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| Istria Istria is an important area for tourism and its west coast has become a popular destination for both Croatian and foreign holidaymakers. Istria’s geographical location means that its culture has been greatly influenced by Italy, something that shows in the architecture and cuisine. The Mediterranean climate guarantees lovely warm summers and a pleasant spring and autumn. In the course of its eventful history, Istria has been visited by many different peoples, some of whom ruled it for a shorter or longer period. As a result, there is a feeling of cultural unity although a mixture of Slav, Romance, and Germanic cultures is everywhere apparent. But despite all these influences, one culture in particular has left its mark on Istria, namely that of Venice, which ruled the area for more than 500 years. |
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The Brijuni islands The Brijuni Islands used to be the private holiday home of President Tito, but they are now a national park with a wide range of exotic animals – even elephants – which the president of the former Yugoslavia received as gifts from foreign heads of state. Kvarner and Dalmatia South of Istria, you come to the Kvarner region, where the pleasant mild climate means that the islands have an extremely lush vegetation, with laurels everywhere. That climate meant that Opatija was a favourite resort as far back as the days of the Austro-Hungarian double monarchy, with the Imperial family and “high society” taking up residence here for the summer. The islands of Lošinj and Krk are also traditional tourist destinations, with luxurious hotels, parks, and elegant villas. |
| Zadar Further down the coast from Kvarner is Dalmatia. The former capital, Zadar, is located on a peninsula and between two quays. The pedestrian-only main street, “Kalelarga”, is the centre of activity in the town, with numerous boutiques and cafes. Running off it, there are picturesque little alleyways, and close by are a number of splendid historic buildings such as the cathedral of St Anastasia and the round church of St Donatus. Zadar’s richly historic centre – with Roman, Venetian, and Austrian influences – makes it one of the main tourist attractions in northern Dalmatia. Long ago, the narrow peninsula on which the town is located was inhabited by the Illyrians but the present layout, with straight streets and a forum, is Roman. |
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Zadar The town became an important trading port for wood and wine. Round the ancient capital are more than 300 islands making up the Zadar archipelago. In the Middle Ages, Zadar was the main base for the Byzantine fleet. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Venice and Hungary struggled for dominance of Zadar but in 1409, King Ladislaus of Hungary sold his Dalmatian islands and towns to Venice for 100,000 ducats. Zadar was renamed Zara and entered on a period of prosperity, leading to the construction of numerous churches and palaces. The Treaty of Rapallo after the First World War gave Zadar to Italy, but many of the Italian population left when Yugoslavia was created in 1947. During the Second World War, Zadar had been badly damaged by bombing. |
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Dugi Otok This island, with an area of 124 km2, is the
largest in the group. Its
west coast is precipitous and empty but the east coast is full of
beaches and bays. Being so close to Zadar, Dugi Otok has been a
favoured location – since as far back as Roman times – for the urban
nobility to build their holiday villas. The renaissance saw the
construction of more summer residences, particularly in Sali, the
biggest village on the island. The long bay of Telašcica to the south is a natural harbour and was once used by the Venetian fleet. The southern part of the island forms part of the Kornati national park. |
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Pašman The rough, unspoilt island of Pašman is home to only 3500 people, who live in villages along the coast facing the mainland. The western part of the island has vineyards, while to the east thick maquis covers the land right to the coast, where there are a few shingle beaches. Premuda This island of 9 km2 has fewer than 100 inhabitants, all of them living in the village of Premuda. This is the most remote island in the archipelago, with splendid beaches and thick coniferous forests; the absence of any private cars makes it truly peaceful. At 22 kilometres, the lush green island of Ugljan is quite long, but it is also narrow. It has a population of some 7500, most of them living in villages along the east coast. The largest village, also called Ugljan, has a Franciscan friary dating from the 15th century and dedicated to St Jerome. Many rich residents of Zadar have built themselves villas here. On a hill 265 metres above the village is the large Venetian fortress dedicated to St Michael. |
| Kornati Kornati National Park, for many lovers of the Adriatic the high point of their cruising vacation, is located halfway down the Croatian coast. It has the largest number of bays and inlets in the Mediterranean and is made up of 140 precipitous uninhabited islands, both large and small. The islands, the sea surrounding them, and the flora and fauna are all extremely interesting. The Kornati archipelago is entirely different to the other islands, which are heavily wooded. In the past, shepherds grazed their sheep there and, as is still done in many parts of the world, they burned off the remaining grass each year so as to get lusher growth the next. |
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Kornati In fact, the islands have hardly any soil and therefore very little vegetation. The area around the islands used to be full of fish and it is an idyllic location for divers looking for sponges and corals. The range of colours is fantastic and the difference between the islands and all the other natural beauties of Croatia is very striking. The Kornati islands have their own special appeal, that of a different kind of natural beauty. On some of the islands, a fall in the level of the land has even led to some of the buildings being flooded by the sea. The same geological process has led to the creation of new islands; the largest island in the group – Kornat itself – was once connected to various surrounding Islands. |