Mestroviceve Crikvine Kastilac_Eng

The Meštrović's Crikvine - Kaštilac

Muzej Ivana Mestrovica

The Meštrović's Crikvine - Kaštilac

About The Meštrović’s Crikvine

The small church and its contents are intended for our people, primarily the wider classes that, as you may know, still live in their religious traditions, so my wish was that that world finds its satisfaction, not just those who are educated in art. (From the letter of Ivan Meštrović to Cvito Fisković of 3 January 1955) 

The Meštrović’s Crikvine – Kaštilac are located in the Split area of Meje, below the southern slopes of the Marjan Peninsula, by the sea, near the Meštrović Gallery. It is a sacral and artistic ensemble formed on a ruined agricultural estate with the remains of the building of the Capogrosso family from the 16th century.


Muzej Ivana Mestrovica

Meštrović first saw the restored Crikvina in 1959, during his stay in Croatia. It was his first visit to his homeland since leaving in 1942, but also his last. There, on August 15, he had a birthday party. Driven by memories, he intended to come next year as well, but was prevented by his deteriorating health.

About the name of the Crikvina complex

After the transfer to the ownership of the People’s Republic of Croatia with a grant dated 31 January 1952, by which Meštrović donated to the Croatian people his houses in Zagreb and Split, the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Otavice and the western part of the Crikvina estate in his ownership, Kastelet. Interestingly, however, the artist himself objected to naming the object by that name. His assumption, namely, that there are remains of old churches on the land – in the eastern part of the complex the foundations of the old church (which was later disputed) and the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, and in the western part of the newly built church of St. Križa, for the construction of which the stone of the old building was used – prompted Meštrović to name the complex Crikvina: the remains of old churches. He highlighted that name in his grant. He explains the reasoning of this name to the art historian Cvita Fisković (director of the Conservation Institute for Dalmatia, under whose jurisdiction the Meštrović and Crikvina Gallery was at the time), in a letter from 1955:

‘Meštrović’s castle’ cannot be, because I did not build it as a ‘castle’ or for myself, but as a small endowment for our people, giving it content that is closest to its spiritual traditions, and which also shows the drama of man, our light.

You know that places where there is only tradition are so often called that there were some churches there. That was one reason, and the other, to be honest, was that the people of Split, in their laziness to think, would not call it ‘Kaštelet Capogrosso’. These customs of theirs often do not agree with our character, and give, at least inadvertently, a foreign character to this piece of Croatian land to which the foreigner often referred.

I liked Crikvina, because it is an old Croatian word. Let the local historians write what they want in their studies, but they are not allowed to write ‘Kaštelet’ through my reliefs from the life of Jesus of Nazareth, even if it is an addition. ”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubot1O_DsOE

Literature:
ŠEPAROVIĆ PALADA, Maja. Meštrovićeve Crikvine, Muzeji Ivana Meštrovića, Split, 2012.

Plan your visit

        Working hours

November 2nd, 2023 – April 30th, 2024

Closed. Visits are possible with prior notice at the Meštrović Gallery.

The Meštrović’s Crikvine – Kaštilac are closed on Mondays and public holidays.

We kindly ask you to announce your visit at the Meštrović Gallery.

Contact: mim@mestrovic.hr / 021 340 800

        Tickets

• Adults: 12,00 EUR / 90,41 HRK
• Studens, pensioners, STCard: 8,00 EUR / 60,28 HRK
• Family (parents with children under 15 years): 20,00 EUR / 150,69 HRK
• ICOM, AICA, PRESS, HDLU, ULUPUH, HDNU, UHA, DPUH: free entrance
• Unemployed persons, disabled persons: free entrance

The ticket includes visit to the Meštrović Gallery and the Meštrović’s Crikvine – Kaštilac.

       COVID-19 PROTECTION MEASURES

Inside of the Meštrović’s Crikvine – Kaštilac it is recommended:

→ to wear face masks

→ to disinfect hands

→ to keep social distance


        

        Contact

Meštrovićeve Crikvine – Kaštilac
Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 39
21 000 Split – Croatia

T: +385 (0)21 340 800
F: +385 (0)21 340 810
M: +385 (0)98 982 5861
E: mim@mestrovic.hr

        How to reach us

On foot – 20 minute walk from Riva promenade

Public transport – Bus No. 7, 8, 12, 21 – Promet Split – linije

Taxi

       Guided tour

Docent Guided Tour: 50,00 EUR / 376,73 HRK
Curator Guided Tour: 120,00 EUR / 904,14 HRK

Duration: 45 minutes
Please announce two days in advance.

        Accessibility

Visitors with disabilities can visit the Meštrović’s Crikvine – Kaštilac.

Guide dogs for blind and partially sighted people are allowed.

        Photography

Shooting for private purposes, without flash, is allowed.

Permission is required for professional photography and filming, and for public usage of photographs and recordings.

       Wi-Fi

There is a Wi-Fi access point.

Photo gallery

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