| 1. Zagreb |
Zagreb is the capital and largest city in Croatia and the centre of culture for the country. It has a beautiful old district which takes the idea of ‘café-culture’ very seriously. Its shops sell a lot of souvenirs made in the Zagreb area such as glassware, fine china and wicker baskets. Zagreb is also known for the traditional scarves or cravats and these can be found and purchased easily in the markets. It is also the home of the inventor of ball point pens and many of the city’s souvenirs are based on this.
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| 2. Plitvice Lakes |
The Plitvice Lakes must be some of the most beautiful places on earth. Sixteen lakes are interconnected by waterfalls, not of rock but of calcium encrusted moss and other vegetation that continues to grow whilst being petrified. This form of waterfall called travertine makes the Plitvice Lakes almost unique in the world. Travelling down the lakes, the visitor is greeted with sparkling waters tumbling between the rocks into milky blue pools. There are a number of paved and unpaved trails that trace the journey of the river through the lakes and waterfalls.
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| 3. Dubrovnik |
Often the one and only stopping point for visitors to Croatia, Dubrovnik is a beautiful renaissance city in the style of many of the more famous Italian ones. The whole city is pretty with its stone walls and terracotta tiles. The best way to see the sights is from the city walls and tours can be arranged helping you make the most of your rooftop views of the city.
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| 4. Korcula |
Korkula has lots to offer the visitor, cool pine forests covering the slopes of its peaks and the medieval and renaissance buildings of Korkula town. Aside from this there is the culture of the town including the spellbinding sword dances for which the island is famous and the many Klapa groups that perform throughout the bars and clubs of the town. Klapa is a form of a cappella singing which has been the traditional music of the island for centuries. There are also claims that the great explorer Marco Polo hailed from Korkula.
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| 5. Diocletian's Palace |
The world’s best preserved Roman Palace, Diocletian’s Palace in Split is enormous. For many years, less so today, the locals used its interior for their homes and for shops such was the scale that it formed its own shopping area. The architecture was inspirational to the 18th century architect Robert Adam who based his Neo-Classicism designs on it
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| 6. Mljet |
An island with many stories about it. In mythology it was thought to be the holiday destination of Ulysses whilst some bible historians have it as the island where St Paul was shipwrecked although Malta probably has a greater claim. The island is exceptionally beautiful with stunning lakes on one of which is built the Monastery of St Mary. Accessible only by ferry from Dubrovnik, the island remains unspoilt although bereft of much bird life through the work on mongooses brought in to control snakes on the island.
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| 7. Kornati |
130 islands, many tiny, closely grouped over an area of 85km2 in the central Adriatic.
The archipelago is a national park being an important habitat for marine life. The rather rude and bizarre names of some of the islands are due to early Austrian surveyors being told their names in Croatian which unknown to them were mostly vulgar or swear words. The islands are not permanently occupied even though the largest, Kornat is over 25km long. There is a park visitor centre on the island of Murter which is connected to the mainland via a drawbridge.
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| 8. Pula Amphitheatre |
A massive amphitheatre and a stunning piece of Roman architecture and building, Pula is high on the list of any visitor to Pula. Like many amphitheatres across the Mediterranean, it is still in use for plays and operas. On first sight you’ll think you have come to the Coliseum for it is of the same design. Inside the floor area is massive as is evidenced by the fact that in the Middle Ages herd used to graze inside it. Visitors are fortunate it is still standing for at one point the Venetians wanted to take it down and rebuild it in Venice!
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| 9. Rovinj |
Unofficially Rovinj is thought of as one of the most beautiful Adriatic town and borders the sea with its centre modelled on Venice. It’s built on a small peninsula and is the second most visited town in Croatia. It has become more popular still in recent years with an increase in cheap flights from the UK. Additionally in its favour are the high speed ferry links with Venice. The secluded coves and beaches nearby are popular with naturists so watch out for a shock if you visit the beaches. The area to the south of the town has been laid out with tracks for walkers and cyclists to meander through the forests and to the bird reserve at Palud.
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| 10. Euphrasian Basilica in Porec |
In the old centre of Porec you’ll find the Euphrasian Basilica which effectively is an early Christian cathedral. It is considered one of the best examples of early Byzantine architecture in the Mediterranean. The current site is the third to be built there following fires and earthquakes and obscures many important features such as the 5th century mosaic floor. Not surprisingly it’s on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Basilica itself is unusual in having been built polygonal in footprint leading to a rectangular apse inside with irregular alcoves. In the heat of the summer the shady atrium offers respite as the tourist views the sculptures and statues housed here.
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