The villages above Makarska, Tučepi and Brela are very picturesque. There, you can still see what this area used to look like, the original rural architecture combined with beautiful views of the coast and islands. Ever since the old times, these houses have been built as extremely solid in order to withstand the gusts of the bora, which sometimes blows at the speed of up to 150 km/h. It is interesting to mention that before the Second World War, the local villagers were employed to extract ice from the Biokovo pits in order to supply the Makarska hotels at a time when there were no refrigerators. After the extraction, it had to be transported to Makarska without it melting. It was hard work, but necessary for survival.
Many villages were abandoned after the devastating earthquake of 1962, but even today some enthusiasts are trying to revive this picturesque area. If you are interested in the 'hidden' side of tourism with a strong history behind it, be sure to take a walk through these villages.