Echoes in stone: Explore 7 archaeological wonders of the Makarska Riviera

1. Veliki Kaštel in Kotišina — the fortress born from the cliffs

Perhaps the most visually stunning marriage of human ingenuity and natural geology on the Riviera is the Veliki Kaštel in Kotišina, located a short drive above Makarska town center.

Built during the Candian War in the 17th century, this multi-story fortress is literally built into the natural caves of the Biokovo cliffs, not placed beside the mountain, but growing out of it. It wasn’t designed for comfortable living; it was a vertical sanctuary built to shelter villagers and monks during periods of intense conflict.

Today: The interior has been renovated into an interactive interpretation center, while the exterior remains as wild and imposing as ever, surrounded by the wild flora of the Biokovo Botanical Garden.

Best combined with: The botanical path through Kotišina, one of the most rewarding short walks above Makarska. Also easy to reach from Tučepi and Podgora.

2. Saint Peter Peninsula in Makarska — the roots of urban history

In the heart of Makarska, the scenic Saint Peter Peninsula is an open-air history lesson that extends into the sea. This coastal headland holds the remnants of a 6th-century Byzantine fortress, built in late antiquity to control the bay’s maritime approaches.

The peninsula was also a key part of the ancient Roman settlement of Muccurum, the official starting point of Makarska‘s urban history, bridging Roman antiquity and early medieval defense in a single slow afternoon walk.

Worth knowing: The peninsula also marks the start of some of the Riviera’s most beautiful hiking trails. For a full day, combine it with the botanical path above Kotišina or the trails toward Tučepi and Podgora.

Also nearby: The Malacological Museum inside the Franciscan Monastery, one of the world’s most remarkable seashell collections, just a few minutes’ walk away.

3. Archaeological museum collection in Baška Voda — 3000 years of continuity

For travelers who want to hold tangible fragments of daily life through the ages, the Archaeological Museum Collection in central Baška Voda is a must-visit.

The collection spans nearly 3,000 years, from 2000 BC to the 7th century AD, providing undeniable proof of the long, unbroken continuity of life, trade, and settlement beneath the peaks of Biokovo. It is one of the most concentrated archaeological records of any single stretch of the Dalmatian coast.

Best combined with: One of the five color-coded hiking routes above Baška Voda, the trail system passes several of the landscape contexts represented in the museum’s collection.

Also nearby: Take a 5–10 minute uphill walk to the Gradina Archaeological Site. Many of the museum’s artifacts were discovered here, and the site features remains from prehistoric, Roman, and early medieval periods, along with panoramic views of Baška Voda and the Adriatic Sea.

4. Troje gomile in Podgora — prehistoric sentinels by the sea

High on the panoramic ridges above Podgora, the site known as Troje gomile offers a rare, genuine connection to the prehistoric past. The locality features prominent Bronze Age or Iron Age burial mounds that served a dual purpose: sacred graves for prominent figures and strategic viewpoints commanding the Adriatic below.

Similar burial mounds have been found above Drvenik and Tučepi, suggesting that building these monumental stone grave-hills was a shared practice along the entire Riviera, a prehistoric cultural continuity that predates the Roman road by more than a thousand years.

Getting there: Troje gomile is integrated into the hiking trails above Podgora. The 10k Cultural Thrill route passes directly by the site.

5. Ostrog fortress in Podaca — the medieval mountain pass controller

Perched dramatically above the coastal village of Podaca, a small settlement between Brist and Zaostrog, at the southern end of the Riviera, the remains of Ostrog Fortress tell a story of medieval strategy and survival.

This medieval stronghold sat in the hinterland to serve a dual purpose: sheltering the local population during wartime and controlling the mountain passes leading inland toward Bosnia. The standing stone tower remains a key testament to the strategic importance of the Riviera’s rugged interior, long before the coastal road made the whole coast feel continuous.

Best combined with: A drive south to Gradac and Zaostrog, the Riviera’s southernmost stretch, where the Franciscan monastery adds another layer to the region’s history.

6. Prehistoric sites in Tučepi — strongholds and sacred grounds

The slopes above Tučepi are exceptionally rich in ancient remains, offering a multi-layered look into prehistoric territorial defense and spiritual life. At the core is the ancient Gradina hillfort, positioned strategically on the steep slopes of Sutvid.

The surrounding Sutvid and Ravnice landscapes are dotted with numerous gomile, prehistoric burial mounds similar to those above Podgora and Drvenik. Together, these sites reveal how early communities organized both their spiritual lives and territorial defenses around the same commanding heights hikers walk today.

Getting there: The sites are most accessible from Tučepi village, via the mountain trails. They also pair well with a visit to Kotišina above Makarska.

7. The medieval stećci — legends and symbols of Drvenik and Bast

The medieval soul of the Makarska Riviera lives on in its monumental tombstones, stećci, found at two remarkable sites at the southern end of the coast.

Kostenića greb in Drvenik features a striking relief of two knights and a girl, deeply linked to a local legend of a tragic fight for love. Carved with crescents, swords, and shields, it is one of the most intriguing medieval monuments on the Adriatic coast. Drvenik is also the departure point for the ferry to Hvar, so it’s easy to combine a stop here with a day on the island.

Grebišće in Bast, a small settlement between Baška Voda and Makarska, holds a rare tombstone decorated with ancient crescent and swastika motifs, pre-Christian Illyrian symbols carved onto a medieval Christian monument. It is a genuinely unusual object, easy to walk past and impossible to forget once you understand what you’re looking at.

Please note: Both sites are unprotected open-air monuments. Avoid stepping on the stone reliefs and preserve them for those who come after you.