Imber

Imber is a low, rounded limestone hill in the Dalmatian hinterland, rising right above the village of Dicmo Sičane, part of the Dicmo municipality in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia.

Where is Imber located?

The hill overlooks the settlement of Sičane, one of seven villages that make up the Dicmo municipality alongside Ercegovci, Kraj, Krušvar, Osoje, Prisoje and Sušci. Dicmo Sičane itself sits at roughly 382 metres above sea level, about 20 kilometres northeast of Split. The wider area belongs to the classic Dalmatian karst hinterland — stony ridges covered in maquis and dry grassland, crossed by traditional stone field walls.

What makes Imber worth knowing about?

Imber is a modest, gently shaped elevation — its local relief above the surrounding terrain stays under 300 metres, making it a fairly typical hill within the rolling landscape behind Split. The hill also serves as a landmark: the Supačka draga valley at its foot marks the starting point of the boundary of the "Dicmo" hunting ground, which continues through the Sičane area (Radanovići, Nerlovići, Bralići, Miluni) all the way to Kokana.

For years, the slopes of Imber have hosted a quarry producing technical and construction-grade stone. In 2012, the company Lavčević was granted a location permit for extraction, on condition that it build two new unclassified roads totalling almost 3.5 kilometres and use an existing municipal road for transport. Those roads were never built. In 2015 the company instead obtained a permit amendment allowing it to haul extracted material along existing roads running directly through the Sičane settlement, without a fresh environmental impact assessment. In July 2020, the Dicmo municipal authorities filed a criminal complaint with the County Prosecutor's Office in Split against construction-ministry officials responsible for the decision, accusing them of abuse of office and an unjustified relaxation of the obligations placed on the operator. The dispute remains a point of local contention and illustrates the tension between quarrying activity and everyday life in the small villages of the hinterland.

How do you get to Imber and Dicmo Sičane?

A car is by far the easiest way to reach the area — from central Split, the drive along local roads into the Dicmo basin takes around half an hour. There is no direct regular bus service running into Sičane itself, so visitors are better off arranging their own transport or renting a car in Split.

What can you see around Imber?

This is a destination for travellers looking for an unpolished, off-the-tourist-track corner of the Dalmatian hinterland — dry-stone enclosures, pastureland and the kind of open, rocky scenery typical of the countryside between Split and the Mosor massif. It also makes a good base for exploring the smaller villages of the Dicmo municipality and their rural architecture.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September–October) are the most pleasant times for walking the surrounding hills, offering milder temperatures than midsummer and Mediterranean vegetation at its best. Summer heat on the dry, rocky ground can be intense, so plan any activity for the early morning hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a marked hiking trail up Imber? There is currently no officially marked trail — this remains a mostly local area, visited chiefly by residents and anyone interested in the region's geology.

Is accommodation available nearby? Options are limited and concentrated mainly in nearby Split and coastal towns; Dicmo itself offers only a handful of private rooms.

Is the quarry on Imber still operating? Available sources indicate extraction continued for years despite the legal dispute; it's worth checking the current status locally before planning a visit.

Is it worth combining a visit with other regional sights? Yes — Dicmo Sičane sits close enough to Split to work well as a day trip into the hinterland, easily paired with a visit to the city itself or the Mosor massif area.