies, such as frogs, crayfish, Cetina River trout, and rafioli pastry are specialties typical of the Dalmatian hinterland. Sinj is an exceptional place of good eating due to the town’s rich history, which has joined the spirits of Mediterranean, Oriental and continental cuisine.
We again enjoyed traditional food when Bilic brought us to Mustang Ranch, located just outside of town. A large, traditional-looking dining room was filled with locals and pan-European tourists enjoying excellent meat and potato dishes, wienerschnitzel, and anything made with cabbage. Outside, people were riding and admiring the ranch’s horses, while the more adventurous were on ten-day horseback expeditions.After visiting great cities of Italy and Croatia in the weeks prior, we were completely taken by the charms of Sinj and its gracious people. Bilic told us about a family from England who were vacationing in Split but loved the Sinj area so much that they made several day trips to the town. While Sinj is a day-trip destination for many tourists, it is the primary destination for many others who prefer the tranquility, charm, and authentic nature of small, less-touristic places. Such tourists can then take day trips to Split and other crowded places, returning to their small town retreat to relax and recharge. It’s a smart and rewarding way to travel that may seem backwards to many people, but ultimately it’s a matter of values. Personally, I prefer to visit the big cities briefly and then spend most of my time in smaller centers. The experience is usually richer, and it is also a more economical way to explore any country or region. Richer experiences and greater value is a travel recipe that works well for me, and I suspect, for a growing number of travelers.
As Croatia prepares to join the EU in July, it will work to preserve all the great things that attract visitors from around the world. Gratefully, gems like Sinj are not likely to change, even if tourism continues to grow in the region.
Information about Sinj and the area can be found at the tourism board’s site - http://www.visitsinj.com/en