NO FARMERS MARKET WILL EVER FEEL THE SAME AFTER VISITING THE ONE IN ZADVARJE
Authenticity matters. In Dalmatia, we are proud of our heritage. Of the way things were and how we preserve them for the future generations. That is what makes our region special. The biggest farmers market in Dalmatia takes place every Tuesday near Makarska, in one of the smallest towns in Croatia called Zadvarje.
It is truly exceptional for many reasons. For one, everything is happening alongside the main road, increasing the traffic jam during the summer. But that is also part of the experience. The place (road) is literally packed with people selling cattle, negotiating prices, exchanging the latest gossip while offering the visitors fresh local produce that varies with the season. Everything on display is of local origin, things like handmade crafts, dried herbs, spices, fruit, fish and vegetables.
What Zadvarje farmers' market offers cannot be found in museums and in Lonely Planet guide. It is a true reflection of local tradition and culture. Some might even call it the best of Dalmatia has to offer.
One of the true culinary traits that completes the Zadvarje experience is eating janjetina (roasted lamb). This is a kind of dish where meat is the true hero. Locally grown lamb is simply salted and grilled over a fire. The point of the process is to get meat as tender as butter, which is then served only with salt and green or red onions, depending on the season.
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If by any chance you miss on this delicious treat (you shouldn't), on the way to Omiš there is a great alternative. The peka, or more precisely roasted veal under the bell, is a dish also prepared in a traditional way. Very few ingredients are used, but the results are mouthwatering. Tender meat and potatoes are cooked under a terracotta lid in extreme heat. The only thing that is better in this area is to have a swim or go rafting on the beautiful Cetina river. Preferably, after a peka.