Tikvina

Tikvina is a hill rising above the village of Borovci, in the Kula Norinska municipality, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, in southern Dalmatia, Croatia. The area lies close to Metković, right at the edge of the Neretva river delta wetlands, and Tikvina, together with the neighbouring hill of Gradina, closes off the small karst valley where the village sits.

Where is Tikvina located?

Borovci occupies an elongated karst polje about 4 km long and 1.5–2 km wide, sitting at roughly 50 metres above sea level. The valley is bordered by Rujnica hill to the southeast and by Tikvina and Gradina to the northeast. Its southern end opens toward the marshy river meadows of the Neretva, giving the area a transitional landscape between the karst interior of Dalmatia and the river delta. The summit of Tikvina, marked by a large cross, stands at 354 metres above sea level, above the hamlet of Vekići.

What is there to see on Tikvina?

The main reason to climb the hill is the large concrete cross built on its summit by the Vekić families, descendants of people from this area who now live scattered abroad, including in the United States. Construction of the cross took two years and included a 1,300-metre access road, built so the summit could be reached without a long climb on foot. The cross was blessed on 8 April 2018 in a ceremony attended by the local parish community. From the platform at the top, there are wide views over the entire Borovci valley, the neighbouring Gradina hill with the remains of a medieval fortress, and toward the Neretva valley.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

On the adjacent Gradina hill, rising to 97 metres, the foundations of a 15th-century five-sided fortress with two towers still stand — known locally as Vratar, once a strategic point guarding the route from the Vrgorac area into the Neretva valley. In Borovci village itself, the Parish Church of St Nicholas is worth a stop: its Romanesque core dates from the 13th century, the church was expanded in 1858, and a belfry was added in 1865. Nearby stands the Chapel of Our Lady of Health, built in 1759 and later renovated with support from the Croatian diaspora in the United States. The neighbouring hamlets of Zanoga and Mravnici also hold medieval stećci — carved stone tombstones typical of this part of the Balkans.

How do you get to Tikvina?

The starting point is the village of Borovci, reached by local roads from Metković, the main town of the lower Neretva valley. From Borovci, and more precisely from the Vekići hamlet, the 1,300-metre access road built alongside the cross leads to the summit and can be driven or walked — the most convenient way to reach the top.

When is the best time to visit?

The hill is best visited on a clear day, when visibility stretches across the Borovci valley and further into the Neretva valley. Spring and autumn bring milder temperatures that make longer walks in the area more comfortable, while the anniversary of the cross's blessing in April is sometimes marked by local religious gatherings.

Frequently asked questions

How high up is the cross on Tikvina? The cross stands on the summit of the hill, at 354 metres above sea level, above the hamlet of Vekići.

Who built the cross on Tikvina? It was built by the Vekić families, whose ancestors came from this area; construction, together with the access road, took two years.

How do you reach Tikvina from Metković? Take the local road to the village of Borovci, then follow the 1,300-metre access road from the Vekići hamlet up to the summit.

What else can you see around Borovci? Worth visiting are the ruins of the 15th-century Vratar fortress on Gradina hill, the Church of St Nicholas, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Health.