Many cities, when viewed from above, might not be immediately recognizable—but Omiš isn’t one of them. Nestled beneath the Dinara mountain and the Mirabela Fortress, at the mouth of the Cetina River where it meets the sea, this Dalmatian town is a treasure chest of history and charm. From the Pirate Coast and underwater structures to the fortress perched on steep cliffs, the birthplace of the klapa festival, tales of Mila, storied taverns, pillars of shame, and factories that once clothed and fed us—Omiš is rich with stories. Among its lesser-known, yet equally precious, details is a particular spot on Knezova Kačića street.
At first glance, it’s just a typical two-story stone house. But a plaque beside the entrance catches the eye: “HOUSE OF THE HAPPY MAN.” Above the door, a Latin inscription reads: “GRACIAS AGO TIBI DNE QUIA FUI IN HOC MONDO,” translating to “I thank you, Lord, for having lived in this world.“
This traditional Dalmatian house from the 16th century is now a cultural heritage site of Omiš, considered one of the finer examples of typical Dalmatian architecture from the Venetian period. The ground floor housed a workroom and living area, the first floor a bedroom, and the top floor—the kitchen—was placed there for safety reasons, to protect the rest of the house in case of fire.
After the dark and claustrophobic Middle Ages, the Renaissance brought a new dawn of hope and artistic flourishing to Europe. In Croatia, it arrived from Italy and Central Europe, leaving its mark across Dalmatia—from grand structures like the Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik and the city of Karlovac to more modest examples like this house in Omiš. It’s believed to have belonged to Ivan Primojević, a lawyer and ambassador of the Omiš commune in Venice. Not much is known about him—but what a legacy to leave behind: a home named not for wealth or power, but for happiness.
And why wouldn’t it be? The simplicity and purity of the sea and stone always bring us back to our roots—the Mediterranean, antiquity, faith, and ideals. As the beloved writer Predrag Matvejević once described: “If we reattach prudence, moderation, justice, and courage to liberty, fraternity, and equality, and frame it all with faith, hope, and mercy, only then is a shared journey into a heart-illuminated future possible.” Quoting Saint Augustine, he concluded: “Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying. Let’s live well, and times will be good. We are the times.“
In the charming town of Omiš—also known as the birthplace of the Festival of Dalmatian klapa singing—the Latin inscription above the House of the Happy Man inspired a monograph titled “Fala ti, Bože, ča iša san ovin sviton” (“Thank you, Lord, for letting me walk through this world” in local dialect). Today, the name “House of the Happy Man” also lives on in a local winery run by vintner Nikša Mimica—perhaps a gentle reminder that a little happiness can be found in a glass, too.
