Source: Turizmoteka
Supetar: Tradition, flavors and stories of the Adriatic come to life at a two-day event!
The two-day event “Guardian of Tradition – From Boat to Table: Tastes and Stories of the Adriatic” was held in Supetar, 24. and October 25, 2025, showed that tradition is not just a memory of the past, but the basis of future, sustainable tourism.
The event brought together experts, caterers, local producers, holders of the Croatian Island Product label and gastronomy enthusiasts. Together they discussed the preservation of the maritime and gastronomic heritage of the Adriatic and the development of sustainable tourism models on the islands.
Preservation and transmission of the Adriatic heritage
The president of the Association “Klub člana Selo” Dijana Katica reminded that the aim of the project is to actively preserve and transmit a rich tradition. “Our goal was not only to bring together experts, but also to actively encourage the preservation, valorization and transmission of the rich maritime and gastronomic heritage of the Adriatic. Tradition is our strongest tourist currency,” said Katica. She added that through the cooperation of local fishermen, family farms, tourist boards and cultural institutions, heritage can be a driver of development and unity throughout the Adriatic, not only on Brač.
The program began with a panel discussion “From Sea to Table – Examples of Successful Practices”, featuring Martina Rendić, Director of the Supetar Tourist Board, Dino Šeparović, owner of the Kala Tavern in Supetar, which has been recommended by Michelin for the third year in a row, and Sanja Nejašmić, principal of the Vladimir Nazor Elementary School in Postire. The participants demonstrated through concrete examples how the inclusion of local resources and traditional knowledge in the tourist offer brings added value to destinations.
Festivals and museums important for connecting sectors
This was followed by a lecture by Vanja Purić, head of LAGUR Brač, who presented the current competitions and the FOR FLAG festival program. The goal is to connect the fishing sector, tourism and the local community. As part of the program, a presentation was also held by the holders of the Croatian Island Product label from the island of Brač. They presented their indigenous products – from delicacies to souvenirs and natural cosmetics.
The second panel, “Fisheries Museums and Interpretation Centers in the Framework of Tourism and Modern Gastronomy”, brought together Nikolina Tonšić, Director of the Selca Municipality Tourist Board and Head of the Interpretation Center “House of Five Dolors”, Ljubomir Radić, Director of the Maritime Museum in Split, and Margarita Šimat, Director of the Milna Cultural Center and the Milna Maritime Heritage Interpretation Center. The panelists emphasized the importance of interpretation centers and museums as a space for connecting knowledge, identity, and modern tourism offerings.
Co-organizer from KŠR Arbun Ivan Cvitanić emphasized the importance of involving young people in preserving the fishing tradition. Children and young people participated in workshops on preparing traditional fishing dishes, led by Katja Cukrov from the Museum of Uju in Škrip. As part of the educational program, participants visited the Fisheries Interpretation Center “Kuća od pet dolori” in Sumartin. There they learned the story of the late innovator Mario Puratić. His invention “Power Block” changed world fishing and left a deep mark on the fishing industry.
The Director of the Supetar Tourist Board, Martina Rendić, highlighted the importance of local products in creating a destination identity. “Domestic, authentic and traditional products are the foundation of the island’s recognizable gastronomic brand. The strength of gastronomic branding lies in the togetherness and authenticity that gives tourists an experience of our destination,” said Rendić, emphasizing that such projects connect producers, caterers and island communities into a sustainable destination.
Gastronomy
In the gastronomic part of the program, Dino Šeparović, owner of the Michelin-recommended Kala tavern in Supetar, particularly stood out, as he combined recipes passed down through generations with a modern approach. “Our tavern lives on stories and flavors passed down through generations. The combination of tradition and modernity is key to giving guests an authentic experience of Dalmatia,” said Šeparović.
The two-day program ended with the presentation of the holders of the Croatian Island Product label and a tasting of traditional dishes, confirming Supetar as the center of island gastronomy and sustainable tourism.
The event was organized by the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “Selo Members’ Club” in partnership with the Tourist Board of the Town of Supetar, the Local Action Group in Fisheries Brač, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Selca, the Sea Fishing Club “Arbun” Supetar and the National Library Supetar, with the support of the Split-Dalmatia County, the Tourist Board of the Split-Dalmatia County and the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.
