PEASANTS OF THE LAND WHERE EAST MEETS WEST

During the last two centuries the Dalmatian coast has been successively the possession of Venice, France, and Austria. To-day, as an integral part of the new Slay state, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, it links the Eastern and Western zones of civilization.

Backed by hills whose only snows are midwinter almond blossoms, and with sky-blue seas and sea-blue skies, Dubrovnik (Ragusa) invokes all the magic of medieval Adriatic days. Soft climate, tropical flowers, mellow architecture, and Old World atmosphere attract throngs of visitors from southeastern Europe to this historic seaport (see also Color Plate XIII).

When the Avars fired near-by Solin (Salona) in the seventh century, its inhabitants trekked to the deserted palace of Diocletian at Split (Spalato),
and founded a new city within its walls (see also Color Plates XI and XV). This view from Mount Marjan shows the palmetto-fringed esplanade and
the busy quays of Yugoslavia's chief port.

The strong position of this fortress near Split, known as Clissa in prewar days, caused it to play a prominent rôle in the Turkish wars. From the village at its base hillsides green with olive trees slope gently to a valley.