Omiš


Omiš is a town and port in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, and is a municipality in the Split-Dalmatia County. The town is situated approximately south-east of Croatia's second largest city, Split. Its location is where the Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea. Omiš municipality has a population of 14,936 and its area is.

Name

It is supposed that the name of this city, Omiš, developed from the Slavic Holm, Hum as a translation from the Illyrian - Greek word Onaion, Oneon, meaning "hill" or "place on the hill", or from Greek onos meaning donkey, perhaps from the shape of the rocky promontory by the city ; there is also the possibility that the name of the settlement Onaeum was derived from the name of the river which was called Nestos by the Greek colonists in its lower flow, during Antiquity. According to Petar Šimunović, Omiš is derived from Proto-Indo-European *almissa.
Latin names during Ancient Rome were Onaeum, Oeneum, Alminium, and Almissum. During Medieval times the name was recorded as Olmissium, Almiyssium and from the end of the 15th century, when the city fell to the authority of Venetian Republic, its name was the Italian Almissa.

History

Omiš was well known in the past by the Corsairs of Almissa whose Sagittas , brought fame to them because they were built for attack and fast retrieval into the mouth of the Cetina River, protecting the town from foreign invaders. At a very early date, neighbours of the Corsairs of Almissa, the highlanders of the Poljica Principality , became their friends and allies. This allowed them to harass the seaborne trade, without fear of a sudden attack from inland.
In the Priko neighborhood, on the right bank of the Cetina River, stands the site with the most historic significance: the pre-Romanesque Church of St. Peter from the tenth century A.D. This single-naved edifice, with a cupola and apse, was used in the 18th century as a Glagolithic seminary for novice priests.

Economy

Today, Omiš's economy is based on farming, fishing, textile and food-processing industries and tourism.

Settlements

Within the limits of the town lie the following settlements:
Omiš is best known for the traditional festival of the Dalmatian a cappella singing groups. This festival is the highlight of Omiš's summer, the expression of the town's beauty. Omiš's Summer Festival - during which various concerts and recitals are performed - takes place at the plazas and in churches.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Omiš is twinned with: