Back to the Roots – Makarska
On the coast beneath the mighty slopes of Biokovo mountain, people have always lived between two worlds — the sea and the mountain.
The Biokovo protected them, but also pushed many to leave. For generations, young people sailed away toward distant ports, searching for work and a better life. Some went to Australia, some to America, some to Germany… but wherever they went, they carried one thing with them: the memory of home.
Old Dalmatian people say:
“You can leave Makarska, but Makarska never leaves you.”
And so, after many years, many returned. Not because life abroad was bad — but because they missed the sound of church bells in the evening, the smell of pine trees after summer rain, the stone streets warmed by the sun, and coffee conversations that last longer than the coffee itself.
This is the story of “returning to your roots” .
In Dalmatia, roots are not only family names or old houses. Roots are emotions. They are memories hidden in dry stone walls, olive trees planted by grandparents, and recipes passed from one generation to another.
When visitors walk through Makarska today, they often see beautiful beaches and hotels. But behind every stone house, there is a story of departure… and a story of return.
Because here, people believe that the sea may take you far away — but the heart always knows the way back home.
Discover more storytelling experiences in Dalmatia:
Powerful Women in Makarska Tour
The Biokovo Fairy Reveals the Secrets of the Mountain
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