Published: February 1, 2010
Croatia
Croatia - The pearl of the Adriatic, environmentally friendly, fascinating country with a rugged picturesque coastline of coves and crystal clear waters, beaming a blinding sun and captivating fragrance of jasmine blooming all around. Great depths underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau called the Croatian Adriatic, "the cleanest sea in the world" and the famous writer Agatha Christie spent in these parts on their honeymoon. Just a few hours' drive from the center of Europe, Croatia has managed to keep intact lovely corner of nature and to preserve its charm and unique atmosphere. The tiny, toy-like, at home with red tile roofs, white rocky crags, cozy, laid paving stones, narrow streets, "a precious necklace" of 1185-Ti cast into the sea islands and magnificent Mediterranean climate turned Croatia into a real fairy-tale sun and the blue dream of any traveler . Blossoming cherry pink buds adorned with juicy fruits lemon and peach trees, white, freight from the old docks, boats, romantic castles, hiding the secrets of the past centuries, countless restaurants offering sample dishes from freshly caught fish and seafood - all it - a true treasure trove of natural resources - Croatia.
The capital - Zagreb
language - Croatian
Currency - Croatian Kuna
Religion - Christianity
Visas - Need for non EC Geographical position
Croatia - a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the western Balkan Peninsula, just east of Italy. In the north-west of the country borders with Slovenia in the north - from Hungary to the south-east - Bosnia and Herzegovina in the east - with Serbia and in the south - with Montenegro. On the western side is washed by the Adriatic Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas.
 Drinking water
Tap water in Croatia is perfectly safe, perfectly safe to drink and even has a right to be one of the cleanest in the world. However, if you prefer to drink bottled water, the most popular brands are Croatian «Jamnica» and «Jana», repeatedly occupied the first place, as representatives of the best bottled water in the world.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz.
Things to Do
Croatia - a country rich in saturated past and impressive history that has left its undeniable mark on a vast cultural and archaeological heritage. But its main attraction are the treasure and its unique natural conditions and resources, with the same luxuries provided absolutely in every town and corner of this beautiful Mediterranean lands. 
Sam George Bernard Shaw called Dubrovnik "paradise on earth." It really is incredibly beautiful city that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Dubrovnik - a real storehouse of a variety of museums, churches and monasteries. The coastal zone of the resort beaches which are dotted with snow-white pebbles, broken into small marinas and cozy embankments.
The old part of town, the buildings which are a fine example of medieval architecture, was built in the seventh century, and its surrounding city walls - in the XIII-th century. Today they are the longest in Europe preserved fortification system.
The thickness of walls, construction of which lasted nearly two hundred years in order to prevent invasion of the Turks, to within three meters, and height - twenty-five. Top has a steep stone staircase with stunning views over the city and the sea. Stroll around the old town with this unusual and fascinating perspective and point of view - a mandatory and an unforgettable experience for anyone who wants custom emotions and vivid memories.
Passing through the main street of Stradun, on which love to walk the locals and tourists can go to the fountain Onofrio, built in the XV-th century artesian spring and once supplies water to the entire city.
Today, the monumental fountain - the main landmark of the city and a favorite vacation spot of the public. Franciscan Monastery, located at the entrance to the Old City, dating back to XIV-th century, with a 1317-year placed the monastery on its premises the pharmacy, which is now adapted into a museum showing old medical supplies and books.
From Dubrovnik by ferry to get to the very "green" and the beautiful islands of Croatia - Mljet. According to ancient Greek legend, this is where Odysseus spent seven years with the nymph Calypso, but even the four children born to her did not deter the great island travel. Entirely covered by forests and vineyards, Mljet became famous for its national park, occupying almost the whole of its western part.
The main local attractions are two salt-water lakes - Big Lake and Small Lake - a favorite place of rest and bathing tourists. In the middle of the Big Lake is another island - the island of Santa Maria, on which the eponymous ancient Benedictine monastery XII-th century.  Zagreb - the capital and largest city of Croatia, its important economic and tourist center, as well as the main "gateway" country in western Europe. The city lies on the slopes of the mountain Medvednica, along the banks of the Sava River, a tributary of the Danube.
