Which neighborhood does the new episode of 'A Minute per Neighborhood' cover?

The new episode of the series, published on August 4, 2026, is dedicated to Split's Žnjan neighborhood.

Why did the Žnjan plateau get its current form in 1998?

The plateau was arranged for Pope John Paul II's visit, and a cross stands there in memory of that event.

What is criticized regarding urbanism in Žnjan?

Author Marin Grković highlights the problem of over-concreting, lack of greenery, dead ends, and unrealistically high apartment prices, which is why some call Žnjan an 'expensive Split favela.'

Where can all episodes of 'A Minute per Neighborhood' be watched?

The episodes are available on the portal and social media of Slobodna Dalmacija.

Local

Žnjan in 'A Minute per Neighborhood': Concrete and Chaos

B.K. · Prije 3h | 2 min

Marin Grković's new episode of Slobodna Dalmacija's series visits a neighborhood that is simultaneously synonymous with a top-notch bathing spot and wild construction.

Summary

The new episode of 'A Minute per Neighborhood' by Marin Grković focuses on Split's Žnjan neighborhood.
The Žnjan plateau was renovated a year ago into a complex with courts, cafés, and greenery, and got its original form in 1998 for Pope John Paul II's visit.
Despite the attractive coast, the rest of the neighborhood is criticized for over-concreting, lack of infrastructure, and high property prices.
Grković concludes that even the best sea view can't hide poor urban planning decisions.

The popular series "A Minute per Neighborhood" by author Marin Grković, which explores Split's neighborhoods on the portal and social media of Slobodna Dalmacija, has a new episode. After segments on Spinut, Bačvice, Varoš, and Split 3 won over the public, Tuesday brought one of the currently most attractive but also most controversial parts of the city, Žnjan.

From Fields and Greenhouses to the Pope and a Redesigned Plateau

At the start of the video, Grković notes that it's hard to imagine that the site of today's Žnjan plateau was almost empty about 30 years ago. "Žnjan was a neighborhood of houses, greenhouses, and fields, and the plateau only got its current form in 1998, on the occasion of Pope John Paul II's visit, which is why this cross stands here today," the author explains in the video.

Today, he adds, the plateau is a completely different story. About a year ago, the space was thoroughly renovated and turned into a complex that combines sports courts, cafés, restaurants, and green areas. According to Grković, this move elevated Split to a "whole new level."

Summer Gathering Spot and an 'Expensive Split Favela'

Although the beach and plateau become one of the city's main gathering spots during the summer, the author doesn't hold back criticism for the rest of the neighborhood. "Above the sea, there's a heap of concrete, dead ends, and a lack of infrastructure. Because of this lack of greenery and unrealistically high apartment prices, some call it an expensive Split favela," Grković states.

The central meeting point for locals is the football-basketball court known to everyone as Marakana. Despite the numerous amenities and liveliness, the episode's concluding message is quite clear: "All in all, Žnjan is a neighborhood full of content and life, but also proof that even the best sea view can't completely hide poor urban planning decisions."

"This is 'A Minute per Neighborhood,' and today we're visiting the currently most popular neighborhood in Split. On one hand, a newly renovated bathing area that took Split to a whole new level, and on the other, a labyrinth of concrete and unplanned chaos."

With these words, Marin Grković summed up the two extremes that define Žnjan, a place where a superbly designed coastline collides with chaotic construction in the hinterland.