Split, Croatia farmers market are a must visit in the morning public market
Every time I’m in a new destination, one of my first visits always end up at a local farmers market. I’m so attracted to seeing what is growing locally, watching the farmers and other producers gather in one spot and see them interacting with their customers, friends and fellow vendors. It’s a fascinating way to discover the culture, history and especially the foods and ingredients that are purchased daily by locals who want only the freshest picks for the day.
The farmers market in Split is located just off the East or silver gate and it is huge. Large areas are sectioned off for produce, prepared products or cooked foods, meat products, clothing and tourist related items, a gorgeous floral market and another area for local delicacies and snacks – it’s quite expansive.
The market starts relatively early and lasts for most of the day and it is well attended by locals and tourists alike who end up walking through the east gate below and visit the areas for cheap souvenirs and snacks. I must say though many of the clothing, souvenirs and cheap products sold at the markets seemed to be made of poor quality materials and mostly imported from Asian countries.
But, the best things that are grown or made from the region is what made the market shine, locally produced goods, hand made crafts or take away foods that makes the market buzz and come alive with local flavors and ingredients.
Split silver gate
Where is the public farmers market in Split located
The public farmers market in Split, Croatia, is located in the heart of the city, near the historic center. It’s commonly known as “Pazar” and is situated at the eastern end of the famous Diocletian’s Palace, specifically at the intersection of Hrvojeva and Marmontova Streets. This bustling market is a hub of local produce, traditional foods, and vibrant street life, making it a must-visit for those exploring Split.
The outdoor markets are lively, crowded and a very colorful affair. Even though the majority of vendors are older women – the colorful umbrellas, stalls and produce create such a vivid tapestry, it’s a perfect spot to photograph the market from any angle and include a lot of local flavor. Once you enjoyed a day enoying the beaches in Split, explored the waterfront area and wandered around the historic district, you’ll want to hit up the farmers markets next.
Local produce for sale
Fresh regional produce from Split
You’ll find fresh and farm to table ingredients and produce sold at the markets and harvested at the peak of ripeness and ready to be consumed. The stalls are filled with in season fruits, vegetables, flowers and everything that is in season now and ready to sell quickly at the market.
Fresh pomegranates for sale
Selling fresh produce from the farm
I’m usually attracted to the flower vendors, it seemed like today’s market had every type of flower and foliage was available for sale. I can imagine all the amazing flower gardens and greenhouses supplying all these lovely varieties for sale at the market and everything looked fresh and almost too perfect.
Prices were reasonable and almost tempting for me to buy them, even though I was just planning on visiting Split for a short timeframe.
Talking with regular
A colorful display
For some reason, I didn’t take any photographs of the meat butchers, vendors and deli producers which I typically do. I love to especially capture photos of their stalls, shops and how they decorate their selling spaces, but I felt a little strange trying to take photos while they were doing business, so I don’t have a lot of pictures of local products for sale. Fortunately, I did take just a few of some prepared foods like this whole grilled shank that is sold as a large take away item below.
Crispy pig heads for sale
Specialty foods and dishes you can purchase from the morning public market at Split
The morning public market in Split offers a tempting array of specialty foods and dishes, allowing you to savor the flavors of Croatian cuisine. Here are some of the delightful items you can purchase:
Local Olive Oils:
Croatia is renowned for its high-quality olive oils. You can find various olive oil varieties, including extra virgin, infused with herbs or citrus, perfect for drizzling on salads or dipping bread.
Fresh Seafood:
As a coastal city, Split’s market showcases a bounty of fresh seafood, from Adriatic fish to shellfish. Look for Dalmatian specialties like grilled sardines or octopus salad.
Cheeses:
Sample a variety of Croatian cheeses, including the creamy Paški sir from Pag Island or the tangy Škripavac cheese, often served with olive oil and herbs.
Local Fruits and Vegetables:
Taste the season with a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, from juicy figs and plums to sun-ripened tomatoes and peppers.
Dalmatian Prosciutto (Pršut):
This dry-cured ham is a Croatian delicacy. Pair it with cheese and fresh bread for a simple and delicious snack.
Homemade Jams and Preserves:** Explore homemade jams and preserves crafted from local fruits, such as figs, cherries, or sour cherries.
