Are you tired of overcrowded beaches where finding a place for a towel requires strategic planning, where the sound of the sea is drowned out by loud noise and crowds, and the clarity and cleanliness of the sea itself are questionable?
Now imagine a small piece of paradise where dense and shady pine forests alternate with about seven kilometres of pebble beaches and where the crystal-clear sea reflects all shades of blue, with the play of the sun's rays on its surface giving it a silvery glow. It sounds too idealistic, but Brela, which has been increasingly popular for a long time among domestic and foreign tourists, offers exactly that. The fact is, for example, Punta Rata beach in Brela is regularly included in the list of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia and beyond. Therefore, spending the whole day resting seems like an attractive option for this pearl of the Makarska Riviera, which has a lot to offer its visitors. But there is also a range of content, a wide variety of activities to suit everyone, whether you prefer sports or culture. In Brela, you can expect an active, dynamic, and relaxed holiday for the soul and body at the same time.
Photo: Brela Tourist Board
Many tourists will say they come to their holidays physically and mentally exhausted, and the primary, and perhaps the only, goal of their stay is to rest their body and soul and recharge their batteries. But what if there is an opportunity for light and relaxing physical activity in the fresh air, ideal for repairing the consequences of sitting all day in the office or some other work, which inevitably takes its toll on our bodies? This is precisely what Pilates workout provides at two locations during summer, at the Punta Rata beach and the plateau below the Soline hotel. In addition to emphasizing the importance of establishing harmony of soul and body, Pilates tries to restore strength and stability with targeted exercises that strengthen deep muscles, improve posture, thus preventing future back pain. Athletes who might consider this form of exercise insufficiently challenging should note that doing Pilates improves flexibility and movement control, which significantly contributes to improving sports performance but also reduces the risk of various injuries. Fusion Pilates, which you can attend during the summer in Brela, is an interesting variation of this sport, ideal for those who are motivated by dynamic and varied activities, considering that it combines classic Pilates with strength training and exercises to improve flexibility and balance. Besides helping to tone and stretch muscles, it also contributes to psychological well-being by teaching proper breathing techniques to relieve stress.
Likewise, it would be a shame to stay solely on the beach and not discover the beauty and richness of South Dalmatian flora and fauna, right? Visitors to Brela can certainly do this through Nordic walking, another great activity for all those who suffer from pains typical of a sedentary workplace, be it headaches, pain in the shoulders, cervical spine, or in the lower back. Working with your hands while walking reduces the load on the lower extremities, especially the hips and knees, which reduces pain and the risk of injury for people who have joint problems or are recovering from surgery. It also greatly benefits people with scoliosis and various spine problems and prevents osteoporosis. Sceptics who think that Nordic walking is only for the elderly might be surprised by the fact that it is an excellent cardio workout that improves circulation. It has a positive effect on the problem of varicose veins, and most importantly, it strengthens the heart muscle and lungs. How could it not when it activates as much as 96% of the muscles in the body!
Photo: Brela Tourist Board
Summer vacation is seen by many as an ideal opportunity to try new activities or learn various skills. In this sense, Brela will prove to be a real paradise for all those who are already athletes and want during their vacation to stay active and have fun at the same time. Whether it's riding on one of the numerous bike paths of varying levels of difficulty, playing tennis, or engaging in different water sports, everyone will surely find something for themselves at the sea or on the ground. Namely, the Makarska Riviera is developing road cycling tourism, where nine routes have been marked, of which perhaps the most interesting is the transversal one from Brela to Gradac or the one called "From zero to hero” – a route that climbs to St. Jure, the highest peak of Biokovo mountain, and is on the path of the "Tour of Croatia" race.