The heart and center of the capital is preserved medieval Old Town, called Hradec and Kaptol, formed in the XVI-th century, the two ancient cities of twins, Kaptol and Hradec.
The main attraction of the city - funikulernaya line in the center, connecting the Upper and Lower Town. Residential areas are located on the southern slopes of Medvednica and Industrial Zone is located in the southeastern part of the capital.
Croatian National Theatre, built in the 1895th year, is striking in its magnificence building, which still is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of the city. One of the most interesting places in Zagreb can be called the Museum of Mimar. Its collection includes more than three thousand works of art.
No less notable Old Masters Picture Gallery - art gallery with a large collection of European paintings XIV-XIX centuries, as well as the Palace Klovicha the east of the Upper City, which houses a collection of most known Croatian artists.
In Zagreb, there are many beautiful areas: Area Josip Jelacic ban, Marshal Tito Square, King Tomislav Square, on which are buildings of different architectural styles. Also in the capital, is one of the most monumental cemeteries throughout Europe - Mirogoy based in the XIX-th century.
Split - the second largest city in Croatia, located in the central part of Adriatic coast, between the towns of Zadar and Dubrovnik. The rich, the rich history of the town has about 1700 hundred years.
Since ancient times, Split served as the main economic and administrative center of the Adriatic coastal region, which is now called Dalmatia. According to legend, in the III-rd century, was born here next Roman emperor Diocletian, who ruled Rome from 284 th to 305th year and went down in history as a reformer of government of the Roman Empire and the organizer of one of the most brutal persecution of Christians. In the 305th year, he abdicated the throne and decided to spend rest of my days in this area. With this purpose in the local area, he began construction of a huge palace, around which grew gradually and city of Split.
Diocletian's Palace still stands in the heart of the old part of town, opposite the famous tourist promenade, and still impresses visitors the extraordinary beauty of Roman architecture and talking about long past the exterior. Along with the historic center of Split Diocletian's Palace is a World Heritage by UNESCO.
Makarska - Makarska Riviera solar capital and tourist favorite Croatian resort in the central part of Adriatic coast, between the cities of Split (47 km) and Dubrovnik (140 km).
The resort is located in a natural cove bordered by two peninsulas - St. Peter and Oseyavoy. In the eastern part of the harbor is a port and yacht marinas, and in the west - directly to the resort area beaches, hotels, restaurants, shops and wonderful promenade.
The resort boasts a beautiful coastline, dotted with snow-white pebbles and crystal clear water and dense pine groves, giving this combined with the mountains of Biokovo, a charming aura of universal natural splendor. At different times in its history this city, located in the heart of Dalmatia, was an important trading port and a long developed under the influence of the Venetians, Turks, French and Austrians, whose reign has left traces of their cultural identity and traditions.
Among the objects of interest can be distinguished Franciscan monastery XVI-th century, which is placed in the basement of a local world-famous collection of sea shells, Venetian fountain and several beautiful churches (including St. Peter's Church, located on the same headland and the Church of St. Mark's - downtown) .
But the main advantage of the resort, of course, is its natural beauty, built on the contrast of the picture blue merging into a single whole sky and water, a rich palette of greens and crashing into the sea of vertical rocky cliffs.
Hvar - one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Travel to Croatia can be regarded as complete without a visit to this sunny place with a true Mediterranean atmosphere. The air here is filled with captivating aromas of lavender and rosemary, and natural richness and abundance of shock with its scope and unique landscapes.
Thanks to the surprisingly fertile soil that has remained to this day and its miraculous properties, local open spaces were the first to cropland ancient Greeks engaged in farming here. Now Hvar - one of the main Croatian regions, actively engaged in winemaking.
The north coast of the island became a refuge of one of the oldest cities in Europe - Stari Grad, the main attraction of which is the castle-palace Tvrdal created on the idea of a well-known writer and naturalist Petar Gektorovicha in the XVII-th century.
