Croatia-The-Mediterranean-as-it-once-was-2014-2015-EN.pdf

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The Mediterranean as it once was.Croatia

IMAGE CATALOGUE english

free

www.croatia.hr


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Croatia


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Land of diversity.

T his is a story about a land of a thousand islands, her magi-cal nature and rich heritage, her great Men whose greatdeeds have forever etched the name of Croatia in large letterson the map of the world. This is a story about a land whosebeauties have been celebrated since ancient times. From Cas-siodorus, who wrote of the divine life led by Patricians on hershores, to Dante, who wrote his immortal verses, enthralled bythe epic scenes of the blue expanse, and all the way to GeorgeBernard Shaw, who found his paradise on Earth right here.Croatia has always been a place of true inspiration.Through pictures of unforgettable scenes and incredible stories,we have endeavoured to bring all the special qualities of this

wonderful land that is our beautiful country as close to youas possible. Indeed, in nine fairytale-like chapters we havemanaged to lay before you the pearls of her diversity. Do nothesitate; descend the thousand-year-old stairs of a rich, tur-bulent and glorious history and discover destinations in whichexperiences of the warm, blue Mediterranean are enhanced bythe charm of the tranquil and picturesque green mountains inthe north and the fertile golden plains in the easternmost partof the land. All that you have dreamt of is now within reach.Browsing through the pages of this catalogue you are surelybound to find a place for your perfect holiday.Welcome to Croatia!


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Croatia.

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ISTRIA. 16-21

KVARNER. 22-27

DALMATIA.ZADAR. 28-31

DALMATIA.IBENIK. 32-35

DALMATIA.SPLIT. 36-39

DALMATIA.DUBROVNIK. 40-45

LIKA KARLOVAC. 46-49

CENTRAL CROATIA. 50-55

CITY OF ZAGREB. 56-61

SLAVONIA. 62-67

Choose yourdestinationin Croatia andexploretrue diversity.


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CROATIA. LAND OF DIVERSITY. 05

1. ISTRIA.2. KVARNER.3. DALMATIA.ZADAR.4. DALMATIA.IBENIK.5. DALMATIA.SPLIT.6. DALMATIA.DUBROVNIK.7. LIKA KARLOVAC.8. CENTRAL CROATIA.9. CITY OF ZAGREB.

10. SLAVONIA.

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Nature in full colour.

roatia is one of the ecologicallybest preserved parts of Europe. It

is a land where the hues of the s unnyand warm Mediterranean happily blendwith the tranquillity and freshness of

mountains and the gentle sway of thegolden plains of Pannonia. It is a landof truly divine inspiration that has de-lighted many of the Worlds prominentMen of letters. Although a small country,Croatia has a rare European landscapewhich boasts as many as eight nationalparks!

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o not delay: sail the azure blue wa-ters of the Adriatic and discover an

island which is one of the last habitatsof the Griffon Vulture in Europe. If youare a dedicated nature lover, you can putout to sea with an adopted dolphin, or, ifyou are particularly lucky, encounter themysterious and rare Mediterranean monkseal. This is a place where the colours ofnature are at their fullest.

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ith the Plitvice Lakes and the Risn-jak, Paklenica and Northern Vele-

bit mountains and with the Brijuni andKornati Archipelagos, the island of Mljetand the Krka waterfalls in the coastalarea, Croatia is indeed a jewel of theprimeval beauty of nature. With threearboretums, in Trsteno, near Dubrovnik,Lisiine, near Voine and Opeka, nearVinica, numerous historical parks andprotected nature parks, it is indeed a

green land, with as many as 4,300 plant,and as many animal species.

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CROATIA. NATURE, LANDSCAPES. 07

[ 1.Loinj 2.Bievo 3.Buzet 4.Velebit ]

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f you are interested in the days ofantiquity, you should start from the

Roman amphitheatre in Pula, through Za-dar and its Forum - the largest excavatedforum on the eastern shores of the Adri-

atic - and then head to the magnicentpalace of Emperor Diocletian in Split. Walkthrough time, from the pre-RomanesqueChurch of St. Domnius in Zadar, datingfrom the 9thcentury, to the world of theRomanesque that is the magical monu-ment city of Trogir, or the islands of Krkand Rab. Follow the Gothic period in Za-greb, Pazin, or, for instance, the town ofSton on the Peljeac peninsula. Discoverthe Renaissance in Osor on the island ofCres, the ibenik cathedral, the islands ofHvar and Korula, and nally, the uniqueand unrepeatable city of Dubrovnik. The

towns of Varadin, Bjelovar and Vukovarglow with the splendour of the Baroque,while the heritage of the 19thcentury isat its best in Rijeka, Osijek and, of course,in downtown Zagreb.

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elcome to Croatia! A land whose rich cultural heritage isdiscovered not only from within the walls of numerous

museums, galleries and churches, many of which today, as zerocategory monuments are included in a part of the UNESCO WorldHeritage List, but also in that magical place on the Mediterranean,where even the shortest stroll becomes a journey down a staircasethousands of years old, which takes one through a rich and glori-ous history. Whether walking the intricate grid of narrow whitestone streets and alleys to the lively port towns of Istria, Kvarneror Dalmatia, or climbing the green serpentines of Central Croatia tothe fairytale-like fortresses and castles, each step is an ever freshexperience. Made special by the fact that on her territory as manyas four cultural circles meet and complement one another - west,east, Central European and the southern spirit of the Mediterranean,Croatia is a land of urban culture which numbers more cities thanany other part of the Mediterranean.With as many as thir teen cultural phenomena - The Festivity ofSaint Blaise, lace-making in Lepoglava, Hvar and Pag, the bellringers f rom the Kastav region, the Hvar Procession Za Krien(following the Cross), two-part singing of narrow intervals inIstria and Hrvatsko Primorje, the spring procession of Ljelje, thetraditional manufacture of wooden toys in the Hrvatsko Zagorje re-

gion, the Sinjska alka, the Gingerbread craft from Northern Croatia,Bearac singing from Slavonia, Baranja, and Srijem, Nijemo Kolo,silent circle dance of the Dalmatian hinterland, Klapa multipartsinging of Dalmatia and the Mediterranean diet on the Croatiancoast of the Mediterranean, Croatia is among the countries withthe most protected intangible assets in the world, inscribed onthe UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritageof Humanity. Ojkanje singing features on the List of IntangibleCultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

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Treasuretrove ofimpressivehistory.

owever, if you are more keen onmonuments with lesser exposure,

one of those who loves to wander anddiscover the beauty of places that sim-ply live their quiet life, and through it tellthe stories of their long histories, thencome into the world of hundreds of tiny

medieval churches with striking frescoesand fascinating intertwined ornamentalthree-strand patterned reliefs. From therenowned medieval philosopher, Istrian-born Hermann Dalmatin, the world trav-eller and explorer, Marco Polo, who wasborn on Korula, to Julije Klovi, the min-iaturist known as the Croatian Michelan-gelo, Ruer Bokovi, the Dubrovnik-bornand greatest physicist, mathematicianand astronomer of his time, and all theway to Nikola Tesla, one of the most bril-liant inventors the world has ever seenand who was born in Lika, this is a land

which rightly enjoys the reputation of be-ing not only a place of great history butalso of great people.

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CROATIA.HISTORY, CULTURE. 09

[ 1.Pula 2.Hvar 3.Osijek ]

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The wonder of vivid diversities.10

[ 1.Rovinj 2.akovo 3.Dubrovnik 4.Zavrje 5.Osijek ]

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e they the teeming Mediterraneancentres pulsating with life, or tran-

quil little places of medieval origin thatgrew in the shade of the green hills andmountains of Central Croatia, or be theyrising from the golden plains of the Pan-nonian wheat country of Slavonia, Croa-tian towns have always been treasuretroves of history and culture.

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f you really want to get to know thetowns of this country in the full glory

of their diversity, start with those on thecoast, passionately dedicated to the joysof living, and then turn your attentiontoward the more sedate and peacefulcentres in the hinterland. Whether youstart with Dubrovnik, or DiocletiansSplit, or Kreimirs ibenik, Zadar, Rijekaor Pula - the mythical sanctuary of theArgonauts - or indeed the capital Zagreb,the Baroque beauty of Varadin, Osijekand proud Vukovar in the easternmostpart of the country, an ordinary walkthrough their streets will turn into amagical journey through fascinatingperiods of history.

CROATIA.CITIES. 11

heir creation based on a flawlessvision of better life, nourished by

landscapes of vineyards, olive grovesand wheat fields, they seem to havedescended straight from a painting.Just like people, they experienced hap-py and less happy periods; some havebeen preserved and take pride in theircontinuity over a few thousand years,and have in their prime grown into truemetropolises, while others were sweptaway by the maelstrom of history andtransformed into romantic stage sets in

which the sensitive souls of today readthe records of times gone by.

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ashed by the precious salt watersof the Adriatic, roused by the in-

toxicating fragrances of pines, laven-der and sage, caressed by the sun andgentle breezes, Croatias shores are thereal hidden garden of Mediterraneanbeauty. Adorned by a string of over athousand heavenly islands and isletswhich enhance the noble feature ofher sea, these shores are the cleanest,

most gentle beaches in the Mediterra-nean. If you sail the Adriatic, enjoyingthe lovely vistas from the open sea, orif you are immersed in the crystal clearwaters of some romantic cove and warmrocks, or if you are resting your eyes onthe contours of the is lands merged intothe blue expanse, you will discover whythese shores seem to be a supreme di-vine creation.

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rom the Arcadian greenery of theBrijuni archipelago in the north, the

epic of the Kvarner Bay, with fragrantCres and Loinj, the golden island of Krk,magical Rab, the small sandy island ofSusak, bora-whipped Pag, and pearl-like Kornati, through the beauty of theislands of Bra, Hvar, Vis, and Korula,all of which defy description, to the is-

land of Mljet and the Elafiti Archipelagonear Dubrovnik in the very south, gosail the calm waters of the Adriatic andget to know the unique Croatian coast.Welcome to the endless beauty of theMediterranean as it once was!

