A book presentation will be held at the Cultural Center in Kaštel Lukšić on December 12th. Castles of Kaštela, authored by Prof. Dr. Sc. Katja Marasović. The author is a full professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, University of Split, where she heads the Department of Architectural Heritage, and has been studying castle fortifications and settlements for 40 years. This extensive work is based on her doctoral dissertation defended in 2002 at the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb, now supplemented with new scientific findings.
The book was published by the Kaštela City Museum and the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, with financial support from the City of Kaštela, Kaštela – Split Airport and the Ribola company. The monograph will be presented by Dr. Ivo Babić, Dr. Ivan Alduk and editor Prof. Mario Klaić. The musical part of the program will feature performances by the KUD Kvadrilja from Trogir.
This large-format, hardcover, 750-page major edition presents an overview of the origin and development of 20 castles built from the late 15th to the late 16th century on the 17-kilometer-long coast of the Kaštela Bay – a concentration of fortifications unique in Europe. The final chapter, "Concluding Considerations", in addition to analyzing the location, typology and defense, also addresses topics such as water supply, sea level rise and construction technology. The subchapter "Renaissance in Kaštela", which emphasizes the importance of the Donjokaštela fortifications, is particularly noteworthy. They preserve consistent Renaissance buildings – small palaces – designed and built "in one go", which is a rarity in Dalmatian secular architecture.
With a rich visual aid of 850 illustrations, the book contains transcriptions and translations of original documents crucial for understanding the construction of fortifications. Although it is primarily intended for experts in fortification architecture and conservators, the book will certainly be interesting to the wider public, especially the residents of Kaštela who want to learn more about the history and architecture of their region.
Photo: screenshot (poster)
