Mestrovic Gallery — Attraction in Grad Split

The Mestrovic Gallery is an absolute Highlight of Split - a stunning villa with a portico and a beautiful sculpture park overlooking the sea. Visit it‼️ if you are interested in sculptures. Ivan Meštrović (1883-1962) was the most important Croatian sculptor of the 20th century. His sculptures in marble, stone, bronze, wood, and gypsum are very often compared to the skills of Rodin or Michelangelo. Auguste Rodin himself said that Meštrović was surely the biggest phenomenon among sculptors. He also was a painter, architect, and writer. Meštrović, himself, designed the villa for himself and his family. The artist lived here until the Second World War, and then he immigrated to the USA and stayed there until his death. His impressive sculptures are exhibited in the villa and in the park, you can see the original dining room and a video about his work. Don´t miss going to the Crikvine-Kaštelet, a short distance away from the gallery. Mestrovic bought the Capogrosso castle of the 16th century and rebuilt it to create a facility for the exhibition and storage of his sculptures. In the western part of the complex, he built the church of the Holy Cross and created beautiful interior wooden reliefs featuring the life of Christ. So...

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit not really knowing much about the place beforehand or what to expect. The gallery is situated on the outskirts of Split towards Marjan Park in what was the sculptor's summer residence. The building itself is impressive, in large grounds where some exhibits are also displayed. Meštrović produced diverse works, from classical (Persephone, Psyche) to portraits (self portrait, his mother), mood (widow, girl with violin, repose), local themes (Artist of My People) and religious (Head of Christ, Pietas, Job). He used different mediums for the sculptures bronze, marble, wood, and also produced some paintings and drawings. The religious sculpture pieces are particularly expressive, with those depicting Job reflecting his own anguish and suffering during WW2.

The entrance fee (12€ June 2024) also includes the Crikvine-Kaštilac permanent exhibition situated 5 minutes walk away from the Gallery, which houses the Large Crucifix sculpture and 28 wooden reliefs. The location is stunning, immediately next to the coast with amazing views out to the...

EDIT: I got a refund, a week after complaining, so I am giving 5 stars for the customer service.

This art gallery boasts an exceptional location with stunning views, making it a wonderful destination. However, my experience was somewhat marred by the fact that a significant portion of the exhibits has been on loan to a museum in Zagreb for the past four months. As a result, visitors are only able to view half of the collection, yet the admission fee remains at 12 Euros. This was particularly disappointing as many of the key marble statues, which are central to the gallery’s allure, were among the missing pieces. While I would normally rate this gallery with five stars for its full collection, the current offering doesn’t justify the full price. The views alone are worth a visit, but I believe that if the gallery continues to loan out a large portion of its collection, a reduced admission fee would be more...