Charm

of the trueMediterranean.

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CROATIA. COAST, ISLANDS. 13

[ 1.Bol(Bra) 2.Pore3.Split 4. Brseine 5.Dugi otok 6.Kornati ]


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o you like an active holiday? Do youlove sailing and diving, and prefer

cycling to sightseeing tours? Do you loveclimbing mountains and reaching theirpeaks and are no stranger to casting offfrom those peaks on the wings of a para-glider? If so, Croatia is the place for you!

The incredible sea landscape, lovely in-dented coastline, coves, beaches shel-tered by pine woods, and small and per-fect coastal towns and villages scattered

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Natural stress relief.

along the coast more than a thousandof islands captivate with their singularcharacter. Whether you are sailing alongthose shores, or diving in the blue wa-ters, the world before you will includea wealth of flora and fauna, traces ofcenturies gone by - from ancient am-phorae to sunken galleys, and ships thatmet their end in the whirlwind of twoWorld Wars. You will discover that theCroatian coast is a paradise for yachts-men and divers. The preserved naturalenvironment is just as ideal a destina-tion for those who love walking, hiking,mountaineering and camping. In short, itis the place for those who seek a holidaywhere they can truly become one with

nature. There is cycling, riding and nu-merous trails and tours which will takeyou in different directions in a rhythmthat suits you. Finally, for adrenalin ad-dicts, rafting, parachuting, or paraglid-ing on the rapids and rivers from CentralCroatia to Dalmatia and the mountainsfrom the heights of Biokovo mountainon the mainland, to Vidova Gora on theisland of Bra will reveal a country ofexceptional challenges.

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[ 1.Pula 2.River Cetina 3.Istra ]

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CROATIA. ACTIVE HOLIDAY. 15

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Where dreamscome true.16

[ Porer (Pula) ]


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Istria.

Istria.he heart-shaped peninsula reaching deep into the clear blue waters of the AdriaticSea is a hidden garden of beauty which opens the door to the sunny and warm Medi-

terranean. Come and travel through it without hesitation, and the holiday of your dreamswill become reality.Multicultural and hospitable, this is an area where wide-ranging diversities have cometogether to form a happy union. Istrias crystal clear sea, clean shores and ports, its lively

fishing boats and teeming narrow stone streets exude the true charm of the Mediterranean.Small, picturesque medieval towns perched on the peaks of its hills emanate the peaceand gentleness of landscapes that irresistibly evoke the most beautiful parts of Tuscanyor Provence.

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[ 1.2.Rovinj 3.6.Motovun 4.Novigrad 5.Gronjan 7.Labin ]

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hereas the coastlines of Pula,Rovinj, Vrsar, Pore, Novigrad or

Umag bring to mind heritage and an-tiquity and conjure up images of Venice,in the central part of Istria the spirit ofCentral Europe is instantly discernible.In other words, Istria offers more thanjust the sea, sunbathed shores, romanticcoves and tiny ports! She beckons youto follow the fairyland paths leading

to the small medieval towns crowningher hilly landscape. Climb up to anyone of them. Be it Motovun, Gronjan,Zavrje, Oprtalj or, indeed, the smallesttown in the world, Hum, A walk throughtheir narrow, stone-paved streets willbecome a magical journey through ahistory that is quite unique. Follow thatspecial path, from the massive towngate to a bench on the town loggia,and then on to the church on the mainsquare and the bell tower, a view from

Istria.

WExplore a land oftrue contrasts,where the blueand the greenwill inspire

your soul

which Istria will, for a brief moment,shine forth from a different panorama.Although they seem to be very similar,each of these tiny medieval towns is aquite individual entity. So, be curious!Peek into doorways, discover the coatsof arms, enter churches and find rest inthe cool and quietude of the chapels.Here, you will come to understand thepopular legends about diligent fairies

who spend the nights building andrebuilding the walls, and also abouttrigas - bad witches who are alwaysstirring up trouble. If you should meetanybody in your wanderings, feel free tostop and ask them whatever you wish.The people here are kindly and hospi-table, and they will gladly tell you thestory of Istria, a land in which even thegreatest diversities live in peace andharmony, taking pride in their open-ness.

EXPLORE

GRONJAN, MOTOVUN- architecture, gal-leries, film and music events in fairy tale-liketowns of Istria

LABIN- medieval town the streets of whichprovide a stage for a variety of events

Wine Roads and Olive Oil Roads

Cycling trails - over 100 organized trails withan overall length of over 3,200 km

TOURISM PLUS

AGROTOURISM - the more than 250households engaged in agrotourism offeran unforgettable atmosphere of a traditionalway of life

VILLAS- over 100 luxury villas available fora dream holiday, both in the unspoilt nature

of Central Istria and on the coast

ISTRIA. 19

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NOVIGRAD

PORE

VRSAR

ROVINJ

BRIJUNI

GRONJAN

MOTOVUN

PAZIN

LABIN

PULA

RABAC


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NATIONAL PARKS

BRIJUNI NATIONAL PARK- an exception-ally rich cultural and historical heritage onthis 14 isle archipelago. A former residenceof President Tito, it offers beautiful beaches,remains from ancient times, a Zoo Safaripark, golf course and top-quality gastro-nomic offer

NATURE

DONJI LOWER KAMENJAKand theMEDULIN ARCHIPELAGO- significantlandscapeGORNJI UPPER KAMENJAK- signifi-cant landscapePALUD- special ornithological reserveTHE BAY OF LIM- special nature reserve -

maritime nature reserveTHE MOTOVUN WOODS- special forestvegetation nature reserveTHE VEGETATION OF ISTRIA- significantlandscape

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stria truly is terra magica; blessedwith unspoiled nature, the crown

jewel of which are the Brijuni islands,one of the most beautiful archipela-gos in the Mediterranean with rareplant and animal species. This is aland whose long and rich history canbe read literally from dinosaur foot-prints. Fortified by the northerly boraand invigorated by the mistral, fra-grance imbued with Spanish broom,sage and lavender, drowsy from stonepines, thyme and immortelle, with aclimate that makes for a five monthlong swimming season, Istria is in-deed the ideal tourist destination.

Istria.

Discoverhiddentreasuresof breath-takinghistory andunspoilednature

CULTURAL HERITAGE

AMPHITHEATRE(Pula) - magnicent monument of Antiquitydating from the 1stcentury, once the arena where gladiators andlions fought, today a unique stage for festivals and concertsBASILICA OF ST. EUPHRASIUS(Pore) - complex of earlyByzantine architecture and art dating from the 6thcentury, includedin the UNESCO List of World Cultural HeritageCHURCH OF ST. EUPHEMIA(Rovinj) - an imposing creationof Baroque architecture and art with a rich collection of works of

art and the sarcophagus of the patron saint of the cityDANCE MACABRE(Beram) - a small church with unique frescoesdating from the 14thcenturyDVIGRAD- remains of a medieval townTWOPART SINGING IN THE ISTRIAN SCALE- UNESCORepresentative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

GASTRONOMY

f course, dont forget to taste Istria!From delicacies of the sea to delec-

table truffles, the liquid gold of the localMalvasia, the aromatic Muscat of Momjan,or the ruby-red Teran that once fortifiedCasanova himself, your palate will com-bine these divine pleasures into a fusionof unforgettable Is trian experiences. So,rather than dreaming of the holiday of yourlife - wake up in Istria!

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tep into this vibrant hub of civilisa-tions whose cultural arboretum has

been jealously nurtured since the timesof the Histri, the Celts and the Romans,through the Slavonic peoples and theVenetians, all the way to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and you will soonlearn why Istria is so special. To begin,remember the Legend of the Argonauts.In vain pursuit of Jason and the stolenGolden Fleece, having arrived to theshores of Istria, the people of Colchisdecided not to return to their home.There is something in her magic, like

in no other place in the Mediterranean.Here you will find a town which, justlike Rome, lies on seven hills and boastsa famous amphitheatre. On one of thosehills, a weary Hungarian king f elt thedesire to exchange his resplendentrobes for the modest robe of a monk,and die in a state of sanctity, while theimmortal Dante, inspired by the viewfrom a panoramic viewpoint, wrote theverses of his masterpiece, The DivineComedy. The name of this town is Pula,Istrias largest urban centre. It is thebeating heart of the peninsula, with

3000 years of history behind it and aunique place in the Mediterranean. Pulaboasts a diverse, impressive culturalheritage. Just like the peninsula uponwhich it rose, it is not without reasonthat it carries a feminine name. Modestbut fascinating, Pula and I stria havelong been known as enchantresses witha hundred faces, faces that have beenseducing visitors for thousands of years.Whoever strays once into their invisibleweb, and experiences but a morsel ofthe joy they can give, always wishes toreturn again, and again!

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O ISTRIA. 21

[ 1.8.11.16.Rovin j 2.Savudrija 3.Umag 4.Vrsar 5.6.7.10.Pula 9.Pore 12.13.Brijuni 14.Rt Kamenjak 15.Lim 17.Beram ] ]

Truffl es, Istrianprosciutto ham, oliveoil, sh and seafoodspecialties, meat andsh dishes preparedunder the bell(peka), omelette

with asparagus, homemade fui pasta withgame goulash, biskabrandy, Istrian soup, lo-cal wines Teran, Refok,Istrian Malvasia

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OPATIJA RIJEKA DELNICE

CRIKVENICA

CRES

KRK

LOINJ

RAB

LOVRAN

NOVI VINODOLSKI

Kvarner.

[ 1.Opatija 2.Lovran 3.Lubenice ]

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KVARNER. 23

Where true diversitiescome together.

erhaps you imagine an id eal holiday, one where you canset off from the shore towards sunny islands, and then sail

back to seek the peace and quiet of a mountain peak. In theprocess you dream of a sun-bathed Riviera that can, should you

so wish, be replaced within a span of 10 km by ascetic peaceand fresh mountain air where you are in the company of eagles,wolves and bears, and where your lungs are filled w ith forestscented air. Discover Kvarner and Gorski Kotar - areas that areso different, but so close.

