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Croatia is fast becoming
the in vogue holiday destination. Stretching south along a beautiful
scenic coast and stretching inland until it meets the Danube's endless
flow, this young country with its ancient past makes a magical place
for a holiday boasting sun drenched beaches and lush pine forests.
Major holiday regions in Croatia include (click
to read more)
Dalmatia
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Istria
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Dubrovnik
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Zadar
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Kvarner
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Split
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Isle of Brac
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Island of Hvar
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Other islands - Korcula, Prizba, Mljet, Pasman
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(continued)Salzburg, Tirol, Porec, Baska Voda, Rovini, Sibenik,
Plava Laguna, Kuvi Bay, Lone Bay and Cape Babo as well as others.
What was destroyed has
been lovingly rebuilt or restored, and a new optimistic Croatia now
welcomes over seven million visitors a year. Croatia has established
itself as one of the most alluring holiday destinations in Europe
and many people visit time and time again. It has an amazing 5,835km
of coastline, 4,057km of which belongs to islands, cliffs and reefs.
The climate is Mediterranean and with over 2,600 hours of sunlight
on average a year making it it is one of the sunniest coastlines in
Europe.
Croatia also boasts
some of the most beautiful beaches and bluest waters anywhere in the
world. Curving along the Adriatic in the shape of a croissant,
Croatia's got plenty of Italian-style charm and with a generous
garnish of sunshine, crystal clear waters and marvellous scenery, it
is becoming a holiday hot spot,
Often overlooked in
favour of the South of France and Spain, Croatia is the buzzword on
the lips of today's travel-savvy. With Dubrovnik labelled as the new
St Tropez and Istria the new Tuscany, it's easy to see why those in
the know don't want to share their secret. If there were ingredients
to create the perfect holiday destination, they might well include
hours of sunshine, a tapestry of landscapes, carefree relaxation,
epochs of history, an accumulation of culture, plenty of activities,
a warm welcome and a touch of spice!
The tourist coastal
regions of Croatia offer a typical Mediterranean climate with hot
summers and mild but wet winters. Temperatures in the peak summer
months of July and August can be as high as 35 degrees centigrade.
Winter temperatures in the coastal regions rarely fall below 8
degrees centigrade but inland climate conditions are different with
colder winters and warm summers. Much of Croatia is mountainous with
snow falling between the months of December and March.
Croatia's capital,
Zagreb , is a typical central-European metropolis, combining elegant
nineteenth-century architecture with plenty of cultural diversions
and a vibrant cafι life. At the northern end of the Adriatic coast,
the peninsula of Istria contains many of the country's most
developed resorts, with old Venetian towns like Porec and Rovinj
rubbing shoulders with the raffish port of Pula . Further south lies
Dalmatia , a dramatic, mountain-fringed stretch of coastline studded
with islands. Dalmatia's main town is Split , an ancient Roman
settlement and modern port which provides a jumping-off point to the
most enchanting of Croatia's islands, Brac , Hvar , Vis and Korcula
, where you'll find lively fishing villages and the best of the
beaches. South of Split lies the walled medieval city of Dubrovnik ,
site of an important festival in the summer and a magical place to
be whatever the season.
Much of Croatia's
traditional cuisine has a strong Italian flavour and pizzas, gnocchi
and ravioli are common. If you want to experience traditional
Croatian dishes you could try brodet (various types of fish, stewed
with rice), sarma (minced meat and rice) or raznijici (grilled veal
or pork) or burek, a layered pie made with meat or cheese. For
drinks there is pelinkovac which is a herbal liqueur, the cherry
flavoured sljivovica and travarica, which is a type of herbal
brandy. Virtually every region produces its own varieties of wine.
Recommended red wines include Dingac and Postup.
Popular resorts in
Croatia
Porec is a very popular holiday
resort with excellent facilities for a family holiday in Croatia.
Porec is linked by boats or the tourist train to the beautiful Old
Town, which is over 2,000 years old ad which boasts stunning
architecture, numerous historical sights and wonderful churches
filled with Byzantine mosaics, sculpture and architecture. Just
outside of the town is the tourist zone of Plava Laguna where you'll
find great watersports and lot of places to eat and drink.
