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 name of the castle is sometimes also spelled as Mirabella. It is also sometimes called Peovica after the Peovo neighborhood of Omiš in which it is situated.

The castle was built sometimes during the 13th century on a steep crag above the town, overlooking the mouth of the Cetina River. During that era, the inhabitants of Omiš mainly practiced piracy. This caused the town to be besieged several times by papal and Venetian forces. During its history, the town, which was never taken by the Ottomans, was ruled by Croatians, Venetians and Austro-Hungarians.

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

Mirabela Castle can be visited for a small fee. A small fortification, easily reachable from the lovely historic town center, offering nice views over the town. On the mountain top high above the castle is another, 15th century, fortification; Starigrad Fortress. Also very much worth a visit, but much more difficult to reach.

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