The Cetina river in Croatia

During Greek Antiquity, the river was named Nestos in its lower course.

The name Cetina decides “tsétina”.

Cetina runs in the county of Split-Dalmatia, but its source is located in the county of Šibenik-Knin.

Throughout its course of 101 km - which makes of it the longest river in Dalmatia - Cetina presents a character which varies considerably, even if this phenomenon is attenuated by the presence of many stoppings.

This source is a turquoise water lake blue of more than hundred meters of depth, which produces in spring - with the snowmelt - enormous quantities of water. The groundwaters which feed Cetina would feed also the Krka river which runs in the county close to Šibenik-Knin.

Its water is also put out of bottle under the name of “natural Spring water of Cetina” (Cetina Prirodna izvorska voda).

The dam Peruča was the first large tank created in karstic area; it is a stopping of ground which measures 63 m height and 467 m of width. The lake of reserve is - by its extent - the second artificial lake of Croatia, after the Lake Dubrava. It is bordered in the west by the solid mass of Svilaja and, in the North-East, by the solid mass of Dinara.

The dam Peruča contributes considerably the regulation of the flow of Cetina in the hydroelectric stations located downstream, between the plain of Sinj and the Adriatic.

At the time of military operation “Storm” in 1995, Serb terrorists tried to make jump the stopping which was filled to the brim; the stopping was damaged considerably, but did not yield; what would have destroyed the towns of Sinj and Omiš.

In the past - before the construction of the stopping -, this plain was flooded during the winter season and, in spring, the stockbreeders brought their herds to it to feed in these fertile pastures. Today, the plain of Sinj is mainly dedicated to the culture of corn and wheat.

After the plain of Sinj, Cetina runs towards the east to the town of Trilj.

The banks in the middle price are narrower and higher, and the river is deep and slow. In the past, the river ran quickly and its force was used to make function factories; however, a stopping anti-flood was built, which made the waterway slower and major.

Cetina runs initially towards the south, but runs up against the solid mass of Mosor close to Bisko and moves then towards south-east, and from there it parallel to follows the coasts of Mosor the A1 highway. Close to Šestanovac, Cetina runs up, this time, with the solid mass of Biokovo and is directed towards the south, while passing under the A1 highway.

Below village of Zadvarje, Cetina is thrown at the bottom of the throats since a 49 height meters calcareous cliff by forming the falls of Gubavica (Velika Gubavica and Mala Gubavica), offering a sumptuous spectacle. To admire these cascades, it is necessary to take - from the village of Zadvarje - a battered way which carries out, towards the line for a view-point which overhangs the falls of the river (to follow the panel indicating “Vodopad”, waterfall). It is one of the greatest waterfalls of Croatia.

Uneven the relatively important thing of this last part of Cetina led to the construction of several hydroelectric stations which slowed down the wild course of the river. However water is regularly slackened towards the valley, which allows the descent of the river in the kayak or raft (white water rafting). The place more attended for the descent of the rapids is the 8 km length section ranging between the bridge of Podgrade with Slime and the mills of Radman (Radmanove mlinice). The descent in raft lasts three hours; on the way, the site under the cascade of Studenac is an ideal place for the bathe. On arrival with the mills of Radman is a restaurant in the open air arranged around old water mills.

The lower course of Cetina can also be discovered by the road: from the village of Zadvarje, to take on the right, 300 m after the exit of the village, in the direction of the hamlet of Kučiće; passed the power plant, the road, very picturesque, skirts Cetina until Omiš to 21 km.

Before throwing itself in the sea, the Cetina river crosses the coastal mountains, creating a procession of a few meters of width, with the high abrupt walls of a hundred meters.

One can enjoy an impressive sight on the estuary of Cetina by taking, since Omiš, the road towards the village of Spoiled which goes up on Right Bank of Cetina; the road leads to a view-point overhanging the estuary.

The restaurant is in full nature, in the shade of Mediterranean trees; it is built on the foundations of an old market. Under the reign of the Kačić dukes, 12th in the 14th century, Kaštil Slanica was a sure refuge for the famous pirates of Omiš. After the 14th century, when the Turks reigned on Omiš and the surroundings of the area of Poljica, Kaštil Slanica became a place on the market where the inhabitants of Omiš and the Turks made the trade of salt, from where the name of Slanica.

The restaurant Kaštil Slanica is to only 4 km of Omiš in the valley of Cetina.

Addresses: Kanjon Cetin, HR-21310 Omiš

Telephone: 00,385 (0) 21,862,238

Website: www.radmanove-mlinice.hr