PKvarner.


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o begin with, walk the wonderfulOpatija Riviera and enjoy its 12 km

long promenade by the sea. Here, thefoundations of tourism were laid wayback in 1844, when a wheat merchant

with vision decided to build the firsthotel in Opatija, the famous Villa An-giolina. It was not long before the townbecame one of the most elite summerresorts of the Austro-Hungarian Em-pire, one that attracted many famousnames - from members of the imperialfamily, to artists, scientists and politi-cians. Then, allow the elegant villas and

TSet offfrom the

OpatijaRiviera...

CULTURAL HERITAGE

SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF TRSAT- the oldest Marian sanctuaryin Croatia, with a Franciscan monasteryTOWN OF RAB- medieval churches and aristocratic palacesTHE BAKA PLAQUE(Baanska ploa, island of Krk) - the largestCroatian written monument in old Glagolitic script, dating from the12thcenturyZRINSKI CASTLE(abar)IVAN GORAN KOVAI MUSEUM, and the amphitheatre(Lukovdol)

VRBOVSKO- traditional architectureTWOPART SINGING IN HRVATSKO PRIMORJE- UNESCORepresentative List of Intangible Cultural HeritageANNUAL CARNIVAL BELL RINGERS PAGEANT FROM THEKASTAV AREA- UNESCO Representative List of Intangible CulturalHeritage

EXPLORE

OPATIJA RIVIER A- a 12 km long promenade alongthe seaISLAND OF KOLJUN- spiritual and vegetationparadise - park woodLUBENICE(island of Cres) - stone-built settlement,378 metres ASLOSOR- town with a turbulent history and lovelymusical eveningsDOLPHIN WATCHING: Cres-Loinj aquatoriumADVENTURE SPORTS: windsurng, parachuting,paragliding, car racing, wakeboarding, rafting,kayaking, cycling, diving, sailing

[ 1.2.3.Opatija 4.5.6.7.8.Rijeka ]

hotels, lush gardens and parks to leadyou towards Rijeka, the metropolis ofthe littoral and today the largest trad-ing and maritime centre of the north-ern Adriatic. Sitting under the watchful

eye of the magnificent fortification ofTrsat, with the oldest Marian sanctuaryin Croatia, together with a Franciscanmonastery, St. Vitus Cathedral and thefamous votive chapel, Rijeka is a fasci-nating city, not just as a maritime centrebut also one of enviable cultural andartistic life, and home to the greatestcarnival event in Croatia.

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f you are yearning for the silence of thewide blue expanse and the charm of the

islands, then set off into the Kvarner Bay,ringed by the mythical Absyrthian islandsfrom the legend of the Argonauts: Rab, Krk,Cres and Loinj. Apart from enjoying theepic sights of bora-bleached cliffs, coves

and inlets reaching deep into the sea,small sunbathed towns with stone-builthouses, abandon yourself to the intoxicat-ing fragrances of lavender, sage, myrtle

Epic images amid the blue of the seaand umbrella pines, and the 2,700 uniqueplant species. These islands will also revealthemselves as the habitat of an enviablenumber of animal species. Strolling throughthe towns of Loinj, Osor on the island ofCres, or Vrbnik on Krk, will open up theirnooks and crannies, revealing numerous

remains of a rich heritage, like the famousBaka Plaque - a car ved stone monumentof the Croatian language dating from theyear 1100. A climb to the peaks of cliffs will

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NATURE

UKA- Nature ParkVELA DRAGA- geomorphological naturalphenomenonANGIOLINA PARKand ST. JACOB(Opatija) - park architecture monumentsLOPAR(island of Rab) - signicant land-scape, stunning 1,500 m long sandy beach

DUNDO(island of Rab) - special forestvegetation nature reserveFOJIKAPODPREDOICA (island ofCres) - special ornithological nature reserveSOURCE OF THE KUPA RIVER(abar) -natural phenomenonFUINE- mountain lakes and caves

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allow you to observe the habitat of rare grif-fons, and in the waters beneath them enjoythe magical play of dolphins and Mediter-ranean monk seals. All those seeking cleanair with special medicinal properties shouldcontinue their journey in the direction of theCrikvenica-Vinodol Riviera which, in 1906,

was offi cially declared a climatic health re-sort, and where the Therapia Hotel - one ofthe most beautiful hotel buildings along theentire Croatian coast - was built in 1895.

NATIONAL PARKS

RISNJAK- Rich and diverse animal and plantworld, karstic phenomena

ZELENI VIR- special geomorphologicreserve

JAPL EN KI V RH - special geomorphologicreserveBIJELE STIJENE(white rocks) and SAMARSKE STIJENE(samar rocks) (Mrkopalj) -strict nature reserve Velebit - Nature Park

[ 1.7.9.11.13. Krk 2.Cres 3.Osor 4.5.12. Rab 6.Baka(Krk) 8.Brse 10.Loinj 14.Gorski kotar 15.Crikvenica ]


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TOURISM PLUS

Health tourism: Opatija, Crikvenica (thalassothera-py), Lovran (treatment of bone diseases), Wellness,Congress TourismSkiing: Croatian Olympic Centre, Bjelolasica, PlatakHunting, shing, rafting, canoeing, paragliding,riding

GASTRONOMY

Kvarner prawn, urlice: homemade pasta (island ofKrk), Cres lamb, specialties made from cherries, aspara-gus and sweet chestnuts (Lovran), indigenous wines:Vrbnika lahtina (Krk) and Trojiina (island of Susak),Island of Rab cake, game, frogs, mushrooms, freshwatersh, mountain liqueurs, plum and pear brandies

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quite special experience awaitsyou on the steep hills of the Uka

Mountain, overshadowing Istria and thewestern part of Kvarner, especially in itsnature parks. Lovely green landscapesof exceptional ecological value with ahigh concentration of protected spe-

cies, rising only about a dozen metresfrom the sea are true oases of peaceand tranquillity which are becoming

AOases of peace and silence by the sea

an increasingly popular destination ofCroatian winter tourism. If you starttravelling northward, you will get tothe Risnjak National Park near Delniceand numerous reserves of diverse andrich indigenous flora and endangeredanimal species, spread across the green

mountains. All are idyllic holiday loca-tions for those seeking to truly becomeone with nature.

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Where Croatian culturebegins.

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Dalmacija.

Zadar.

Dalmatia. Zadar.almatias centre is 3000-year-old Zadar, a city with the largest researched Ro-

man forum on the Croatian side of the Adriatic and unforgettable Romanesquechurches like St. Donatus, St. Anastasia and St. Chrisogonus. Nearby Nin (the oldestCroatian royal city) boasts the smallest cathedral in the world (the Church of theHoly Cross measures but 36 paces!). The region of Zadar tells the story of the sourcesof Croatian cultural heritage better than any book.

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DALMATIA. ZADAR. 29

Dalmat

ia.Zadar.

[ 1.Zadar 2.Pag ]

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Discover the3000 yearsof Zadarsfascinatinghistory

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NATIONAL PARKS

PAKLENICA NATIONAL PARK- uniquecomplex of canyons and a wealth of floraand fauna

CULTURAL HERITAGE

ST. DONATUS CHURCH(Zadar) -symbol of the city of ZadarCHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS(Nin) - the smallest cathedral in theworldLACEMAKING ON PAG- UNESCORepresentative List of IntangibleCultural Heritage

NIJEMO KOLO, silent circle dance ofthe Dalmatian hinterland - UNESCORepresentative List of IntangibleCultural HeritageKLAPA MULTIPART SINGING OFDALMATIA- UNESCO RepresentativeList of Intangible Cultural Heritage

s the centuries-long centre of theIllyrian tribe of Liburni, and the

capital of Dalmatia for millennia, Zadaris a place whose rich spiritual and ma-terial culture is best testified to by itswalls and numerous sacral monuments,crowned by the symbol of the city: the9thcentury Church of St. Donatus, themost monumental Croatian buildingof the early Middle Ages. Enjoying theprotection of as many as four patronsaints - Zoilus, Simon, Chrisogonusand Anastasia - Zadar takes pride not

A only in its abundant archaeologicaland monumental treasures, jealouslyguarded down the centuries, but alsoin the fact that the foundations of theoldest university in the Land were laidhere in 1396. Replete with rich archives,libraries and outstanding treasuries ofsacral music, Zadar is also the city inwhich the first Croatian novel was writ-ten, and where the first newspapers inthe Croatian language were printed.

NATURE

SALJSKO POLJE(Dugi otok) - significantlandscape

RIVER ZRMANJA CANYON- significantlandscapeTELAICA- Nature Park, with the safest,most beautiful and largest natural port on theAdriaticVRANSKO JEZERO(Lake Vrana) - Nature ParkVELEBIT- Nature Park

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4

Pag cheese, salt from Pagand Nin, prosciutto ham

from Posedarje, Ninskiokol, Maraschino li-queur, Ros of Benkovac

GASTRONOMY

DALMATIA. ZADAR. 31

Dalm

atia.Zadar.

lthough it may seem pretentiousto describe the Zadar region as an

area of divine inspiration, it is indeeda land of singular natural beauty. Thisclaim is best borne out by its numer-ous national parks. With its mountains,lakes and waterfalls, its canyons, caves,karstic holes and the blue expanse of theopen sea embraced by a string of lovelyislands full of small welcoming ports andromantic beaches, it is easier to paintthis part of the world by the brush than

A

A land thatinspiredthe gods

by words. Without forgetting the soundof the sea organ - the architectural won-der of the Zadar waterfront from which,as Alfred Hitchcock once said, one canwatch the most beautiful sunset in theworld. With a slice of Pag cheese and aglass of the famous Maraschino, a localliqueur made from the native Maraskasour cherry, in your hand, you can en-joy all the blessings of this area and the

fruits of this land of matchless, divineinspiration.

