Unthanks Croatia, Folk

04/05/2022 -
09/05/2022
Split, Croatia
Small group - 25
£ 1850 - based on 2 sharing
£ 320 - single supplement

Illustrations by Rosanna Tasker

Marigolds

I was looking strange. Not to Témi, the long-suffering better half of Singing Holidays. She’d mapped out my ‘delightful’ little quirks years ago, to the extent that nothing much surprised her. No, I looked strange to the multitude of passers-by who were deftly sidestepping my static interest with some last-second ninja avoidance.

I was standing in a narrow side street just off the Narodni Trg (People’s Square) in Split, transfixed by the pavement. “My God, that’s clean and shiny!” I thought to myself. Sun-drenched flagstones gleamed up at me, looking as if they’d been ten rounds with a pair of Marigolds and lost. Their iridescent shimmer spoke volumes. To most, they were a beautiful testament to the passage of time — a two-thousand-year-old magic limestone carpet that stretched through the city of Split like the lines of life on an ancient hand.

Being a neat and tidy home-maker (Témi has a slightly less positive slant on my thoroughly modern-man demeanour), I’d predictably gone all Aggie MacKenzie. Dusting over the historical importance of this time-worn highway, my attention focused solely on its sparkly luminescence. ‘What have the Romans ever done for us?’ I asked one of the street ninjas. ‘Shiny streets, that’s what!’. Témi gave me a sideways, ‘He’s finally lost it’ pitiful glare.

If you don’t know Split, then you’re in for a visual and historical treat. The old centre is to all intents and purposes a Roman palace — a vast retirement home built by the very interesting rags-to-riches emperor, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus (or Diocles to his mum). Born into a lower-class Dalmation family, Diocles rose through the ranks of the military to become Roman cavalry commander to Emperor Carus. On the Emperor’s death (and after a battle or two), young Diocles or Diocletian as he came to be known, claimed the top job and decided to build the home of his dreams.

It’s the usual Grand Designs storyline: Man finds the perfect location on the coast; Man builds a small dwelling over seven acres with two-metre thick, seventy-two-metre high walls; Man likes towers; Man builds towers — sixteen of them; Man fills new home with a small army, a few slaves and the odd servant; Man leans back with goblet of wine in hand and a bunch of grapes (probably in someone else’s hand) to admire his work and those all-important Neptunian views. In your face, Kevin McCloud!

As well as the incredible history and Game of Thrones-style architecture (the hit TV show has been filmed there on numerous occasions), Split remains a real town. Notwithstanding the tourism, which between the months of June and September is close to overwhelming, this is a city with a beating heart and a strong community.

Music and food are central to the Dalmatian way of life and, as always on a Singing Holidays’ event, we’ll be taking full advantage of all the riches Split has to offer. Whether it’s a seafood risotto in a tiny side-street Konoba washed down with a delicious crispy Croatian white, or listening to the astounding a cappella of a local Klapa group in the Diocletian peristil, Split oozes musical and culinary culture.

On this, our fifth Folk Singing Holiday with the lovely Rachel and Becky (The Unthanks) we’re going to focus on the sea. On the Celtic-influenced Border ballads from Tyneside’s seafaring past, together with the magical, a cappella Klapa singing from the Croatian coast. Two cultures with one commonality. Both tell stories of love and hardship, and both offer a truly magical and historical glimpse into our past, while throwing a spotlight onto the present.

Our five nights in Croatia will run as follows: a full morning Unthanks singing workshop with Rachel and Becky will commence with a vocal warm-up before learning a new style of music or perhaps expanding on a tradition you’ve already encountered. Either way, the singing will be fully inclusive and reading music or knowing the genre is not necessary.

The holiday will culminate in a collaborative performance by you and The Unthanks in a stunning location. A magical atmosphere will be guaranteed as we mix with the locals and sing your way into the night.

Murum Bedroom Terrace

Murum Bedroom Terrace

Heritage Antique Bedroom One

Heritage Antique Bedroom One

Murum Bedroom Two

Murum Bedroom Two

Murum Bedroom One

Murum Bedroom One

Palatial. Literally.

At Singing Holidays, we like to keep things cosy. We don’t like the mega out of town soulless hotels where you feel utterly removed from the action. Hotel chains with 100 rooms, off-the-peg hotel furniture, identical bedrooms, remote service, plastic breakfasts… Nah, not for us. Yuck!