Porec is a
city still keeping a strong hold on its historical values
with a collection of resorts in its districts. Situated
half way up the western side of the magnificent Istrian
Peninsula of Croatia the city boasts a magnificent
coastline with a variety of beaches. Choose from the stone
slab paved urban beach Gradsko Kupaliste or the sandy
Brulo beach a couple of kilometres away.
If
it's the livelier side of nightlife you are looking for it
is available, although nightclubs in the town itself tend
to close at midnight. Outside of the town you'll find
clubs that stay open until the early hours, so party
animals can be sure they'll be able to dance the night
away. However, if you prefer your evening pursuits to be
of a more sedate nature then Porec is an ideal choice.
There are numerous cafes and bars catering for a more
relaxed atmosphere with an evening soundtrack of chat and
laughter, rather than thumping beats. Live music, from
rock to jazz, can also be found.
The city is
a favourite with people seeking an activity holiday. Its
many sport facilities including 70 sports activities and
165 tennis courts. Night time means party time in Porec
and there are many famous bars and nightclubs to
keep you partying until dawn. Porec is famous for its
beautiful natural landscape, long tradition in tourism and
its several well-equipped tourist resorts.
Rovinj lies on the
Istrian Coast on its own islands. It centre piece is the baroque
style cathedral and its tower offers a stunning 360 degree view of
the surrounding area, with its piazzas, terraces and bustling
markets. The town is built in Venetia style and a walk round its
winding streets is like stepping back in time. Rovinj's
waterfront is bursting with bars and restaurants and a decidedly
Italian flavour. The rocky coast has countless pebble coves so
you'll easily find somewhere to soak up the sun in peace.
Baska Voda The crystal-clear waters
and white-pebble beaches of the Makarska Riviera stretch for miles
and being backed by cool pine forests, this is an area renowned for
its breathtaking natural beauty and is a tranquil setting for the
beautiful resort of Baska Voda. Charming traditional restaurants are
known locally as 'konobas'
Sibenik is a 1,000
year-old town on the Croatian Adriatic coast, a beautiful small town
built up on the gentle hills that surround the mouth of the River
Krka where it flows into the Adriatic Sea. The maze like streets
occasionally reveal treasures such as medieval courtyards, churches
and cathedrals and there are countless cafes and restaurants for
when you want to sit back and watch the world go by.
At the heart
of the Sibenik-Knin county is the capital Sibenik, located
at the mouth of the Krka River. it is rich with cultural,
historical and natural monuments. The waterfalls at the
confluence of the river into Adriatic are spectacular. The
beach is a hive of activities with all manner of water
sports on offer including yachting, rowing and there are
several diving clubs that provide diving courses and
underwater photo-safari.
Rovinj is
also very relaxed at night and is ideal for those who
would prefer to be away from thronging bars and clubs.
There is still a good selection of bars and cafes, as well
as live music venues. Also, just outside Rovinj itself is
the MONVI centre. This is a multimedia complex that houses
a club, cocktail bars and restaurants as well as numerous
other forms of entertainment. Rovinj's cliffs and rocks
are particularly suitable for abseiling or free climbing.
Hundreds of years ago Rovinj had a quarry and its rocks
were used for buildings in Venice. The rocks are situated
at very end of the cape, some 20 meters from the sea.
There are amazing views across the town and nearby
islands.
Umag is a
popular holiday destination with Croatians and its Old
Town area sits on a peninsula right at the northern tip of
the Istrian shoreline. There are several pretty bays to
the north and south and the shallows of the southern bay
lap into sun-trap coves and beaches. The historic town
itself is a maze of narrow medieval cobbled streets and
picturesque little squares.
This very
attractive resort is still relatively undiscovered by many
tourists giving visitors a real flavour of Croatian life.
In the evenings you can have fun in the many restaurants,
out door cafes and discos or you can try your luck in the
casino - certainly a place for people of all tastes.
Beaches in Croatia
Plava Laguna The
beaches surrounding this purpose built resort are excellently kept
and the soft, white sands are an ideal place to soak up the sun and
enjoy the stunning view.
