Why Should People Visit Croatia?

Croatia is a small country situated in Mediterranean along the coast of the Adriatic Sea offering variety of cultural and natural beauties.

Everyone interested in history and cultural heritage would enjoy Croatia where every “stone tells its story”. Well preserved old architectural work is somewhat breathtaking. It is like walking trough centuries and centuries of turbulent history.

On the other hand Croatia’s natural beauty that ranges from beautiful coast, islands, beaches to the hinterland rich in fields, castles, and mountains. Such diversity on a small territory like Croatia leaves everybody in amazement. Croatia has been proclaimed as the new French Riviera and a number one tourist destination. There are numerous reasons why visit Croatia here are a few that you might consider.

Eastern Adriatic coast is considered to be the most beautiful coast in the Mediterranean. It is then not surprising why Romans chose this coast to settle and built their villas, palaces, towns to indulge in leisure, entertainment and delight. Nowhere else through the Mediterranean will you find so many islands, bays, caves; picturesque beaches and cliffs gilded with sunshine, as well as 5 National Park and 5 Nature Parks are located in this area of the country.

The towns along the coast are true jewels of Mediterranean culture. As we have mentioned before, every stone tells its own story, reaching back to sails of the Argonauts and those of Roman galleys; Venetian high-ranking state officials and merchants from Dubrovnik on their carracks and argosies. They say that there are more than a hundred small towns, villages and islands on the Dalmatian coast where one gets the impression that time stopped long ago somewhere in the Middle Ages or in the Renaissance.

On the green hills, resembling wave crests, glisten the old towns of Hum, Plomin, Groznan and Motovun in Istria, Vrbnik, and Lubenice on the islands of Krk and Cres.

Petrified moments of the past centuries can also be recognized in the bell-towers of Rab; in the churches, palaces and pavements of Hvar, Dubrovnik and Zadar. In the balustrades of Korcula and particularly in the monumental Sibenik Cathedral wreathed in sculptured portraits of medieval citizens of Sibenik; not to mention the villas on the Brijuni archipelago or the monumental church-towers in Pula.

Much of Croatian history in this area can be seen in some sixty 1000 year old little stone churches scattered along the Croatian coast. Inside these ancient beauties it is the permanent play that tells time and which makes each of these churches, in a very special way both a clock and a calendar at the same time. Basic characteristic of this area are numerous cypress and olive trees; lavender and immortelle flowers and vineyards.

Where olive groves end continental Croatia begins. Cypress with the woods of Ucka Mountain above them is replaced by the pine and fir trees of Gorski Kotar. Vineyards are gradually replaced by rich gross-lands descending downhill to the orchard, vegetable patches and gardens of the red-roofed village houses in the valley.

Having crossed the Velebit Mountain and descending on its continental side, the road will lead you through the breathtaking landscapes of Lika and Banovina on to the vast valleys of Posavina and Slavonia. Along the way you’ll see Plitvice Lakes, one of the eight National Parks in Croatia, the small town of Slunj and Karlovac, city on four rivers.

Finally your trip takes you to Zagreb, the capital city. Approaching Zagreb from the northwest you’ll pass through the picturesque scenery of Medjimurje and Hrvatsko zagorje.

This area is abundant in fields and meadows that moderate in size, villages along rivers, and cities situated in the valley, Cakovec and Varazdin, the crown of Baroque architecture. Further east on your way through Slavonia you pass by the large willow-groves of Podravina, the hunting districts of Moslavina and thermal springs and spas of Daruvar and Lipik. In the very heart of Posavina valley there are charming age-old wooden houses which are typical examples of traditional local architecture. Surrounded by picturesque vineyards in the Golden Valley is the old Baroque town of Pozega.

Also famous for their beautiful Baroque-Secessionist architecture are cities of Dakovo and Osijek. Before flowing into the Danube, River Drava deluges into the area known as Kopacki Rit (another Nature Park), the last untouched nesting site of wading birds in Europe. Close to the city of Vukovar, known as the city of Croatian Heroes, lays the famous archeological site of Vucedol with 5000 year old culture. In the furthest eastern corner of Croatia there is fortified old town of Ilok famous for excellent wines.

All of this is just a small intro to a vast natural wonders and historical treasures that Croatia offers. Hopefully this information will help you on deciding where to go for your next vacation; Croatia will certainly be a good choice. Croatia will definitely make every holiday a remarkable and unforgettable event.