EXPLORE

PAG- architecture of the town, production ofPag LaceISLANDS OF UGLJAN AND PAMAN- archi-tecture of stone-built houses

TOURISM PLUS

Cycling trails, hunting,riding

1

[ 1.3.Zadar 2.4.5.Pag 6.Nin 7.8.9.Ugljan 10.Dugi otok ]

3

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ZADAR

NIN

PAG

DUGI OTOK


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Where pearlsare easy tofi

nd.

Dalmatia.ibenik. et amid the wild beauty of white karstic rockand the azure sea, the ibenik aquatoriumis a yachting paradise, boasting as many as 240isles and reefs, each of which holds an interest-ing feature or two. If you want to meet the best

known coral hunters in the Adriatic, set sail forZlarin. If you wish to see the centre of sea spongeharvesting, then Krapanj is your destination. Onthe other hand, if you seek an experience like noother, then venture into the open sea and discoverthe Kornati Archipelago.

S

32

[ 1.Kornati 2.ibenik ]

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Dalmatia.

ibenik.

he gods wanted to set a crown upon their work, so on the last day, out of tears,stars and the breath of the sea, they created the Kornati. So wrote George Bernard

Shaw when reminiscing about this breathtakingly beautiful archipelago. Talking about thisincomparable creation of nature, the largest group of islands in the Mediterranean, it sufficesto say that the number of these stellar tears petrified in the sea equals the number of days

in a year. Here, the saying an island for each day of the year really does apply, and of the365 strikingly beautiful isles, 150 form a quite special entity: the Kornati National Park. Thesight of the lace-like pattern of island cliffs, bleached by the noble salt of the Adriatic andlashed by the fragrance saturated bora, plummeting into the sea, is one that has no equalanywhere else in the world. At the same time, the mellow, tiny ports and hidden beachesare a true paradise for modern day Robinsons seeking unspoiled nature.

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DALMATIA.IBENIK. 33

2

IBENIK

KNIN

PRIMOTEN

VODICEKORNATI


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f you follow the fairy tale-like paths ofthe karstic empire of the Krka River to

the sea, you are on the path to openingthe door to the most protected naturalharbour in the central Adriatic and tothe proud city of King Kreimir: ibenik.Along this green route, abounding withthe remains of medieval settlements, a

wonderful place which provides a habitatfor over 222 species of bird and whichboasts the only falconry centre in Croatia,beautiful Krka spills her cool waters overseven waterfalls. Between the two most

I

From the spectacular

falls of the RiverKrka to ibenik,Kreimirs city

beautiful, Roki slap and Skradinski buk,human hands have enhanced nature withtwo famous buildings: the Orthodox Chris-tian monastery of The Holy Archangel,and Visovac monastery. Like the mythicalAvalon, unparalleled in its location on atiny isle set in the middle of the emeraldgreen lake formed by the River Krka, Viso-

vac Franciscan monastery houses a valu-able library, works of art and numerousprecious items, among which is the swordthat once belonged to a famous warrior.

34

NATIONAL PARKS

KORNATI NATIONAL PARK - the mostintricately indented archipelago in theMediterraneanKRKA NATIONAL PARK- natural and karsticphenomena

CULTURAL HERITAGE

ST. JACOBS CATHEDRAL(ibenik) - Renaissancecathedral dating from the 15 thand 16thcenturies(included in the UNESCO World Heritage List)BRIBIRSKA GLAVICA ARCHAEOLOGICAL LOCALITY- dating from the 16thand 17thcenturiesFORTRESS ON SPAS MOUNTAIN(Knin) - militaryfortification dating from the 9thcenturyOJKANJE SINGING- List of Intangible Cultural

Heritage in Need of Urgent SafeguardingNIJEMO KOLO, silent circle dance of the Dalma-tian hinterland - UNESCO Representative List ofIntangible Cultural HeritageKLAPA MULTIPART SINGING OF DALMATIA-UNESCO Representative List of Intangible CulturalHeritage

NATURE

ISLAND OF KRAPANJ - the lowest islandin Croatia


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[ 1.3.7.8.ibenik 2.Krka 4.Primoten 5.Visovac 6.Kornati ]

4

8EXPLORE

IBENIK - St. Michael, St. John,ubievac and St. NicholasFortressesISLAND OF VISOVAC- Francis-can Monastery

GASTRONOMY

Drni prosciutto ham, Babi redwine (Primoten), Skradin cake

DALMATIA.IBENIK. 35

irst mentioned in 1066 in documentsissued by King Petar Kreimir (henceits name: Kreimirs town), ibenik wasfounded over 1000 years ago. Take astroll through its streets, alleyways andsquares and some of the most preciousworks of art in Dalmatia will appear rightbefore you. Incidentally, if you are thereat the right time in summer, those samestreets, alleyways and squares become

Amazing culturalheritage of amillenia old city

t the end, taste the ibenik areacuisine, particularly the famous

mussels harvested where the River Krkameets the Adriatic Sea, washed downwith a sip or two of Babi from the nearbyvineyards of Primoten. Their beauty, un-usual geographical location, the sparsesoil in which they grow, despite the bestefforts of the bora, have made them amonument to the hard work of the dili-gent hands of the people of this area. Theimage of those vineyards displayed in the

vestibule of the United Nations buildingtells its story in a hundred languages.

Discover andsavour the magicof Dalmatian

cuisine

stages for the only International Chil-drens Festival in the world, for the Even-ing of Dalmatian Chanson, and for thecolourful (ibenik) Medieval Fair.Standing proud with its fortificationsand towers, ibenik, the birthplace ofFaust Vrani (inventor of the parachute)is best known for its largest and most

precious sacral monument, the Gothic-Renaissance cathedral of St. Jacob (15thand 16thcentury) whose dome of whitestone dominates the city. Its construc-tion took more than a century. It isconstructed solely of stone from theislands of Bra and Korula. The originalmethod of its construction: using largeblocks and slabs of stone, has earned ita place on the UNESCO World Heritage

List. Raise your eyes to this audaciousedifice, unique in the history of Europeanarchitecture. While admiring the innova-tions of the local master builder, GeorgiusDalmaticus, try to imagine this: it is the15 thcentury, there is no sophisticatedtechnology, let alone modern day cranesand hoists. What you are standing be-

neath is a monumental barrel-vault anda dome that contains no wood or brick,only clean blocks of stone, each weighingseveral tons, fitted into grooves carved instone ribs! Impressive, you must admit. Ifyou also take time to wander around thesacristy, which lies like a crypt beneaththe cathedral, and view the elegantthree-leaved facade and the famousfrieze of 88 heads encircling the outer

Dalmatia.

ibenik.

F

A

TOURISM PLUS

RAFTING(River Krka), BUNGIEJUM PIN G(ibenik bridge), fish-ing, sailing

walls of the cathedral apse, you will thenunderstand why St. Jacobs cathedral isso special. It rightfully carries the appel-lation of the most beautiful cathedral in

Dalmatia and is the most striking sacralbuilding in Croatia.


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36

1

2 3

Wherekingdomis

not only theword for nature.

Dalmatia. Split.

hen, in the year 305, the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruled theentire world at that time, decided to build his leisure time abode - in

which he intended to spend the rest of his life - he had no doubt as to exactlywhere build to it. In the ver y heart of Dalmatia, in the bay of Aspalathos(Split), well protected from the sea by the islands of the Split archipelago,and defended on its landward side by high mountains, Diocletian createda special point on the map of the Adriatic: the future city of Split.

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[ 1.Bol(Bra) 2.3.4.Split 5.Dubovica(Hvar) 6.Sinj ]

4 5 6

Dalmatia.Split.

DALMATIA. SPLIT. 37

A Roman Em-perors mag-nicent city

mere 6 km from cos-mopolitan Salona, then

the centre of the province ofDalmatia which boasted upto 60,000 inhabitants, Splitwas protected by strongwalls and numerous fortresses, withmany temples, palaces and thermalspas, which today make up the greatestcomplex of monuments in Croatia dating

from Antiquity. The residence Diocletianbuilt for himself was beyond compari-son in his time. Although the Palacehas lost many of its original featuresover the past 17 centuries, it has beenenriched by subsequent architectural

and artistic interven-tions. Among them,somewhat ironically,a Catholic cathedral,or rather that part ofit which rose out of

the magnificent mausoleum of the lastpagan Roman emperor. The cathedral isdedicated to St. Domnius, a Christianmartyred by the very same Diocletian.The most striking feature of the cathe-dral is its famous walnut door frameconstructed in 1214, and carved by Mas-ter Carver Andrija Buvina. Successfullywithstanding times thievish progress,deeply embedded into the texture of

the city at its densely populated his-torical heart, full of enchanting stonepalaces, Diocletians residence today isa place of cellars that r ing with song.One can feast here on local specialties,from delicacies of the sea to lamb andthe arambaii of Sinj, washed downwith the finest of red wines. Concealedwithin its embrace is what locals liketo call the smallest street in the world,

which carries a rather curious name: Letme p ass. Altogether, this enchanting,unique heart of Split has rightly beendeclared a monument of zero categoryand is included in the UNESCO WorldHeritage List.

