When we arrive at Gradac, 44 km south of Makarska, we've come to the southern tip of the Makarska Riviera. Again, several small villages make up the Gradac district: as well as Gradac itself there’s Drvenik (above), Brist, Podaca and Zaostrog. Each is a small, friendly, quiet and laid-back resort in itself and there are plenty of delightful beaches to choose from. Again, the older culture of these places lies in the hillside settlements. There, as well as prehistoric mounds you'll find a 16th century defensive tower in Čista and the old chapel of St. Pascal on Plana hill. A point of significant interest in Zaostrog is the 16th century monastery of St. Mary. The monk and poet Andrija Kačić Miošić lived and worked here, and is buried here. He wrote a very popular book of folk verse which both served as a historical document and helped develop the modern Croatian language.
Gradac Tourist Information Centre, Trg Soline 11, tel. (+385-21) 69 73 75. Open 08:00 - 21:00, Sun 08:00 - 20:00.
Gradac Tourist Board, gradac@gradac.hr, www.gradac.hr.