Artisanal Breads:
Don’t miss the crusty loaves of traditional Croatian bread, perfect for sandwiches or dipping in olive oil.
Lavender Products:
Croatia is famous for its lavender fields. Look for lavender-infused items like essential oils, soaps, and sachets.
Dalmatian Sausages:
Taste the flavors of Dalmatia with sausages like čevapi or kulen, often enjoyed grilled or in sandwiches.
Local Wine and Spirits:
Discover Croatian wines, rakija (fruit brandy), and liqueurs made from native fruits like cherries and herbs.
Sweets and Desserts:
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Croatian desserts like fritule (doughnut-like pastries), dried figs, or traditional cakes.
Visiting the morning market in Split is a sensory delight, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich culinary traditions of the region and sample some of the finest local products.
In any case, you will not be lacking for any type of produce or souvenirs offered to the public at the Split farmers market. So if you do want to see more locals doing their daily chores and socializing, head on over to the morning farmers market in the old city center – it’s worth spending the morning wandering around and enjoying the scenes unfold and try some local specialties or snacks. Did you enjoy visiting the Split seafood market for Travel Photo Mondays? Thank you for visiting us today, please do check out these other bloggers below by clicking on their links.
For more posts on visiting the fascinating city of Split, Croatia – check out my other stories below
The best places to visit and photograph Split
Early morning fish market in Split
A free Split city tour of the Diocletian Palace
Local foods of the Dalmatian coastline
Enjoying a day in Trojir, Croatia
Conclusion to visiting the public farmers market at Split, Croatia
In conclusion, a visit to the public farmers market in Split, Croatia, is an enchanting journey into the heart of Dalmatian gastronomy. The market’s vibrant stalls, brimming with fresh produce, local specialties, and artisanal treasures, offer an authentic taste of Croatia’s culinary heritage. Whether you’re savoring the rich flavors of olive oils, indulging in seafood delights, or discovering unique lavender-infused products, this market is a must-visit for food enthusiasts and travelers seeking a genuine taste of the region. Exploring the market is not just a culinary experience; it’s a cultural adventure that leaves lasting memories of Split’s vibrant food scene and the warm hospitality of its people.
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About author Noel Morata
A professional photographer, freelance writer and travel blogger, I have been fascinated with traveling around the world and experiencing unique locations, ancient cultures and historical sites, markets, street food and so many other wonderful facets of travel, food and photography combined.
Thanks for visiting my website and hope it inspires you to travel around the world and experience these amazing travel destinations.
I love visiting public markets in every place I visit and the outdoor market in Split was just as colorful and exciting to explore and capture in photographs. Hope you get to visit here some day and experience this public market.
It looks beautiful here! We have to go there.
Noel took a lovely collection of images. I enjoy going to markets, especially those in Europe.
this is a fantastic market in Split, hope you get to visit it some day.
I like reading through an article hat will make men and women think.
Also, thank you for permitting me to comment!
I was amused at your comment that “Even though the majority of vendors are older women – the colorful umbrellas, stalls and produce create such a vivid tapestry, it’s a perfect spot to photograph the market……”
At what age do women become a negative to you, photographically? I love the interesting faces of older women (and men, for that matter). Faces that have been lived in and have experienced the ups and downs of life yet retain the feistiness to give as good as they get in a lively market.
Signed: an older woman
I actually love to photography people of any age as long as they are also okay with that 🙂
Noel, I love Split and I love a market…two goodies in one! Great photos.
Interesting, Noel. I wonder why the meat vendors didn’t want photos taken.
I’m glad the women didn’t mind. They have such expressive faces, their stalls so beautiful.
Thanks for linking up with FoodieTuesday this week.
Have never been to Croatia, but your shots make it look intriguing. I, too, love exploring the local outdoor markets wherever I travel. It really gives insight into the people and culture of a place.
There’s nothing like buying local! Farmers markets are a great way to do that… shame the butchers were so much less compliant – I’d have been interested to see more shots of their wares.
We’re suckers for Farmers’ Markets and had a great time checking out the produce there when we visited Split. If we were to live there, that’s where I’d do all my shopping, for sure!
p.s. Is there an easy way to see the date you posted this? I can only assume from the comments it was this week.