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wash in the warm charm ofthe Mediterranean, Split is

a city with rich history, not onlywithin the walls of its museums,palaces and churches, but in thecity itself. Its heritage speaksloudest and has done so since thetimes of Antiquity, on the Peri-style and from its stone houses,while the true Mediterraneanspirit lives in the vibrant cellars,in the murmur at street corners,in the squares and alleyways andin the beauty of the waterfront.If you follow the weave of thesewhite, stone-paved streets tothe edge of the sea which gen-

tly rocks the moored boats, youwill discover a city in which thefamous Roman emperor left theimperial mark of his presenceon every corner, together withthe saint he decided to execute.Another special aspect of thiscity are the songs, and the suc-cesses achieved by its athletes- including a Wimbledon win-ner - numerous Olympic cham-pions and NBA stars and, theysay, the most beautiful womenin the world. If you harbour anydoubts as to the latter, just takea stroll along the Split water-front some time

A CULTURAL HERITAGEDIOCLETIANS PALACE(Split)- included in the UNESCO List ofWorld HeritageOLD CITY NUCLEUS (Trogir) - in-cluded in the UNESCO List of WorldHeritageANCIENT CITY OF SALONA(So-lin) - capital of the Roman provinceof DalmatiaRENAISSANCE NUCLEUS OFTHE TOWN OF HVAR- St. Ste-phens Cathedral, town loggia witha tower and arsenal with a theatredating from 1612SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OFSINJ

- the largest Marianic sanctu-ary in DalmatiaTHE STARI GRAD PLAIN ONHVAR(UNESCO World heritage List)PROCESSION ZA KRIEN(Following the cross) on the islandof Hvar - UNESCO RepresentativeList of Intangible Cultural Heritage

LACEMAKING ON HVAR- UN-ESCO Representative List of Intan-gible Cultural HeritageSINJSKA ALKA- UNESCO Rep-resentative List of the IntangibleCultural Heritage of HumanityOJKANJE SINGING- List of In-tangible Cultural Heritage in Needof Urgent SafeguardingNIJEMO KOLO, silent circle danceof the Dalmatian hinterland - UN-ESCO Representative List of Intan-gible Cultural HeritageKLAPA MULTIPART SINGINGOF DALMATIA- UNESCO Repre-

sentative List of Intangible CulturalHeritageTHE MEDITERRANEAN DIET ONTHE CROATIAN COAST OF THEMEDITERRANEAN - UNESCORepresentative List of IntangibleCultural Heritage

True charmof the southernMediterranean

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38

[ 1.3.4.7.Split 2.10.Vis 5.Trogir 6.8.9.Hvar ]

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DALMATIA. SPLIT. 39

lthough its central part measuresbut 750 paces - as a certain earnest

historian measured and recorded a fewhundred years ago - Trogir is a superblybalanced small city built of stone, its his-tory rich far beyond its size. Its signi-

cance is recognised by the inclusion of itshistorical core in the UNESCO World Herit-

Discover the artistic treasure trove of a museum-city

A age List. It is not without reason that itis called a museum-city, bearing in mindthe sites it holds: the famous portal ofTrogir cathedral, a work by Master Ra-dovan dating from 1240; the Renaissancecity loggia; the 1000-year-old monastery

of St. Nicholas that houses a relief of Kai-ros - ancient god of the lucky moment,

NATURE

CETINA RIVER- significant landscape, the 105 km long watercourseand the canyon (Omi) will delight fans of rafting and canoeingBIOKOVO NATURE PARK - the highest mountain along the Croatiancoast, with rich flora and faunaZLATNI RAT- significant landscapeISLANDS OF RAVNIK, DONJA BRELA, PAKLENI OTOCI(island ofHvar) - significant landscapesMODRA PILJA AND MEDVIDINA PILJA- caves on the island ofBIEVO- geomorphological natural phenomenonVRANJAA CAVE(Mountain of Mosor) - geomorphological naturalphenomenonCRVENO JEZERO RED LAKEand MODRO JEZERO BLUE LAKE(Imotski) - geomorphological natural phenomenon

TOURISM PLUS

Wine Roads, cycling trails, riding, rafting, paragliding, hunting, fishing

GASTRONOMYDalmatian paticada, luganige sausages, arambaii - beef incabbage (Sinj), flat-bread of Vis, pepper cookies from Hvar, smu-tica - wine with milk (island of Bra), Vugava and Plani wines(island of Hvar)

other Nature has indeed beengenerous to Central Dalmatia,

bequeathing to it a coastline and longpebble beaches shaded by fragrantpine trees and adorning its sea withthe beauty of a string of islands ofexquisite beauty. Immediately abovethe beaches of the famous MakarskaRiviera is the Biokovo massif, still thehabitat of the chamois. Here you canenjoy the rising of the summer sun, witha view that extends all the way to theoutermost islands in the open waters ofthe Adriatic. The largest of the islandsof the Split archipelago is Bra, knownworldwide as the island of stone andwind. Island of stone, because the finestquality stone has been quarried here forcenturies by the highly skilled and hard

working local stone masons. It has been

The blue expanse and nature in complete harmony

M used to build not only the local cathe-drals and other grand edifices, but alsoa number of other prestigious build-ings. Bra is also known as the islandof wind. Nowhere else in the Adriatic,surfers tell us, does such a magnificentlandward breeze blow as in the channelbetween Bra and Hvar, particularly atthe beach known as Zlatni rat, whoseshape actually changes depending onthe direction of the wind and waves.Having been recently placed on the listof the ten most beautiful islands, sunnyHvar is, without competition, numberedamong the most seductive of Dalmatianislands. Boasting the largest island townsquare on both sides of the Adriatic,one of the fir st communal theatres inEurope, built in long gone 1612, the

Arsenal, the famous Tvrdalj Palace

of Petar Hektorovi, and stone-paved,narrow streets, worn smooth and glis-tening in the sun, it is difficult to decidewhether Hvar captivates more with theharmony of its history and art, or withthe beauty of its nature, enhanced with

the intoxicating fragrance of lavender.

dating from the 4thcentury BC. Trogir isa veritable treasure trove of art, as wellas being a stage for young tenors fromall over the world who come here everyyear to engage in competition.

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9

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TROGIR SPLIT

MAKARSKA

HVAR

BRA

BOL

VIS

SINJ

Dalmatia.Split.


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Where wordsare not enough.

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Dalmatia

.Dubrovnik.

DALMATIA. DUBROVNIK. 41

hose who seek paradise on Earthmust come to Dubrovnik, So

wrote George Bernard Shaw, smitten bythe beauty of the city whose untouched,1,940 m long defensive walls - today un-der the protection of UNESCO - girdle ina city which carries the appellation ofthe Pearl of the Adriatic. Sitting at thesouthernmost part of Croatia, harbour-ing centuries of heritage created by thenoble skills of the finest builders and art-ists, Dubrovnik basks in a warm Mediter-ranean climate with groves of lemon,orange and tangerine trees, sumptuous

palms and agaves, adorned by Renais-sance parks and the flowering gardens ofmedieval stone palaces and unobtrusivemonasteries.

Dalmatia.Dubrovnik.

[ Dubrovnik ]

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A city that leaves nobody unmovednce upon a time, Dubrovnik wasone of the smallest but most im-

portant merchant states in the Mediter-ranean. It had consular offices in morethan 80 cities. Its fleet of almost 700merchant ships rivaled that of Venice.Under the heavenly patronage of St.Blasius and crowned by the famous Lib-ertas banner flying from a high stonepillar guarded by its legendary knightOrlando, Dubrovnik is a city whose storyis best told by the city itself. Walk alongits main street, Stradun, whose stonepavement has been polished smooth byfeet that have walked it for hundredsof years. The citys glorious walls, for-

tresses and bastions offer a view of themagical Elaphite islands - ipan, Lopudand Koloep, scattered like pearls in theazure of the sea. Named Elaphite islandsafter the Latin word Elaphos for deer,this archipelago, which used to be thehabitat of this noble wild game, concen-trates all the qualities of the untouchedMediterranean, featuring subtropicalvegetation, expansive pine tree forestsand olive groves, all surrounded byamazing sandy beaches. From the Ono-frio Fountain to the City bell tower, thefiligree-like Gothic and Renaissance fa-cades of the Sponza Palace and the DucalPalace, the Baroque church of St. Blasius,

O

42

CULTURAL HERITAGE

THE OLD NUCLEUS OF DUBROVNIK- a city ofunique history under the UNESCO protection, andone of the most attractive and best known cities inthe MediterraneanNARONA- ancient city locality now in the villageof Vid, near MetkoviCITY WALLS (Ston) 14thcentury fortification

system, outstanding for its length of 5.5 kmKORULA MARCO POLOS CITY- one of thebest preserved medieval cities in the MediterraneanCAVTAT, THE O LD NUCLEUS - touristic and culturalcentre of Konavle: Rai family mausoleum, birthhouse of the painter Vlaho Bukovac, Ducal Palace,Sokol Fortress

THE FESTIVITY OF SAINT BLAISE -UNESCO Representative List of IntangibleCultural HeritageKLAPA MULTIPART SINGING OF DALMATIA - UNESCO Representative List ofIntangible Cultural Heritage

the Cathedral of the Assumption of OurLady, or St. Ignatius and the Jesuit Col-lege, every step in this town will be anexperience par excellence. Incidentally,should you happen to be here in summer,when Dubrovnik shines with a specialglow and when the traditional SummerFestival turns the entire old town into anenchanting setting for this quite uniquestage in the world, you will be able tolisten to the immortal monologue of theunfortunate Danish prince ringing fromthe nearby Lovrijenac Fortress perchedatop a 37 metre high cliff. Spoken fromthat venue, Hamlets immortal words Tobe or not to be ring particularly loud.


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EXPLORE

MINETA TOWER, LOVRIJENAC TOWER,THE SPONZA PALACE(Dubrovnik)

GOTHIC AND GOTHICRENAISSANCESUMMER RESIDENCES(from Peljeac toKonavle)

FRANCISCAN MONASTERY(Orebi)DUCAL PALACE(Luka ipanska)Franciscan Monastery (Roat)


Dalmat

ia.Dubrovnik.

