Reflections on the Field Trip for the Course The First Classic of Croatian Literature
The field trip for the course The First Classic of Croatian Literature took place in Split on 23 and 24 April. Monika Bijelić and I, Mihaela Antolović, were delighted to travel to Split for the 36th Marulić Days. The official opening took place the previous day, when Professor Pšihistal delivered an address for the occasion, while our encounter with Marulić began on Thursday at the Marko Marulić City Library with the opening of the “MarulArtFest” exhibition. We enthusiastically viewed the exhibition, which featured artists inspired by Marulić’s Judita. Afterwards, we attended the first session of the academic conference Colloquium Marulianum XXXVI at the Old City Hall, followed by a Croatian studies workshop led by Professors Ružica Pšihistal and Sanja Vulić, which focused on Prayer Against the Turks and the fourth canto of Judita. In the evening, we attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Marulianum Centre.
The following day, we attended the second part of the academic conference, including an interesting lecture on early modern Latin inscriptions in the churches of southern Istria. Another workshop was held, while the book Marule naš čestiti was presented at the Old City Hall.
Finally, together with Professor Ružica Pšihistal, we explored Split by following in Marulić’s footsteps, visiting the house believed to be his birthplace, the Papalić Palace, the monument to Marulić, the Church of St Francis and the cathedral. This brought our field trip in Marulić’s city to a close in the most fitting way possible.
It was a valuable and enjoyable experience that allowed us to encounter Marulić more directly.
Mihaela Antolović, first-year undergraduate student of Croatian Language and Literature
