With its almost 30 square kilometres, Čiovo is the largest, slightly hilly island of the Trogir archipelago. Exploring its inland area, you will be taken to the village of Žedno, near which is the 4th century St. Maurus’ church in whose field hermits once gathered. That is, exiled heretics, lepers and outcasts who lived on the island in the 4th and 5th centuries. The little church with its semi-circular apse and bell-gable belfry was built at the top of a terraced slope, and the shape and structure of the walls indicate the Romanesque period. A beautiful bay in the surrounding area of Movarčica, was named after it.
When you’ve quenched your thirst in Žedno (meaning thirsty in Croatian), continue towards the northern coast of Čiovo, where you will be taken to discover places along the Kaštela Bay. Our Lady of Prizidnica’s Church is a cultural and historical jewel of Slatine. It was built on the cliffs in the 16th century by the hermits of the Catholic Church in the harmony of the stone, the sea and the forest.
Following the coastline, halfway between Slatine and Trogir, in Arbanija, you will discover the monastery of the Holy Cross with its cloister and a spacious garden built by the Dominicans on the rocky coast. The church has preserved a valuable 17th century painting heritage, and it is worth stopping by the northern wall, which was built like a fortress due to its defensive function. Arbanija developed around the monastery, being a settlement of Albanian families at the time, who came after the Dominicans in order to cultivate their land.