[ Dubrovnik ]

DUBROVNIK

CAVTAT

KORULA

PELJEAC

MLJETLASTOVO


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NATIONAL PARKS

MLJET NATIONAL PARK- rich inMediterranean vegetation and culturalheritage (12thcentury Benedictinemonastery on t he islet in Veliko Jezero(Great Lake))

NATURE

THE TRSTENO ARBORETUM- park architecturemonumentTHE NERETVE DELTA- special ichthyological -ornithological nature reserveTHE BAY OF MALI STON - special nature reserve- maritime nature reserveTHE ISLET OF LOKRUM- special forest vegeta-

tion nature reserveVELA SPILJA(the great cave, Vela Luka) - geomorphologic n aturalphenomenonKOJE(the village of rnovo on the island of Korula) - special forestvegetation nature reserveKONAVOSKI DVORI (the courts of Konavle) (Konavle) - signicant landscapeLASTOVO ARCHIPELAGO- Nature Park

Wine Roads, hiking tracks, cycling trails,wellness

TOURISM PLUS

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GASTRONOMY

Lamb and veal done under t he bell peka, eel orfrog brodetto stew (The Neretva valley), salt, oys-ters and mussels of Ston, kontonjata, mantalaand arancina cakes (Konavle), tangerines andlemons, Dinga and Postup red wines (Peljeeac,Posip and Grk white wines (Korula, Malviasia ofDubrovnik (Konavle)

Explore thefascinatinghistory of theislands

bout the time that Marco Polo setsail for terra incognita, his home-

town began to develop into a kind ofurban sculpture built of stone withregular lines. That sculpture remainswell preserved to this day. The streets ofKorula were carefully laid out by a localbuilder who was also an ingenious townplanner. The streets are based on a sh-bone pattern and are a true blessing inthe summer. Although they bask in thegolden glow of the sun both morning andafternoon, the heat of the midday sun is

directed around them. If you want to ex-perience the atmosphere of Korula, maythe good winds bring you here in July,

when the city plays host to the Interna-tional Festival of Song and Wine, celebrat-ing the famous traveller, the Festival ofChivalry and the traditional sword dancesperformed in original costumes datingfrom the 16thcentury. The dances depictthe struggle between the white king andthe black king.

nce a part of the Dubrovnik Republic,the Peljeac peninsula and the small

town of Ston, boasting 5.5 km long defen-sive walls, was a strategic point defend-ing the approach to the famous Republic.Nourished by the graces of warm southernAeolus, Peljeac is well known to winelovers as the kingdom of Dinga, the mosthighly regarded Croatian wine. The townof Orebi - renowned centre of maritimeaffairs in the 18thcentury - is a popular sitefor visiting art historians. Full of beautifulstone palaces and villas, whose facadesreect the wealth and life of luxury led

by the families of seafaring men, and

particularly striking for its magnificentgardens containing the most exotic plantsthat mariners brought from all corners ofthe world, Orebi is indeed a place thatwill remain etched in your memory.

f you have ever been inspired by thelegend of Odysseus, held captive onan island by the nymph Calypso and

have wondered what the famous Ogygialooked like, then the island of Mljet is theplace for you.Located in the southernmostpart of Croatia, the island has scenerythat appears only in picture books of theworlds most beautiful fairy tales. Beforeyour eyes you will see a lake in the middleof the island, and in the centre of that,another small island with a monasterydating from the 12thcentury. AlthoughCalypso herself may not be nearby, thescene will capture your heart forever andyou may never want to leave.

A

O

I


5

9

8

Dalmatia.

Dubrovnik.

[ 1.Ston 2.8.11.Mljet 3.4.6.7.Korula 5.Peljeac 9.Plat 10.Elafi ti 12.Lopud ]


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Lika - Karlovac.

elcome to the landscape ofdreams. Before you, beau-

tiful green expanses are laid out,only around 10 km from the sea,in the hinterlands known for theirexceptional ecological value andhigh concentration of protectednature parks, representing trueoases of peace and tranquillity; aCroatian tourist region attracting anever increasing number of visitors.

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[ 1.2.Plitvice ]

GOSPI

OGULIN

KARLOVAC

SENJ

PAG

NOVALJA


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Lika-Karlovac.

A romantic union with nature.

hile in ancient times this wasthe land of the Illyrians (Yapo-

des), today the green and undisturbed,almost mythical nature of Lika offerssanctuary to endangered rare birdspecies, bears and wolves as well asendemic plant species such as the

Degenia velebitica. The epic nature ofLika is also the birthplace of one of thegreatest inventors the world has everseen: Nikola Tesla, whose museum wasopened in Smiljan, his birthplace, onthe 150thanniversary of his birth.

W

LIKA KARLOVAC. 47

Waterfalls of thepast and present

This is also the magical part of thecountry where the most famous, oldestand most visited of the eight nationalparks is situated - the Plitvice Lakes.Most known for its travertine waterfallsand 16 cascading lakes, the image ofwhich is breathtaking, the Plitvice lakesoffer other attractions as well, such asvarious interesting geomorphologicforms, habitat forests and grasslands,flora and fauna and a host of interest-ing tourist programs. The lakes are also

the only natural monument in Croatiato be put on the UNESCO World Heritagelist, back in 1979, among the first onesin the entire world (!). The Plitvice lakesare truly an unmatched masterpiece ofnature.

If you would like to find out more aboutthe legendary outlaws (hajduci), takea tour of the city of Senj and the Nehajfortress, the Renaissance 16thcenturyfortress, today a unique museum de-voted to the Senj pirates.Also, do not miss the opportunity toget to know the island of Pag, with thefamous holiday destination Novaljaand the popular part y beach Zre onits northern shore, which belong to theLika-Senj County (as opposed to the

southern part of the island which be-longs to the Zadar County). Often hailedas the island of stone and salt, Pag is adestination that, with its 20 km pebblestone beaches, represents the crown ofthis region of pronounced contrasts.


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5

THE FORESTS OF DRAGANI (Klek andModru), Velika Kapela and Mala KapelaJASI KOVAC FOR EST PARK(Gospi)CEROVAC CAVES(Graac), a geomorphologi-

cal nature monumentBARA CAVESin RakovicaVRLOVKA CAVEin KamanjRASTOKEin Slunj, a miller settlement situ-ated where the blue-green waters of the riverSlunjica ow into the river Korana. Most of thebuildings were built at the end of the 19 thandbeginning of the 20thcenturyKLEK MOUNTAIN- signicant landscapeTIROVAA- a reserve of forest vegetationwith the most beautiful and preserved juniperforestsCAVE PARK GRABOVAAnear PeruiTHE RIVER LIKA CANYONLUN- the oldest olive groves of this region

NATURE

NATIONAL PARKS

PLITVICE LAKES- do not miss the opportu-nity to visit the national park that is on theUNESCO World Heritage ListNORTHERN VELEBIT, proclaimed a worldbiosphere reserve by UNESCO

CULTURAL HERITAGE

THE SANCTUARY OF MARY OF KRASNO,the biggest Marian sanctuary in LikaTHE SANCTUARY OF MARY OF MIRACLESin Otarije

THE TOWN OF STARI DRENIKnearRakoviceTHE PAULINE MONASTERYKamenskoETHNO GALLERY IN REICA, near KarlovacTHE BIRTHPLACE OF NIKOLA TESLA(Smil-

jan), a contemporary museum built in honourof one of the worlds most famous inventorsTHE TURKISH TOWERin Perui, the lastremaining Turkish tower in Lika from the 15thcenturyTOWNS AND CASTLESlike Dubovac, Ozalj,Bosiljevo, and Franciscan, Pauline and Domini-can monasteries sprung in the greenery of theregions landscapeTHE NEHAJ FORTRESSin Senj, a Renaissancefortress built in the 16thcentury, today a unique

museum devoted to the Senj pirates, UskociTHE FRANKOPAN CASTLEin OgulinTHE ANCIENT KAR LOVAC CITY COREin theshape of a six-pointed starLACEMAKING ON PAG- UNESCO Representa-tive List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

[ 1.Velika Kapela 2.River Dobra 3.River Kupa 4.Senj 5.Zre 6.Pag 7.Karlovac 8.Velebit ]

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uilt after the concept of a truerenaissance ideal city, in the

form of a six-pointed star, Karlovac

is known as the bulwark cit y, resist-ing the attacks of the ancient Turks.With a rich historical heritage, thewaters of four rivers and the forestedhills of Velika Kapela and Mala Ka-pela, the city of Karlovac and its sur-roundings are an ideal destination

B

The Renaissance IdealCity of Karlovac

for fresh water swimming, rowing,fishing, rafting, canoeing, quad rid-ing along the beautiful forest paths,

cycling along the 11 county routesand horseback-riding.

This beautiful pearl of the continent,developed from a medieval fortressintended for the defence of centralEurope from the attacks of the Turks,today is one of the biggest Croatiantransport nodes, which, in spite ofits transit position is becoming anincreasingly popular destination forvisitors searching for various formsof recreation.

Apart from being a well-known hunt-ing destination in the woods fromDragani to Klek and Modru, and adestination for winter sports lovers onthe slopes of Bjelolasica, the KarlovacRegion has a handful of unpreten-tious cultural heritage monuments,from charming ancient towns andcastles, like Dubovac, Ozalj, Ogulin,Bosiljevo, to Franciscan, Pauline andDominican monasteries emergingfrom the greenness of the country-side. Ogulin is certainly a true city of

fairy tales , sprung in the valley of therivers Zagorska Mrenica and Dobra,

Adventure sports: rafting, kayaking, cycling,mountain climbing, photo hunting, hunting,skiing, horseback-ridingSkiing, Croatian Olympic Centre BjelolasicaTourist Centre Petrova gora, Muljava huntinglodge near Vojnii

Lika baked potatoes and lamb under the bellpeka, Ogulin sour cabbage and turnip, Ogulincheese kripavac, plum and pear brandy

EXPLORE

GASTRONOMY

LIKA KARLOVAC. 49

crowned with the Frankopan castleabove the ulin abyss and the giantKlek mountain, known as t he cradle

of Croatian mountain climbing. Thetreasury of tales,- the Klek witches,the name of the ulin abyss, Klek andthe Klek cave, fairy water proves thestrong impact of their native land onthe inhabitants, and on Ivana Brli-Maurani, the famous Ogulin-born,and the most translated writer of Cro-atian childrens literature. You can feelthe fairy t ales on the fairytale routethat unifies the beauty of the nature,rich history, and fair y tales. Feelingsare stronger if you are in the companyof the characters from MauranisTales of Long Ago.

