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== The Cultural and Historical Venetian Presence in Dalmatia ==

== The Cultural and Historical Venetian Presence in Dalmatia ==

The cultural and historical Venetian presence in Dalmatia is related to the northern Italian influences in Dalmatia. The  original Roman Dalmatia is now divided between Croatia, Herzegovina and Montenegro. The cultural influence from the ''Republic of Venice'' is clearly evident in the urbanisation plans of the main Dalmatian cities. One of the best examples is the one of Split.  

The cultural and historical Venetian presence in Dalmatia is related to the northern Italian influences in Dalmatia. The  original Roman Dalmatia is now divided between Croatia, Herzegovina and Montenegro. The cultural influence from the ''Republic of Venice'' is clearly evident in the urbanisation plans of the main Dalmatian cities of Croatia. One of the best examples is the one of Split (Spalato).  

[[File:400px-Split riva.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The "Riva" of Split, that was created and named by Antonio Bajamonti. ''(photo by Mate Balota)'']]

[[File:400px-Split riva.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The "Riva" of Split, that was created and named by Antonio Bajamonti. ''(photo by Mate Balota)'']]

In 1880 Antonio Bajamonti (the last Dalmatian Italian Mayor of Split under [[Austria|Austrian]] rule) developed an urbanisation project of this city centred on the "Riva", a seaside walkway full of palms based on the Italian Riviera models. Even today the Riva (with cafe bars) is used by the locals to stroll in a typical Italian way from the "Palace of Diocletian" towards an old square called locally "Pjaca" (or square in Venetian).

In 1880 Antonio Bajamonti (the last Dalmatian Italian Mayor of Split under [[Austria|Austrian]] rule) developed an urbanisation project of this city centred on the "Riva", a seaside walkway full of palms based on the Italian Riviera models. Even today the Riva (with cafe bars) is used by the locals to stroll in a typical Italian way from the "Palace of Diocletian" towards an old square called locally "Pjaca" (or square in Venetian).

An example of the Venetian cultural and historical presence  can be seen in the small town of Perast (Perasto) in coastal Montenegro. Perast under the Republic of Venice (Albania Veneta), had four active shipyards, a fleet of around one hundred ships, and 1,643 residents. Some of the buildings are ornate baroque palaces which was typical Venetian architecture. The town kept the war-flag of the Venetian Navys, called ''"La fedelissma Gonfaloniera"''.

An example of the Venetian cultural and historical presence  can be seen in the small town of Perast (Perasto) in coastal Montenegro. Perast under the Republic of Venice (Albania Veneta), had four active shipyards, a fleet of around one hundred ships, and 1,643 residents. Some of the buildings are ornate baroque palaces which was typical Venetian architecture. The town kept the war-flag of the Venetian Navys, called ''"La fedelissma Gonfaloniera"''.

The sailors of Perast  were involved in the last battle of the Venetian navy, fought in Venice in 1797. At the fall of the "Serenissima" (1797) Perast  was the last city of the Republic to lower the Venetian flag. On 12 May 1797, the Republic of Venice ended, but a few places in the Albania Veneta for several months still continued to remain loyal to the Venetian Republic. On 22 August 1797 the Count Giuseppe Viscovich, Captain of Perast,  lowered the Venetian war-flag of the Lion of Saint Mark pronouncing the farewell words in front of the crying people of the city and buried the "Gonfalon of Venice" under the altar of the main church of Perast.

The sailors of Perast  were involved in the last battle of the Venetian navy, fought in Venice in 1797. At the fall of the "Serenissima" (1797) Perast  was the last city of the Republic to lower the Venetian flag. On 12 May 1797, the Republic of Venice ended. On 22 August 1797 the Count Giuseppe Viscovich, Captain of Perast,  lowered the Venetian war-flag of the Lion of Saint Mark pronouncing the farewell words in front of the crying people of the city and buried the "Gonfalon of Venice" under the altar of the main church of Perast.

The population has since decreased to 430 in 1910 and around 360 today. According to the "Comunita' nazionale italiana del Montenegro", in Perast actually there are 140 persons who still speak at home the original Venetian dialect of Perast  (called "veneto da mar").

The population has since decreased to 430 in 1910 and around 360 today. According to the "Comunita' nazionale italiana del Montenegro", in Perast actually there are 140 persons who still speak at home the original Venetian dialect of Perast  (called "veneto da mar").