Lone Bay is the closes
Rovinj has to a city beach. A huge redevelopment plan has recently
been completes and it is now fringed by pedestrian walkways and
lovingly tended gardens.
Cape Babo is about 5
km away from Rovinj and here, as well as the beach, you will find a
riot of different types of flowers growing wild.
Kuvi Bay is around 3
km from the centre of Rovinj and it stretches as far as 1 km along
the coast. It is a pebble beach that is lapped by the crystal clear
sea. Kuvi bay is excellently maintained and is bordered by numerous
bars and cafes.
Places to visit in Croatia
Baska Voda The
crystal-clear waters and white-pebble beaches of the Makarska
Riviera stretch for miles.
The Baredine Caves
Porec-Parenzo is a network of underground caves filled with
stalagmites and stalactites, some of which resemble people and
creatures. Well worth a visit.
The Rovinj Islands,
Rovinj are beautiful islands with outstanding natural beauty ad are
a must see if you are staying in Rovinj. The islands begin around
500 meters from the shore and nestle very close to each other.
Plitvice Lakes
National Park in the county of Lika-Senj is a UNESCO World Heritage
sight and is well worth the drive inland. A series of naturally
created dams, caves and stunning waterfalls will enchant you. There
surrounding forests are home to bears, wolves and many rare species
of birds.
The Round Tower,
Public Square, Porec. was built in the second half of the l5th
century. It is very well preserved and there is a terrace on the top
with spectacular views across the city.
Pula is the
largest city in Western Croatia and an ideal place to visit
for a genuine taste of Croatian tradition and culture. There is an
enormous, excellently preserved Roman amphitheatre which was built
around the 1st century AD and is the sixth largest in the world. The
city is even older than that, however, and there is some stunning
architecture from various centuries.
Rijeka is an
important business, trade, industrial and cultural centre thanks
partly to its impressive harbour.
Zminj is about 25 km
from Rovinj and combines the atmosphere of the Mediterranean south
of the country and the more continental feel of the north.
Zagreb has been the
capital since 1557and is rapidly becoming one of the most
exciting cities in Europe. As well as the amazing Austro-Hungarian
architecture of the town centre houses and its stunning neo-Gothic
Cathedral there are also trendy boutiques. There are also
numerous museums, galleries and entertainment on offer. Although it
is some distance from both Porec and Rovinj this cosmpolitian and
fascinating city is worth the effort.
Shopping in Croatia
A holiday to
Croatia can often lead to you coming back with twice as much as you
took with you. Croatia's thriving folk-art industry and a favourable
exchange rate make some of the beautiful craft work a real bargain.
Woodcarvings, ceramics, tapestries, embroidery and leather boxes are
just some of the wonderful bargains you can pick up and handmade
carpets are also extremely good value.
Porec market
is situated just outside the old quarter and you will find a
wonderful fish market selling the freshest of catches. All
manner of seafood is available here and if you point at
something you fancy, you probably won't go far wrong. However,
if you want to play it safe try the excellent red mullet (barbun)
or sole (list). You'll also find stalls selling delicious
looking fruit and vegetables.
Roj Market has a
similar mix of shops and stalls as in Porec, all selling
wonderful fresh produce. However, in Rovinj there are also
shops selling different liquors and spirits flavoured with
secret mixtures of wild aromatic herbs. There are also shops
that sell dried plants and flowers to make herbal tea that are
said to have various healing properties.
Sports in Croatia
The beautiful waters
around the Croatian coast are ideal for diving and snorkelling.
There is some fascinating sea life to be discovered. Both Porec and
Rovinj have numerous diving schools where you can hire equipment and
receive qualified tuition
Cycling Bikes can be
hired in both resorts. In Porec there are two particularly
challenging cycle trails, both 45 kilometres long. The views and
scenery you will encounter along the way make it well worth the leg
ache.
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Casa Louise
of
Porec harbour the Fortuna is set on the tiny island of St Nikola and is a
perfect retreat for those looking for a secluded setting. A half hourly boat
service regularly shuttles guests back and forth from the mainland.