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Where the colour of romance

Central Croatia. ave you always longed for a holidayaway from the summer heat andthe vibrant atmosphere of the Medi-terranean in an idyllic, green and hillyenvironment with ancient woodlands,vineyards and rivers? Do you favourthe tranquil and soothing atmosphereof the mainland, leading from roman-tic medieval towns, summer homesand manors to thermal springs, healthspas and places of pilgrimage? Set outto the north of Zagreb and enjoy theblessings offered by Central Croatia.

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[ 1.umberak 2.Varadin ]

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is green.

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Enjoy idyllicmoments inthe towns ofCentral Croatia

CULTURAL HERITAGE

TRAKOAN CASTLE- the most romanticand, according to many, the most beautifulcastle in CroatiaCITY OF VARADIN - a city of culturethat delights with its sumptuous churches,palaces and manor houses, and its famous

cemeteryZRINSKI CASTLE(akovec) - located withinthe Old Town of the Zrinski family, a culturaland zero category historical monument; itspalace houses the Meimurje MuseumOLD TOWN(Kalnik) - magnificent remainsof the medieval town

egin with the area known as Hrvat-sko zagorje, a wonderful undulating

landscape crisscrossed by hills and riversand within it the town of Krapina, the fa-mous archaeological site of Homo Krap-iniensis. Located in an area that has al-ways been known for its thermal springs,spas like Tuhelj Spa (Tuheljske toplice)and Stubica Spa (Stubike toplice), Krapi-na was made famous by Prof. DragutinGorjanovi-Kramberger in 1899 when

B he discovered the remains of a diluvialman in the area of the Hunjakovo hill,known by scientists as Homo sapiensneanderthalensis. In Hr vatsko zagorje,which boasts the largest concentration ofcastles and manor houses after the val-ley of the River Loire in France, discoverpicturesque towns and beautiful Baroquecastles. While feasting your eyes, do notforget to feast your palate on the delec-table local gastronomy and, of course,

OLD TOWN(urevac) - precious culturalmonument with a medieval fortressCOUNT JANKOVI CASTLE(Daruvar) - Ba-roque castle built between 1771 and 1777FORTRESS(Sisak) - well preserved medievalfortressTRADITIONAL MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN TOYS IN THE HRVATSKO ZAGORJEREGION - UNESCO Representative List of

Intangible Cultural HeritageLACEMAKING IN LEPOGLAVA - UNESCORepresentative List of Intangible CulturalHeritageGINGERBREAD CRAFT- UNESCO Represent-ative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritageof Humanity

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[ 1.Hrvatska Kostajnica 2.Sisak 3.Trakoan 4.Veliki Tabor 5.6.Marija Bistrica 7.Varadin 8.Daruvar 9.akovec 10.Ludbreg ]

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CENTRAL CROATIA. 53

CentralC

roatia.

NATURE

KALNIK- significant landscapeLONJSKO POLJE RANGE NATURE PARK- rare combination of preserved nature andtraditional architectural heritageRET DUBRAVICA (Dubravica) - specialbotanical reserveVINDIJA CAVE(Varadin) - monument of

natureRIVER MURA - significant landscapeVELIKI PAUT(Legrad) - special zoologicalnature reserveRAKITA(Sisak) - ornithological reserveTHE UREVAC SANDS- special botanicalnature reserve

LIPIK, BJELOVAR AND DARUVAR -monuments of park architectureKLEK- significant landscapeCRNA MLAKA - special ornithologicalreserveUMBERAK HILLS OF SAMOBOR -nature parkSLUNICA NEAR SLUNJ - significantlandscape

THE OPEKA ARBORETUM(Vinica) - parkarchitecture monument

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the superb wines produced in the area.Marija Bistrica is your destination if youare interested in religious tourism orseeking spiritual reinvigoration. It is thegreatest Marianic sanctuary in Croatiaand has been a place of pilgrimage forover 300 years. More than 800,000 ofthe faithful have visited Marija Bistrica,including Pope John Paul II in 1998.


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he town of Varadin, the most Ba-roque of all towns in Croatia, is a

true green place. Its nely maintainedparks and its famous monument of gar-den architecture - the town cemetery,characteristic for its Thujas shaped intoscreens and arcades modelled on Ver-sailles - offer a wonderful backdrop tothe sounds of music for which Varadinis famous. The city is also known forarts, crafts and trade, as well as for twoprominent festivals which take place inSeptember: The Varadin Baroque Eve-

nings and the pancirfest, a wonder-fully entertaining and varied festival ofstreet strollers. In addition to its culturalscene and 354 registered cultural monu-ments, the Varadin region also boaststhe Trakoan Park-wood, with an en-chanting castle that has been turnedinto a museum, and three geological andpalaentological monuments of nature,with three caves bearing testi mony tothe continuous presence of man in thisregion for thousands of years.Located not far from Varadin is Ludbreg,a eucharistic place of pilgrimage of the

Sacred Blood of Christ. It is the only suchplace of pilgrimage in Croatia and one ofonly a few in the world that have beenrecognised by a written document fromthe Pope approving public venerationof Holy Relics. This occurred followingthe miraculous appearance of the SacredBlood of Christ in the chapel of BethanyCastle in 1512. Lepoglava is a small townwhose history has been most deeplymarked by the Pauline Order, which builtthe church and a monastery. It is also theorigin of the famous lace that earned theGold Medal at the 1937 World Exhibitionin Paris.

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EXPLORE

OLD VILLAGE MUSEUM (Kumrovec) - asingular museum in the open air contain-ing preserved, original rural houses datingfrom the turn of the 19 thcenturyKRAPINA NEANDERTHAL MUSEUM- one ofthe most modern museums in CroatiaKRAPINA NEANDERTHAL DISCOVERY SITE

- one of the worlds richest finds of the Ne-anderthal man.MUSEUM OF TUROPOLJE(Velika Gorica) -exhibits range from the prehistoric perioddown to our times (mammoth tusk from theperiod 10,000 BC; preserved wooden chapelsand curias of the nobility)

[ 1.2.Varadin 3.Trakoan 4.Samobor 5.Kumrovec 6.Krapina 7.Stubica 8.Marija Bistrica ]

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GASTRONOMY

The piquan t relish Samobor Mustard,Samobor salami, Samobor custard slice,Bermet - a Samobor liqueur, roast tur-key with mlinci (special type of home-made pasta) , buckwheat gruel, prga

- cows milk cheese, pumpkin seed oil,cakes: Zagorski trukli, kukuruzna zlev-ka, Vrboveka pera, rol ls: Varadinskiklipii, enpjen sparkling win e, dairyproducts, specialties prepared withfreshwater fish and game, Graevinaand Pinot Blanc wines, mead, fruit wines

TOURISM PLUS

Hunting, fishing, paragliding, cycling, hik-ing and mountaineering tracks and trails,speedway, wine roads

HEALTH RESORTS:many famous healthcentres with thermal springs (StubikeToplice)

CENTRAL CROATIA. 55

f you want to try your hand at pan-ning for gold in a river, or enjoy all

the benefits offered by the St. Mar-tin Spa, or take a carefree ride alongthe cycling trails and savour excellentwines, then turn north toward the areawhere Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia

share a border. Get to know the regionof Meimurje and its capital, akovec.On the other hand, if you have an artisticnature and enjoy nave art, tradition,folklore, old arts and crafts, if you areinterested in old customs, then head eastof Zagreb toward Podravina, particularlyin June, when three major ethno-eventstake place in Koprivnica, urevac andKrievci. Ringed by the River Drava andby the mountain systems of Bilogora andKalnik, Podravina abounds in fish andgame as well as organised cycling trails

passing through beautiful landscapes,past oderica Lake and the cradle ofnaive art: Hlebine.

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Where inspiration comesfrom the heart.

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CityofZagreb.

CITY OF ZAGREB. 57

rew out of two medieval settle-ments that flourished for centu-

ries on neighbouring hills. with writtenhistory dating to the year 1094 whenthe diocese was established, Zagreb, thecapital and the biggest city in Croatia,is a typical Central European town. Theclassicist and secessionist facades of its

historical nucleus exude the lofty spiritof the Austro-Hungarian Empire, buthere and there one can also discern thecontours of the panoramas of Prague.Almost all of the main sites of the cityand cultural venues are located in thevery centre, which teems with charmingcoffee houses, fine restaurants, gardenrestaurants, and lovingly tended parkslike, for instance, Ribnjak, which lies be-neath the walls of Kaptol with its filigreespires of the neo-Gothic cathedral, or theLenuci green horseshoe with Zrinjevac,

Zagreb, indeed, is a city tailored to man.

City ofZagreb.

Meet thecharming heartof Croatia

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he best way to explore the city isthe slow way, gently uncovering the

layers of its rich history from the streetsthat from the main Jelai square, andthe Dolac market, one of the most col-ourful open-air markets in this part of

Europe, from Opatovina to Kaptol, orperhaps via Radieva Street to the StoneGate and on to Banski dvori and the col-ourful roof of St. Marks church. Zagrebcan also be explored using its blue trams.Routed in all directions and pulsating dayand night like a heart in the living tissueof the city, through their windows thesemodern day chariots provide the mostoriginal frames for scenes to rememberZagreb. With approximately 20 theatres,30 museums, 45 galleries and 13 art col-lections, a great zoo and almost a mil-lion inhabitants, Zagreb is a real Croatianmetropolis, one which attracts guests ofall profiles.