On the main square of Hvar flaunts magnificent St. Stephen's Cathedral, built in the XVI-th century, and over the rugged bay rises majestically ancient fortress, built by the Venetians still. From the other islands of Hvar is separated by numerous meandering channels and is in easy access to the ferry from Split and Makarska Riviera.
Istria - the largest and most popular peninsula in Croatia. The northern part of the peninsula is bordered by Slovenia, which stretches over Italy, and a half hours drive away, Austria, a little further - Germany, well, very "close" relationship in Istria to Venice - it is connected directly peninsula ferry.
With millions of tourists every year choose this paradise and a cozy corner as his place of rest, Istria has become a major tourist center of the whole of Croatia. Because of its rich history, many interesting monuments, delightful scenery and excellent opportunities for recreation Istria became the most popular destination among travelers from around the world. In high season here like to spend the French, Italians and Germans.
Brijuni National Park, which includes a group of fantastically beautiful islands, which gave the name of the eponymous Italian company Brioni, and Lim channel - a long narrow bay, which is one of the main places for the breeding of oysters and mussels - the principal examples of natural perfection of the Istrian peninsula. A wide variety of resorts (Pula, Porec, Rovinj, Krk, Umag, Vrsar, Opatija, Lovran and Novigrad) offer excellent leisure facilities for all tastes, and an abundance of pine trees contribute to the creation of a unique Istrian climate.
Traditional cuisine
A distinctive feature of Croatian cuisine are its diversity, because of which is difficult to identify any major national and typical dishes of the country. Incorporating the best features of European cuisines such as Austrian, Italian and Hungarian, Croatian gastronomy managed to retain its uniqueness and originality.
Due to favorable climatic and geographical conditions of all the local dishes are prepared with only fresh ingredients - grown in the sunny valleys of vegetables or seafood caught in the recently, generous in their gifts, the Adriatic Sea.
Due to the use of almost every dish of olive oil and organic food Croatian cuisine is considered one of the healthiest diet and in the world. Tourists who first arrived in the country, be sure to try the turkey with the test (s puritsa mlintsima) and spicy sausage, spicy, which is the local language is called kulenova silverside.
Very tasty kobanak, which is a stew with paprika mixture of different types of meat. Croatian shtrukli paste of the same cheese dish is Corona restaurants in Zagreb. One of the traditional Croatian food is dried ham prosciutto (Prsut).
A typical Croatian meal includes chicken or beef soup, make sure the meat (often pork), potatoes and bread. In the summer vegetables are served raw with olive oil in the winter - saline. As a rule, the Croatian culture is not to suggest, for example, in Italy, frequent visits to restaurants and cafes.
Traditionally, the locals eat at home. Croatia is ready for the holidays a lot of delicious dishes and sophisticated consume large amounts of alcohol. Almost none of the cities in Croatia has a "crown" drink: in Slavonia is - plum brandy, in Zagreb and the coast - the different types of wine, brandy, herbal, etc. Demonstrating its hospitality and inviting into your home, the Croats, as a rule, offer a strong, similar to Turkish coffee.
Traditions and rules of conduct in the country
Each year, the country has plenty of festivals and a variety of national celebrations. In April in Zagreb can enjoy the 'Musical Biennale "in June - festival of animated films, the festival of St. Mark's Philharmonic and flower exhibition" Flora-Art. " In July, an international festival of new theater - "Evrokaz" International Folklore Festival in August - Zagreb Summer Festival and the International Puppet Festival, which lasts until September. In October, the International Jazz Days begin and the Zagreb Fair.
In early May, in the town of Rovinj originates annual regatta "Rovinj-Pesaro", held in August Rovinskaya fair, and in September - the local racing yachtsmen.
In the Riverlands in June Folklore Festival is held, and from May to September - Summer Music Festival, in Dubrovnik at the time you can enjoy the Carnival name of the Holy Blessed.
SmokingRestriction on smoking applies to public transport and some public institutions. |
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