Discovering Dalmatia XII

Split, 12–14 and 23–25 November 2026

>>> PROGRAMME AND BOOK OF ABSTRACTS (pdf)

In November 2026, Split hosts the twelfth edition of Discovering Dalmatia / Otkrivanje Dalmacije, jointly organised by the Institute of Art History – Cvito Fisković Centre, the University of Split’s Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, and the Split City Museum, in cooperation with the Croatian Architects’ Association and the University Library in Split.

This year’s programme features two international scholarly conferences, two book presentations, a film screening and discussion on artificial intelligence and culture, a study excursion to Trogir, and a colloquium marking the centenary of conservator Davor Domančić’s birth.

The first international conference Travel Drawing / Islands in Travel Writing (Putopisni crtež / Otoci u putopisima), takes place on 12–14 November. It opens with Tod Marder’s lecture on Bernini’s architectural drawings. The conference examines visual and textual travel records, travel drawing as an autonomous artistic medium, and how Adriatic islands have been represented, experienced, and interpreted in different historical and cultural contexts. The conference is held within the Croatian Science Foundation project “Where East meets West”: Travel Narratives and the Fashioning of a Dalmatian Artistic Heritage in Modern Europe (TraveloguesDalmatia).

The programme includes a presentation of Tamo gdje počinje more: ogledi o povijesti Lastova on 12 November; a visit to Diocletian’s Palace and the Split City Museum’s new permanent exhibition, followed by a film screening and discussion on artificial intelligence, on 13 November; and a study excursion to Trogir and a presentation of Franko Ćorić’s Vrijeme utemeljitelja on 14 November.

The second international conference The Issue of Light and Water – And Petar Senjanović’s Other Open Questions (Pitanje svjetla i vode. I druga pitanja koja je (p)ostavio Petar Senjanović), takes place on 23–25 November. Marking the 150th anniversary of Petar Senjanović’s birth (1876–1955), it draws on his work to explore urban planning, architecture, municipal administration, infrastructure, and the modernisation of Split and other places. Particular attention is given to urban planning, politics and urban development, and archival, photographic, and other historical sources. The conference is held within the Institute of Art History project Art and Architecture of Urban Settings in Croatia (UrbArH), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

The programme concludes on 25 November with Šjor Davor’s Conservation Catechism, a colloquium dedicated to conservator Davor Domančić (1926–2000), at the Jakov Gotovac Multimedia Hall in Split. It invites the generation of conservators he trained to remember his work and discuss conservation practice and ethics.

Bringing together diverse research themes, Discovering Dalmatia again provides a space for scholarly discussion and exchange in the collegial spirit nurtured by the programme year after year.

Discovering Dalmatia XII is supported by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ), the European Union – NextGenerationEU, the City of Split, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, and Split’s museums.

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