Stroll the streetsof the metropolisand walk throughhistory

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CULTURAL HERITAGE

CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION OF ST.MARY Gothic 11thcentury cathedralST. MARKS CHURCH 14 th- 15 th centurySTONE GATE AND LOTRAK TOWER - part ofthe 13thcentury city wallsCROATIAN NATIONAL THEATRE- neo-Baroquebuilding dating from 1895, designed by thearchitects Fellner and Helmer

EXPLORE

ELECTRICPOWERED FUNICULAR RAILWAY- links Down Town with Upper TownMIMARA MUSEUM- named after the collec-tor, Ante Topi Mimara, who donated a vastcollection of works of art to CroatiaMEDVEDNICA NATURE PARK- mountaineer-ing trails and Sljeme Ski Centre, attractive gorg-es, caves, waterfalls and karstic phenomenaMUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Zagreb- an exciting story of contemporary art withouta beginning or an end, staged in a dynamicexhibition space where the exhibits accentuatemovement, change, transience, uncertaint y...

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60 ocated at the foot of the Medved-nica Nature Park, whose highest

peak, Sljeme, has hosted the FIS SnowQueen Trophy skiing competitions since2005, with its large sports and recrea-tion complex around the Jarun Lakewith fully appointed regatta facilitiesfor various types of competitions, andits now well established Zagreb IndoorTennis Tournament, Zagreb is not onlya city of rich cultural heritage, of opera,ballet, theatres and concerts, but also acity whose name is ever more frequently

entered onto the map of world sportsevents. Finally, if you are one of thosewho enjoy writing postcards with yourfountain pen, or noting down impres-sions of your journeys in your notebook,remember that it is from this ver y townthat the first fountain pen set out intothe world, and that its inventor, SlavoljubPenkala, might have found inspirationin his long walks through the streets ofZagreb.

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TOURISM PLUS

Skiing, hiking, mountaineering, con-gress tourism

GASTRONOMY

Roast turkey with mlinci , trukli,pek fileki (bacon-tripe stew), homemade pasta with cabbage, fresh cottagecheese with cream, doughnuts

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Where the horizon is always golden.

Slavonia.

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haped by the force of the mightyrivers Drava, Danube, Sava and

Ilova, Slavonia is a mythical region thatfor centuries has guarded its treasures.With its wide, endless expanse of thegolden Pannonia plains, strong riverflows, areas that provide an ideal habi-tat for the now centuries-old forests ofcommon oak (Quercus robur), as well

SLAVONIA. 63

as for more than 2000 biological spe-cies, Slavonia is a fertile land tilled byhuman hand for over 8,000 years. Eversince this part of the continent rose fromthe Pannonian Sea in the Pleistocene,once island, Papuk became mountainthat discovers the oldest rocks of thispart of Europe granite and metamor-phic rocks from the Paleozoic era ful of

witnesses, that today tell the geologicalhistory of Earth. The fertile Slavonianplains have emerged from the Panon-ian sea after have been sea bottom formore that 10 million years, and havebeen since a promised land.

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The Golden

Valley celebratedthrough history

NATURE

PAPUK NATURE PARK- a park of autochthonousbiological, geological and culturological authenticityKOPAKI RIT NATURE PARK- unique wetlandreserve, home to famous prize stags and othergame, ornithological reserve, fish spawning groundGAJNA(Slavonski Brod) - significant landscapeRADIEVO(upanja) - special forest vegetation

nature reserveERDUT- notable landscapeBIJELA TOPOLA (white poplar/aspen poplar,Valpovo) - monument of natureVIROVITICA- monuments of park architectureSPAVA- significant landscapeLISIINE(Voin) - arboretum

EXPLORE

NATIONAL LIPIZZANER STABLES(akovo)- founded as long ago as the 16 thcentury,today a stud farm of exceptionally valuablegenetic materialVUKOVAR- Franciscan Monastery of theBaroque period, church of SS. Philip andJacob, Eltz CastleAKOVO

- Baroque cathedral and BishopsPalaceVALPOVO, DONJI MIHOLJAC - PrandauMailath and Prandau Normann BaroqueCastlesPOEGA 14 thcentury church of St. Law-rence

aving become a part of the RomanEmpire in the first centuries AD,

boasting two major roads - one leadingfrom Osijek to the eastern provinces andthe other linking the Aque Balissae (to-day known as Daruvar) with the fertileagricultural and winegrowing countryaround Poega, akovo and Vinkovci,Slavonia gave two Roman emperors -the eminently capable and courageous

Valentinian I and his brother Valens.

H Treasuring the area as both wheat grow-ing and winegrowing country. with theKutjevo winegrowing district. home toone of the oldest wine cellars in Europe,the Romans named it Vallis Aurea (theGolden Valley). If it is peace you seek inthe matchless primeval dawns when theearth awakens from darkness shroudedin the haze hovering above the wide rivervalleys, then come and discover the land

of Slavonia.

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6 7CULTURAL HERITAGE

BROD FORTIFICATION AND MONASTERY(Slavonski Brod) - an 18thcentury fortica-tion which ranks among the largest of suchstructures in Croatia; Franciscan Monastery fromthe Baroque periodOSIJEK TVRA- romantic old nucleus ofthe city

ODESHALCHI CASTLEand MEDIEVALDEFENSIVE WALLS(Ilok) - Renaissance parkarchitecture, church and monastery of St. Johnof CapistranoPEJAEVI CASTLE (Naice) - castle inBaroque-Classicist style dating from 1804, witha park which is a protected monument of nature

his is a place where people have adeep respect for Mother Earth and

whose faces reflect the pride they takein their Slavonian origins. Waste notime, set off down roads that will takeyou past mighty medieval fortifications,

monasteries, Baroque castles and themanor houses of Osijek, Vinkovci, Poega,Slavonski Brod, all the way to Vukovarand Ilok, where the indigenous Lipiz-

zaner horses proudly strut their stuff,where rare birds nest and flock, and wildgeese rise from the famous Kopaki ritNature Park. Come and discover the mon-astery of Ilok, where the Italian Francis-can St. John of Capistrano is buried, the

Baroque fortifications of Slavonski Brodand Osijek, true urban and cultural Pan-nonian metropolis whose university andscientific environment has produced two

TMoments totreasure in thetowns of Slavoniaand Baranja

TOURISM PLUS

Hunting, fishing, wine roads, hik-ing trails, cycling trails, riding

THE SPRING PROCESSION OFLJELJE/KRALJICE(queens) fromGorjani - UNESCO Representative Listof Intangible Cultural HeritageBEARAC SINGING FROM SLAVONIA, BARANJA, AND SRIJEM- UNESCO Representative List ofIntangible Cultural Heritage


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[ 1.3.5.akovo 2.Kutjevo 4.6.7.Osijek ]

VIROVITICA

POEGA

SLAVONSKI BROD

OSIJEK

VUKOVARAKOVO

VINKOVCI ILOK

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SLAVONIA. 67

GASTRONOMY

obanac - thick, rich and utterly deliciousstew, fish-paprikash, Slavonian kulen andkulenova seka - locally produced salamis,Traminer of Ilok, plum brandy

Croatian Nobel Prize winners. Last, butby no means least, stroll along the widelanes of a Slavonian village where cloth-ing is adorned with especially sumptu-ous traditional weave and gold t hreadembroidery, while mouth-watering aro-mas of delectable home cured hams andheavenly kulen waft from tables, and thefamous fish-paprikash gently bubbles inthe pots. Welcome to Slavonia!


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Return to nature

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id you know that even in the timeswhen travelling to the Adriatic was

still considered a real adventure, andwhen it took almost 24 hours to jour-ney from Western Europe to our shores,islands and sea, campers have always

somehow been drawn to Croatia? In-deed, their numbers have increased yearby year. You may be curious why Croatiahas the longest naturist tradition in Eu-rope, and why it has become a unique

destination for real campers, from the.Cape of Savudrija in the north of Istriato Prevlaka in the south, with 523 camp-ing sites? Here are a few reasons why.Croatian unspoiled natural environmentboosts eight national parks. There arealso numerous protected areas, land-scapes and reserves. The most indentedshores of the Mediterranean, teemingwith islands and reefs, romantic covesand beaches is an ideal place for a truebonding with nature.

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CROATIA.CAMPING. 69

Croatia is a land with a mild Mediter-ranean climate, with rich and diversecontinental regions, from enchantinggreen hills, epic mountain heights, toriver rapids, lakes, and the golden plainsof Slavonia, unique creations of natureand tailor made for the true camper. Ifto the above list we add the seven spots

included in the UNESCO World HeritageList of cultural and natural heritage,numerous preserved monuments dat-ing from ancient times, museums andcollections, and on top of all that, the

gastronomic offer of local seafood dishesin the symphony of flavours and scentsof the most precious drops of olive oil,heavenly indigenous grape varieties, youwill have an endless list of reasons forvisiting.


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[ Odysseuscave (Mljet) ]

Story of the Big Blueeeply embedded in the Europeanmainland and flanked by the

long coastlines of Italy and Croatia,the Adriatic Sea is a real paradise forall water and underwater sports. Inthe summer, the average surface tem-

peratures is between 21 and 26 de-grees Celsius, while during the entire

year the temperature almost alwayshovers between 16 and 17 degreesCelsius for the average diving depthsbetween 20 and 30 metres.

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Apart from specific plant and animalspecies that live only in the AdriaticSea, and that are perfect for the lov-ers of underwater safaris, the Adriaticshelters a wide range of intriguing ar-chaeological sites, from the remains

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With it attractive diving locations,from underwater walls, reefs, caves,medieval shipwrecked galleons andmore recent sunken ships, sometimeseven aircraft carriers, the Adriatic is aunique example of conjoint richnessof the Mediterranean, not only for itsnatural beauties, but also for its richand turbulent history.

The Adriatic Sea, considered since an-cient times the shortest sea route fromthe Central Mediterranean, seat of largeancient civilisations, toward northernparts and central European mainland,hides beneath its sur face fascinatingtraces of many periods of European andother civilisations just waiting to be dis-covered. So, do not hesitate. Dive intothis azure blue expanse of Poseidonsempire and savour the silence of a worldrarely seen.

CROATIA.DIVING. 71

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