For all those who want an even bigger dose of adrenaline, we suggest moving along the route of the 'Absolute Biokovo Challenge', which takes place every year in May. This is a very demanding running race, which starts from Brela and is the most difficult race of its kind in Croatia, so it is suitable only for the most physically fit runners. There is a saying: “Biokovo has its feet in the sea and its forehead in lightning". Hence Biokovo is a mountain that will test the limits of your physical and mental endurance at an altitude of 1,762 meters above sea. However, the effort required to climb the very steep and rocky ground is proportional to the beauty of the view from the path after passing through a shady pine forest, where the panorama gradually opens up to Makarska and the central Dalmatian islands. Paths are branched in several directions: 1. Towards the church of St. Nicholas (formerly the parish church), next to which the Stations of the Cross are now placed, 2. Towards the Pakline area with a new mountain shelter, 3. French road, 4. Bukovac… All with switchbacks and challenging terrain that leave even those with good condition breathless. However, when you get up there, you might soon lose your breath again, but this time because of the beautiful panorama you will be rewarded with.
Photo: Brela Tourist Board
For those who find this too extreme, Biokovo offers another type of climbing adventure in autumn, out of the summer season. The mountaineering camp 'Glavno da se klajmba' is intended for all amateur as well as professional climbers. It is an event that has been held in early October for 13 years now. About fifty kilometres long, Biokovo is one of the most famous mountains in the Mediterranean and an undiscovered paradise for fans of this demanding sport. The memorial meeting in memory of the departed alpinists Toni Rosa, Igor Skender, Martin Užarević, and Krešimir Milas traditionally gathers climbers from all parts of Croatia as well as many other countries and is somewhat profiled as one of the most significant meetings of this kind in Europe. Enjoying the wild beauty of Biokovo on over fifty kilometres of mountaineering trails, and on some of the many recently renovated climbing areas, is only one part of this humane story. The exchange of experiences, developing community and socializing in a friendly atmosphere are equally important elements that give this camp its soul and even greater value.
Those who want to know more about Brela will surely appreciate the free walking tour during the summer, where they will learn many interesting facts about the history of Brela, the cultural heritage, and the people who built this place. During your walk, you will surely come across numerous dry-stone walls, a characteristic element of Dalmatian landscapes and an indispensable part of local tradition and identity, the value of which was recognized by UNESCO which has put it on the list of the world cultural heritage in 2018. The Brela Tourist Board organizes drywall construction workshops on the French road in Brela every year in April and October when the temperatures are a little more comfortable for outdoor work. The workshops aim to preserve this unique art and simultaneously present it to curious visitors. In addition to being a great opportunity for socializing, the restoration of drywall itself contributes to the preservation of the local landscape and heritage.
Photo: Brela Tourist Board
Furthermore, in the area of Soline, there is a church of Our Lady of Carmel, built at the beginning of the eighteenth century to commemorate the Christian victory over the Ottoman Empire, which is why the bishop of Makarska named it the church of Our Lady of Victory. The Feast of Our Lady of Carmel is celebrated on the 16th of July. A couple of days around the feast, in the evening, locals and guests can walk at the fair of local products in the port of Soline, and live music always ensures that the cheerful atmosphere does not lack. In addition, throughout the summer, guests and locals can enjoy entertaining musical evenings. Brela Municipality Day is celebrated on the 3rd of August, and its patron saint is Saint Stephen the First Martyr. You know, no Dalmatian festival can go without a fisherman's evening with lots of fun, good music, and fine fresh delicacies.
While parents enjoy rock, jazz, or traditional music, their little ones will certainly not miss them because during the summer they can comfortably play and dance at children's disco nights, of course under the constant supervision of cheerful entertainers, and there are often theatre performances for the youngest. As we are in Dalmatia, World Dog Day on August 26 is usually celebrated in the name of everyone's favourite Dalmatians, who are known to children not only for their black freckles but also for the most famous representatives of their breed, Pongo and Perdita.
Photo: Brela Tourist Board
We know that at the beginning we warned not to spend too much time on the beach, but it would certainly be worth stopping by, specifically to the beach cinema. In addition to the magical environment and refreshment from the summer daily heat, during the summer months, a rich and varied offer of foreign and domestic movies awaits for you, which guarantees that even adventurers and eternal romantics, unsuspecting detectives, and futurists will find something for their soul. Of course, the program does not exclude the young ones and those still child at heart. In conclusion, it is essential to enjoy Brela during summer, on the beaches, under the sun, in the sea, and through the variety of activities offered by this wonderful Mediterranean place.