A richly decorated wooden altar dating from the 17th century, olive trees up to 700 years old and two hiking trails of different lengths give Sali a range of specific points of interest for culture and nature lovers. Within the wider destination of Općina Sali, Sali is the settlement closest to Telašćica Nature Park. When planning your visit, it is worth treating visits to the village and activities in the park as separate priorities: the churches, reading room and harbour are in Sali; the trails start in the village and lead to various destinations, including Telašćica and Farfarikulac Bay.
Churches, Script and Architectural History
The parish Church of the Assumption of Mary houses a richly decorated wooden altar dating from the 17th century and inscriptions in Glagolitic script. The Church of St Roko dates from 1644 and was extended in 1855, so the two dates refer to different phases of construction. The Chapel of St Nicholas dates back to the 16th century. Within the wider destination of Općina Sali, the Church of St John in Sali, also known as Stivanje polje, is first mentioned in written records in 1064 or 1065.
The reading room is another place to visit in the village: there, you can read or borrow books in several world languages. Together with the churches, it offers a cultural focus that you can explore without following a set route.
Saljsko polje and Telašćica Nature Park
The Saljsko polje olive grove is home to trees up to 700 years old. The grove is designated as a botanical reserve; within the wider destination of Općina Sali, the special botanical reserve was protected in 1969. Telašćica Bay is also part of the regional natural landscape: it was declared a nature park in 1988. The park features sheltered bays and rugged cliffs.
There is a land entrance to the nature park at Dolac. If you are travelling by car from the north, the entrance to Telašćica Nature Park is 500 metres before the turn-off for Sali. As road conditions can change, check them before setting out. The nature park offers guided nature tours, boat trips, water sports, diving, fishing, cycling and photo safaris. These activities provide additional ways to experience the park beyond its hiking trails.
Compare Hiking Trails by Length and Difficulty
The Sali–Dolac–Strihina Grba–Magrovica Bay–Telašćica hiking trail is 13 kilometres long, with 130 metres of ascent and 130 metres of descent. It is listed as an easy route with a walking time of four hours. The same route is also designated as a 13-kilometre mountain biking trail, with 130 metres of ascent and 130 metres of descent.
A shorter option is the Sali–Debela Grba–Farfarikulac Bay hiking trail: it is 2.7 kilometres long and also has 130 metres of ascent and 130 metres of descent. It is listed as taking one hour to walk and rated “easy to moderate”. This comparison shows that the shorter trail is not necessarily rated as equally easy. Trail conditions may vary; check them before setting out.
Saljske užance and the Harbour
Within the wider destination of Općina Sali, Saljske užance is a three-day local festival in Sali that has been held for more than 50 years. During the festival, Tovareća mužika performs several times, making its way through the whole village and presenting its programme. Various drums and old iron clothes irons filled with pebbles are used as percussion instruments. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates of future editions in advance.
The harbour in Sali has designated berths for boats. Ships can also obtain water and electricity there. Together with visits to the village and the hiking and nature activities, these offer a range of options to help you plan your stay in Sali.
Discover more destinations: Luka, Zman, Brgulje, Dragove, Brbinj, Savar, Veli Rat, Zapuntel.
Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Sali.
