Bekavci–Ivandići house complex

A jewel of vernacular architecture in Donji Kričak

Among the characteristic, compact residential and commercial complexes that once dominated the landscape of Brela, the Bekavci–Ivandići complex in Donji Kričak remains remarkably well-preserved. It was built by three brothers who descended from Podskalica beneath Mount Biokovo during the 19th century, making their living through livestock farming, viticulture, and trade.

Architecture and spatial organization
The complex is organized with almost monastic precision, featuring several houses gathered around a closed courtyard. The centerpiece is a picturesque porch with a series of flattened arches resting on masonry pillars.

Taverns (konobe): four doors under the porch lead into the traditional stone cellars.
Terrace: the porch supports a spacious terrace accessed by two stone staircases.
Roofs: all houses are traditionally covered with stone slabs.

Life in the courtyard
The courtyard, entered from the east and west, was once the heart of the estate's economic activity:

It houses an old olive mill and a turanj (traditional wine press).
A gustirna (water cistern) with two stone wellheads remains as a testament to the traditional way of water supply.
A unique detail can be found nearby: small niches for beehives built directly into the stone retaining walls along the path.

Social significance
On the southern side, a two-story building was later added, which once housed the first school in Brela. To the east lies a space shaded by the massive canopy of a Nettle tree (Celtis australis – locally known as koštela). Not so long ago, this was the site of the local market and fish market, serving as a social hub for the people of Brela.

Protection status: by the decision of the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Split, this site is officially protected as a Cultural Monument.