The town is located close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 km away from Posušje and 18 km from Grude. It is located 29 km away from the coast. The nearest coastal town is Makarska, on the other side of the Biokovo massif. The town is located on the crossroad of D60 and D76 state roads and 20 km from the Sveti Ilija Tunnel. The A1 motorway is accessed at the Zagvozd Interchange, next to the D76 expressway. Imotski is known for its medieval fortresson the rocks of Blue Lake. Another phenomenon is the Red Lake which looks like an eye in the scenery. Both lakes are said to be connected with underground channels to the Adriatic Sea.
History
The region around Imotski has been populated in the Neolithic age. At the time of Illyrians and Romans it was known as "Emotha" and later "Imota". It was first mentioned by today's name by Byzantine Emperor Constantin Porphyrogennetos in the 10th century. In medieval historical sources it was mentioned as important fortress. The fortress above the town, Topana, was first mentioned in the 9th century, in the times of Croatian sovereigns. Imotski was held by the Turks from the fall of Bosnia in 1492 until 1717 when it was captured by the Venetians. In April 1717, a small church, dedicated to the Lady of Angels, was built in honour of the victory against the Ottomans. The Lady of Angels has since then been honored as patroness of Imotski and Imotski region. The Hasanaginica folk ballad was created in the Imotski region in mid 17th century. In 1912, a secondary school was built in Imotski when the town was part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1941 to 1945 Imotski was part of the Independent State of Croatia. In April 1944, German forces shot down three American B-24s. The local population saved many of the American personnel despite being bombed by them. One airman/paratrooper, Marion Dropulich who crashed near Imotski, but survived and was taken by Italian Soldiers happened to have been a Croatian American with immediate Imotski ancestry.
Climate
The climate is modified Mediterranean, with the highest air temperature averaging during July and the lowest averaging, in January. Summers are usually very hot during the day, temperature goes up to 40 °C. Temperatures above last for more than 250 days a year. Two kinds of wind are common in the area - the northern to north-eastern bora, which usually brings cold and clear weather in winter, and the southern to south-eastern sirocco, which often brings rain.
Population
According to the 2011 census, the town proper has a population of 4,757, while the whole municipality has a population of 10,764. The absolute majority are Croats with 96.78% of the population. The Town of Imotski administratively consists of following settlements:
