Mirabela Castle

Mirabela Castle, locally known as Utvrda Mirabela or Peovica, lies above the town of Omiš, in the county of Split-Dalmatia in Croatia.

The castle's name is sometimes also spelled Mirabella. It is occasionally called Peovica after the Peovo neighborhood in Omiš where it is located.

The castle was built sometime during the 13th century on a steep crag above the town, overlooking the mouth of the Cetina River. At that time, the residents of Omiš mainly engaged in piracy. This led to the town being besieged several times by papal and Venetian forces. Throughout its history, the town, which was never captured by the Ottomans, was governed by Croatians, Venetians, and Austro-Hungarians.

Not much of the original 13th-century castle remains, only the highest tower and some curtain walls. In the lower part of the castle, there is also a more modern concrete observation turret, likely from the 19th or 20th century. The upper part of the 13th-century tower was rebuilt after 1988, when it was partly destroyed by a lightning strike.

Mirabela Castle can be visited for a small fee. It is a small fortification, easily accessible from the charming historic town center, and offers nice views of the town. On the mountain top, high above the castle, stands another fortification, the 15th-century Starigrad Fortress. It is also well worth a visit, but much more challenging to reach.

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