A historical reconstruction of the legend of Miljenko and Dobrila (Kaštela, Croatia, 17th century)

A historical reconstruction of the legend of Miljenko and Dobrila, a 17th-century tale of tragic love between two noble families from Kaštela, Croatia, reveals both plausible historical elements and significant gaps. The study confirms the existence of key figures like Francesco Vitturi, his wife Elisabetta, and Dobrila's sister Klara, as well as the feud between the Vitturi and Rosani families. It also verifies the legend’s settings, including the Vitturi Castle in Kaštel Lukšić and the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Trogir. However, no evidence supports claims that Dobrila was forcibly kept in the monastery or that Miljenko and Dobrila were married or buried together. The research relied on archival materials, literary sources, and historical records but found insufficient proof to definitively confirm or refute the legend’s historicity due to limited available data.

Klišmanić, V., & Domazet, M. (2025). A historical reconstruction of the legend of Miljenko and Dobrila (Kaštela, Croatia, 17th century). St Open, 6, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.48188/so.6.2