Centuries ago Prunus Cerarus Marasca sailed from the middle of Asia to the Dalmatian coast. Finding the limestone karst and rich, red soil of northern and mid-Dalmatia to his liking he decided to stay. These days the local inhabitants abuse him in many different ways, and one of the most popular forms of misuse is to make a deep red syrup by crushing him, named Amerena. As is usually the case, it was the local monastery that started up the persecution when they began to make Rosolj, (taken from the words ‘ros solis’ or ‘the sun’s dew’), a strong liqueur – which was to become Maraschino – named simply after the imported cherries.