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About Croatia

Croatia is situated at the crossroads of Europe with key international land and ferry routes and railway links. With nine international airports this beautiful country is easily accessible.

It matters not which way you choose to come to Croatia, by sea, by road or by air, one thing is certain, you will want to return here again and again.

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. With a population of just under 1m it has an abundance of museums, art galleries, theatres, churches and gardens, while the Upper Town which is considered the heart of Zagreb has numerous coffee shops, pubs, clubs, boutiques, crowded streets and just bursts with life.

Croatia is again becoming very well recognised by holiday makers and foreign investors. Tourism is on the upturn reaching the levels of the late eighties and even in some areas surpassing these figures. Croatia with a population of about 4.4 million, hosted 7 million foreign tourists in 2002. A total of 8.9 million tourists visited Croatia during the first nine months of 2003.

The Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea is among the most beautiful in this part of the world with its warm clear blue sea, beautiful beaches, preserved natural landscapes and famous tourist resorts nestling between medieval cities and cultural and historical monuments.

There are numerous cities and towns in Croatia far too many to name individually however here are some that are particularly noteworthy:

  • Dubrovnik the jewel of the Adriatic is the trademark of Croatian tourism and has a unique image that can be compared to Venice or Amsterdam. It is already a favourite tourist destination which offers all the amenities that a modern age traveller is seeking. Enclosed within thick medieval walls and fortresses gracefully aged by the sea, it shines with eternal and astonishing beauty.

  • Split, considered to be the busiest city on the Croatian coast is the origin and junction of all mid-Adriatic transport routes. It is a city of genuine southern spirit, the liveliest old-timer among all Croatian cities, where Diocletian's palace, built in 305AD and protected by Unesco, is a breathtaking hotchpotch of Roman , Renaissance and medieval architectural styles

  • Pula which is famous for its arena dating back to the 1 st century ad and with many more Roman monuments is a starting point for those who choose to visit the picturesque Istrian Peninsula. What can one say about the many medieval towns in Istria, Umag, Porec, Vrsar, Rovinj, Buje, Motovun and more each a fairy tale in itself!

  • Last but not least, Opatija, the oldest seaside resort famous for its quaint character, numerous hotels a picturesque town which has everything from beautiful scenery to a noted marina and a spectacular promenade.

Croatia is a country with over one thousand islands of incomparable beauty, 66 of which are inhabited and 66 very good reasons to encourage you to visit them. However it is not their number but their astonishing beauty that makes them worth special mention.

Starting up north is the Brijuni archipelago and its rich verdure discreetly rising from the azure of the North Adriatic, across to the island of Cres and its inexplicable fresh-water lake, or the neighbouring Losinj, the island covered with centenary pine-groves, and the wine-growing Krk to the golden beaches of Rab.and on to Pag, where whiteness of the rocks along its bare shores takes turns with the green pine woods.

Moving southwards across to the Kornati archipelago to the superb beauty of the islands of Brac with one of the most photographed beaches in Croatia. Then the island of Hvar, one of the sunniest islands in Europe, and Hvar town with the oldest public theatre in Europe and well preserved Venetian architecture with an exquisite piazza reminiscent of Venice itself.

A short distance from Hvar, is the islet of Bisevo which is home to the famous enchanting grotto called Blue Cave. One of the neighbouring islands is Korcula often described as a miniature Dubrovnik and a photographer's dream all the way down to the southernmost island Mljet and the Elaphite islands, only a few islands have been named here and as said earlier there are well over 1000 of them. Their immense beauty is not only there for the boaters, not just for incurable sea lovers, but also for those who have only started to think about the secret of their appeal.

The combination of rocks and secluded bays along the Adriatic Coast attracts many people to the naturist beaches and Croatia is already named as the Centre of Europe's Free Body Culture. Sunbathing and nude bathing are taken very seriously. It all began at Paradise Beach on the island of Rab 1934. Among the earliest visitors are said to be the Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Simpson. Today there are about 30 official naturist resorts and many more unofficial beaches and areas, most of them in Istria and on the islands.

Croatia is a perfect place for those who seek challenges and an active type of holiday

The Adriatic Coast is an unique area in Europe for boating. There are 50 marinas incorporating 13200 berths on the islands and another 4500 on the coast and with average 2600 hours of sunshine per year it is a boating paradise. Those who prefer kayaks or canoes can also explore not only the coast, but the rushing streams, rivers and waterfalls on the mainland. Rafting on Dobra and Cetina rivers brings additional excitement. There are numerous schools of yachting, scuba diving and windsurfing. Or why not try horse-riding, cycling, mountain biking, hiking, trekking, rock-climbing, gliding, water -skiing. Or hunting... Croatia has a long tradition of hunting The most common game are wild geese, wild duck, rabbit, fox, wild boar even bear and moufflon.

Winter sports can be enjoyed during the winter months, with three well equipped ski resorts just a couple of hours drive from the coast.It is worth noting that although golf traditionally has been very much a minority sport in Croatia resulting in a lack of golf courses and facilities, this shortfall is currently being addressed and golf courses are planned for Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Istria localities in the immediate future and discussions are on-going for further development in other locations.

The Adriatic coast has a Mediterranean climate with dry hot summers and mild humid winters. The average summer temperature is 27C (rising to late 30s in the summer months).

In essence this is a fascinating and beautiful country with magnificent scenery and natural parklands. (See Maps.) Croatian natural heritage has been well preserved and protected within national parks and the nature parks system. Eight national parks, three in the mountains and five on the coast cover around 7.5% of Croatian territory.