June 6, 2020 – Good news for everyone that attends the Solin Cultural Summer programs, as work has finally begun on Gradina, a medieval fortress and favorite summer stage in the city.
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that workers are currently removing the old auditorium and stage, which largely rests on the archeological site of the old Croatian church located inside Gradina.
“Because of that, the works are being carried out very carefully and at a somewhat slower pace, so as not to damage the site. Everything takes place under the supervision of the Archaeological Museum and the Conservation Department in Split,” said Tonći Ćićerić, director of the Public Institution of Culture “Zvonimir”.
In the next phase, the existing wooden benches and iron structures will be removed.
“After that, archaeologists will probe the terrain, or they will conduct excavations in the auditorium and the church in order to open the space for research, since dismantling the stage and new stands for the audience are planned on the site of the current auditorium. About 750 seats, numbered seats are planned in Gradina, which has not been the case so far,” says Ćićerić and adds that the stage will be moved along the east wall, closest to Ribnjak, due to the presentation of the church.
The audience will look east, towards Mosor.
“The planned deadline for the execution of works with complete equipment is eight months, but the works will take place in phases, given the specifics of the project. Since it is a cultural and historical monument, there is a lot that we do not know what awaits us when the probes are excavated. Only when the archeological works are completed can we predict the real dynamics,” the director points out.
As part of the rehabilitation of Gradina, the conservation of all walls is planned, with a lot of reconstruction work on the east and north walls as they are in the worst condition, while the west and south walls were already treated in the 60s. The project also envisages the construction of a bypass road or a wooden path around the entire site, from the inside, and the existing three towers will be arranged.
Completely new electrical installations are being introduced, and video surveillance will be installed.
“This project is extremely important for Solin, it is the center of the city’s cultural events and we are all sentimentally connected to Gradina. Despite the limited funds of the City in this situation due to the coronavirus, the project goes further, and European funds in the amount of 7.2 million kuna have been provided for it,” points out Mayor Dalibor Ninčević.
Simultaneously with the Gradina rehabilitation project, the removal of the existing barracks in the city center near the Post Office began, where associations, political parties, and the kindergarten administration were located. This is a project related to the construction of the Cultural Information Center.
“The tender for the demolition of the barracks has been completed, the works have begun, and this is a prerequisite for archaeological research of the terrain, and ultimately for the realization of the project,” confirms Nincevic on the realization of this facility, which will, among other things, have a hall with 250 seats, an exhibition multipurpose hall, changing rooms for performers and the audience, office space, a souvenir shop and an information point.
“This year’s 25th Solin Cultural Summer was designed to be a little more impressive and exclusive, however, due to the coronavirus situation, prolonging the start of work on Gradina, budget savings, as well as new epidemiological frameworks for performances, we will have to tighten the program a bit. The programs will be held with fewer viewers, but in terms of quality, we will keep the current level in terms of guest names.
Since we do not have Gradina at our disposal, we will adapt to the available scenes to which our audience is already accustomed. In the hope that we will get out of this situation as soon as possible and return to our budget, we will organize what we planned for the jubilee summer next year as the grand opening of the 26th Solin Cultural Summer, when Gradina will shine in all of its glory,” concludes the mayor.
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