Villa Cezar

Tragical true love story

by Jeca011

"In the second half of the 17th century, the noble family of Vitturi at Kastel Luksic had a daughter called Dobrila, and the nobleman Rosani the son Miljenko. The two young fell in love, but could meet each other only clandestinely because of the enemity of the families. When the parents became aware of the children's love they put Dobrila under a strict surveillance and sent Miljenko to Venice. Out of spite Dobrila's father arranged his daughter’s marriage to an older nobleman from Trogir. Informed of this Miljenko returned on the day of marriage and at the most solemn moment of the marriage ceremony prevented it to take place. To punish her Dobrila's father decided to put her into the convent at Trogir, and Miljenko tried to hinder this by his sword. The court thereupon banished Miljenko to the monastery on the little islet of Visovac, where he meet a peasant woman, Dobrila's nurse, and through her sent a message to his beloved to escape from the convent, which she did. After receiving the news of Dobrila's escape their parents were reconciled and sent messengers to Visovac to bring back the unrepentant lovers to Kastel Luksic for a solemn marriage ceremony. The lovers obeyed, but of a summer evening in August 1690, after the marriage and feast have taken place, Dobrila's father out of revenge and hatred killed Miljenko on a drawbridge in front of his castle. In her deep sorrow Dobrila went out of her senses, became ill and died. Her last wish was to be buried with Miljenko in the same grave in the small church, where one can still today read the inscription over their grave "Peace to the lovers".

This true story inspired three works of art: a novel, play and opera.