Mirabella Fortress

Mirabella — also known as Peovica — is a 13th-century Romanesque fortress built by the Kačić family on a ridge more than 200 meters above Omiš's old town. A Byzantine coin found in its foundations helped date the construction. Built across six connected levels on the steep cliffs above the Cetina gorge, it served as a watchtower for the Omiš pirates, who used it to keep an eye on the Brač channel and make sure no wealthy ship slipped past unnoticed.

According to local legend, during a 16th-century Ottoman attack, the defenders at the top made so much noise — shouting and firing shots that echoed through the Cetina gorge — that the Turks assumed the garrison was far larger than it was, and retreated. In 1988, a lightning strike nearly destroyed the top of the fortress; it was fully restored afterward.

The fortress is a rewarding stop for those exploring Croatia's coast by boat.