4 Best Sights in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

A 25-minute walk from the Riva, this must-see gallery dedicated to Ivan Meštrović (1883–1962), one of Europe's greatest 20th-century sculptors, is in a tranquil location overlooking the sea and surrounded by extensive gardens. Meštrović originally designed this building as his summer residence during the 1920s and '30s. Some 200 of his sculptural works in wood, marble, stone, and bronze are on display, both indoors and out. The gallery features an open-air café that is frequented by families and children during the day and young locals in the evening. It's a great place to escape the crowded city streets and enjoy a refreshing drink surrounded by a stunning collection of the master's work.

In a fine Baroque building on the seafront, the gallery displays more than 300 paintings and sculptures by big-name 20th-century Croatian artists who drew inspiration from the sea and landscapes of Dalmatia. The intimate gallery was named after Brač-born sculptor Branislav Dešković (1883–1939), whose works are on display along with those of Ivan Meštrović, Ivan Rendić, and others.

The small chapel of this museum contains a magnificent collection of 20th-century sculptor Ivan Meštrović's work, produced over 40 years, that depicts the life of Christ in a series of bas-relief wood carvings that many consider among his finest work. Viewing the entire series should not be rushed, and it's worth visiting in conjunction with his other works in the Meštrović Gallery, a five-minute walk away.

Emanuel Vidović (1870–1953) is acknowledged as one of Split's greatest painters, and in this gallery, you can see his original works as well as a reconstruction of his atelier. One section presents Vidović's paintings of Split landscapes, allowing you to experience the region through an artist's eyes.