Croatia’s Ministry of Culture Protects Picigin

The Croatian Ministry of Culture has decided to inscribe the traditional ball game from the Dalmatian city of Split – Picigin – on the list of intangible cultural heritage of Croatia, reports Tportal.

Picigin, which was invented in the shallow waters of Bačvice beach in Split and involves players keeping a small ball from touching the water, was first played in 1908 by a group of Croatian students from Prague who were finding it difficult to play the game of water polo in the shallow water. Picigin is now played extensively along the Croatian coast and the Picigin World Championship is held every year in Split at Bačvice beach.