Yes it was posted this week, thanks for connecting Kristin
Thanks for posting this, Noel. Really nice photos, and I appreciate you included people with the produce:) We’ll get there one of these days…probably later this year.
I’m like you, I love exploring markets as a way of getting under the skin of a place. Your photo of the pomegranates is stupendous! Something about it just really got to me, I LOVE it!
Indeed a rich and vivid tapestry of colours and lives. Those women’s faces are wonderful, so full of character and stories. Each woman is a study unto herself and a fascinating subject. Wonderful photos Noel.
I’ve never been to “eastern Europe” and the countries formerly behind the Iron Curtain. Your photos and others I’ve seen certainly make it seem worth the trip — not to mention the fact that I think most of my family came from that part of the world to the US at some point. The gate near the top of your post looks like it might have been built by the Romans. Do you know if it was?
The city of Split is built on the ruins of emperor Diocletians retirement palace in Croatia where he rule before he died so the entire historic city is a roman Unesco site
I absolutely LOVED visiting Spliit last fall. It is actually one of my next weeks blogs. Such a beautiful country.
I always feel very honored to be able to share my photo gallery posts on this link-up because not only do you have such exceptional images in your collection, there are a whole bunch of other great photographers that are sharing their work here – what a great idea you came up with, so kudos to you on this one!
I think my favorite image has to be the old dear who is selling her fresh produce. You have captured such a vivid shot here that leads us all to imagine what she must be feeling as she stands their hour after hour trying to make ends meat so to speak. Great photo collection Noel!
I’m a sucker for all those beautiful flowers in the market – wish I could take them home with me. It’s good to see the faces of those older women too, so much character in their faces.
Oh, yah – that’s one yummy pig’s head. Seriously, this is a very colorful market and worth spending many hours walking around the vendors. So what else did you buy besides that pig head?
we bought a bunch of cut meats, cheeses and other picnic stuff with bread and ate a seaside park overlooking the bay and coastline, gorgeous!
I think I’ll pass on the crispy pig head, but I absolutely love the picture of the pomegranate. There is something magical about pomegranates, isn’t there? The beautiful red, sweet, juicy little pearls of goodness all cling together, just one of Mother Nature’s small wonders.
Your photos are incredible – so much color and detail! I felt like I was there 🙂
I suubmitted my post on Tanzania to travel photo Monday. Thanks for the idea.
gorgeous photos, I always shy away from taking people pictures if I don’t know the person, but with all the colour and atmosphere of the market, the people really make the shots complete. Croatia is still on the must visit list – hopefully bareboat charter one day with a bit of Montenegro as well – we’d be healthy, with all that gorgeous fruit and veg!! Thank you for letting me know about the link up!
Such lovely images Noel! The produce and flowers look so delectable and vibrant in all their splendid colors. I wish more market vendors allowed photographs…
Beautiful photos. I’ve never been to Croatia, but I love visiting markets wherever I go – they’re always so colourful and vibrant!
It looks lovely! Its one of the things I love most about European cities is the farmers markets. I can still remember the most amazing peaches I have ever had, bought from a small market in the lanes of Rome.
They seem to make much more use of the outdoor markets abroad than here – and there is more of a variety of things one can purchase there. That’s one thing I miss in California. The captures of the flower booths are wonderful!
Yes, I was amazed by the market and how large it was and the space it covered in the old city – well used by the locals
Beautiful photos 🙂
The picture of the pomagrenates is amazing. And that’s something I don’t find at my farmers’ market!
I love markets – such wonderful places to explore, sights, sounds, smells, and great places to take photos! Have a great week and thanks for hosting.
The farmers market looks lovely Noel, apart from the last photo actually. I too end up always on local markets while travelling, especially in South America and Asia. This one in Split I must have missed on my visit, but I will make sure to check it out next time when in Croatia… 🙂
Beautiful series of photos, Noel. I love visiting markets too especially the ones in Europe. How strange that they don’t want picture taken of the meat. I’m not quite sure about that pig’s head though.
Noel, Love these. I’m heading to Croatia next week, so I’m sure to find a few markets myself. Love the colors!