Our Unthanks holiday in Split is no exception to the usual Singing Holidays high standards. We’ll be staying in two charming boutique hotels that are quite literally in the centre of town and, most conveniently, right next to each other. In fact, we’re going to be so central we’re actually staying in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Diocletian Palace which has dominated the old town for the last 1700 years.

Both our hotels are small, intimate jewels set within gleaming stone streets and secret courtyards. Perfect places to hole up for our five-nights of folk singing and sea shanties.

A little bird told me

Feefo independent reviews

Ten stars!

I would give Alex and Témi ten stars rather than five. Excellent hotels, lovely restaurants, and lots of terrific singing with the marvellous Robert Dean. Once…

Classical Seville 2022

Feefo Gold Award Singing Holidays 2023

We are thrilled to have received an average of 5/5 through independent reviews on Feefo and Google. We sincerely thank all those who took the time to share their positive experiences and recommend us to others. Your trust, satisfaction and friendship are invaluable, and we remain committed to providing the best possible experience.

Feefo Gold Award Singing Holidays 2023

We are thrilled to have received an average of 5/5 through independent reviews on Feefo and Google. We sincerely thank all those who took the time to share their positive experiences and recommend us to others. Your trust, satisfaction and friendship are invaluable, and we remain committed to providing the best possible experience.

Summary

Price

£ 1850 GBP

Based on two sharing a twin or double room.

£ 320 GBP

Single supplement.

Date

04/05/2022
09/05/2022

Everything but flights

The price quoted includes everything except flights and drinks outside mealtimes. From pick-up to drop-off, we’ll be on hand to take care of every expense and every need.

Included

  • Transfer from the designated pick-up and drop-off point (normally the destination airport).
  • Any group transfer during your holiday.
  • Any group trips or events within the timeframe of your holiday, unless otherwise specified.
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of your trip).
  • All tuition.
  • Accommodation.
  • Concert promotion.

Experts

All of our experts are obviously outstanding, inspirational artists, however they’re also lovely human beings. Their priority will always be 100% on you and your development. They are an integral part of the week, so be prepared to make new friendships.

Friendship

You can expect to be among like-minded people who love to sing. You can expect a supportive, non-judgemental group and many laughs.

Nurtured and taken care of

Témi and Alex organize and run every Singing Holidays event. Unlike most holiday companies, we’re with you from first contact right through to our sad farewells at the end of your stay. There are no reps, no faceless office staff, no strangers picking you up from an airport. Just us.

Food and accommodation

Témi and Alex spend weeks recceing each holiday, so you can get the very best from your stay. Nothing is by chance — we check every restaurant, we eat every menu, we jump on every bed, we take a toothbrush and magnifying glass to every bathroom, skirting board and wardrobe. When you arrive, you can relax in the knowledge that we’ve well and truly done our homework.

Direct contact

From first encounter to said farewells at the end of your holiday, you’ll be in direct contact with either Alex or Témi. Singing Holidays has been running events in Italy and beyond since 2010, and one of our core values is to also keep things small and contained, so we can give you the best experience.

Insurance & data protection

Singing Holidays Ltd has full liability insurance cover with First Underwriting Ltd. We adhere to GDPR to protect your privacy and any data you submit via our website or sister website singingnest.com is secured with 128-bit SSL encryption.

Covid-19

Booking a holiday during a pandemic isn’t for the faint-hearted. However, if you book a Singing Holidays event, and then you are unable to travel due to mandatory country restrictions, then you will be eligible for a full refund (including any ‘non-refundable’ deposit payment).

Antique Split
& Murum
Poljana Grgura Ninskog 3
Dalmatia
Croatia

Need more details?

Feefo Gold Award Singing Holidays 2023
Sustainable Holidays

Sustainable holidays with award-winning service. We are contributing to global reforestation and repairing damaged ecosystems. Every time you book a singing holiday, we’re busy planting trees and buying up land – helping to mitigate climate change.

© 2023 Singing Holidays™ Est. 2009
Singing Holidays Ltd. No. 11691653

Feefo Gold Award Singing Holidays 2023
Sustainable Holidays

Sustainable holidays with award-winning service. We are contributing to global reforestation and repairing damaged ecosystems. Every time you book a singing holiday, we’re busy planting trees and buying up land – helping to mitigate climate change.

© 2023 Singing Holidays™ Est. 2009
Singing Holidays Ltd. No. 11691653

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