being accommodated in tourist accommodation. In the late 90s tourism was thriving again and in following decades created a speculative, rapid and wild construction boom with lot of highly problematic expansions (especially in Veliko Brdo), while with little or no urban planning at all. Local and regional experts have been active in drawing attention to the problems caused by the lack of planning and in this have recently been joined by members of the local population and citizens along with urban and environmental activists. Geography Makarska is located in central Dalmatia, at the junction of Biokovo and the Adriatic Sea. The town is sharply separated from the interior by the mountain Biokovo (the highest peak of St. George, 1762 m), and it is connected with the central Dalmatian islands of Brač and Hvar by the Adriatic Sea, which modelled some of the most beautiful Croatian beaches in the Makarska Riviera. The town itself is located in a natural harbour between two peninsulas, Osejava and Sv. Petra. The flysch zone between the mountain and the sea is only a few kilometres wide, so that the further expansion of the city goes to the east and west, i.e. to the neighbouring settlements of Tučepi and Krvavica. Main sights St. Mark's Cathedral (17th century), in the Main Square. Statue of the friar Andrija Kačić Miošić by the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Rendić. St. Philip's Church (18th century). St. Peter's church (13th century), situated on the Sv. Petar peninsula, rebuilt in 1993. The Franciscan monastery (16th century). It houses a library with numerous books and rare incunabulas and a famous, world known collection of shells from all over the world, collected in a Malacological Museum from 1963. Napoleon monument, erected in the honour of the French Marshal Marmont in 1808. The Baroque Ivanišević Palace. Villa Tonolli, which is home to the Town Museum. Government and politics The mayor of Makarska is Zoran Paunović (SDP). He was confirmed as mayor on 30 May 2021 winning 59.85% of the vote (2021 Croatian local elections, second round). The deputy mayor (vice mayor) is Antonia Radić Brkan (Ind.). The City Council is composed of 15 representatives. The last elections were held on 16 May 2017 (2021 Croatian local elections). The two largest parties in the city assembly are SDP with 7 members and HDZ with 5 members. Climate and vegetation Makarska experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate