Croatia

Croatia is not only a land of a thousand islands. It also offers mountains close to the sea, romantic castles in the gentle land of the Zagorje region, a wealth of endless Slavonian plains, of fragrant oak forests, picturesque translucent rivers and lakes and the pleasures of numerous thermal spas.

For tourists who hold the word vacation synonymous with an escape from the feverish hustle and bustle of the city and its everyday grind, Croatia is a fortunate choice. Diverse but always interesting, it is truly the ideal destination for those who prefer mountains, gentle plains or thermal springs.

Croatian shores are washed by beautiful Adriatic sea. This country possesses 1,788 kms of the Adriatic coast, with 1,185 islands, islets and reefs. To this, one should add the crystalline clarity of the sea, which is transparent to depths of 50 feet in some places.

Istria is Croatia's largest peninsula and westernmost point. Its position makes it a transitional region between the Alpine- Central European and the Dinaric-Mediterranean zones. The names of old coastal towns such as Umag, Porec, Vrsar Rovinj and Pula that one comes across on international tourist maps will uncover many more of their treasures and lovely sights to anyone who wants to see and experience more. Istria is a place where antique amphitheaters and triumphal arches intermingle freely with medieval basilicas and frescoes, and where intimate stone towns coexist with contemporary tourist settings, commercial activity and everyday life.

The way to the south leads to the Kvarner Riviera, best known for the renowned resort town of Opatija, once a fashionable winter vacation spot for the Habsburg emperor and the cream of Europe's aristocracy.

Tourists who want a little direct contact with nature will find their part of the world on one of Croatia's many islands, for these are most certainly the greatest attractions of the Croatian Adriatic belt.

South of Kvarner lies Dalmatia, which offers a culmination of Mediterranean colors, aromas and shapes, whose intensity and natural beauty possess an unforgettable intensity. This is a place of long beaches, pine forests and old cities and towns like Zadar, Sibenik, Trogir, Split and Omis, and the island towns of Hvar, Korcula, Vis and many more. Among them is Dubrovnik, the "pearl of the Adriatic", which particularly stands out.

The continental part of Croatia, although overshadowed by the favorite Adriatic destinations of most tourists, is equally interesting and diverse.

The mountainous zones above the northern coastal littoral and the forest-covered Gorski Kotar, will delight nature lovers, hikers, mountain climbers, hunters and aficionados of winter sports. And all of this so close to the sea! Visitors will be no less interested in Lika, divided from the Adriatic by the impressive mountain massif known as Velebit. This massif is 165 kms long and has an average elevation of 1,300 meters, while its highest peak stands at an elevation of 1,758 meters. Lika is interesting not only for its lovely azure Plitvice Lakes, but also for its karst depressions, sink-holes, valleys, caverns, subterranean rivers and other lakes.

If the colors and atmosphere of the Croatian coastal and mountainous zones make them "oil frescoes", then the northern zones are the country's "aquarelles". In the far northwest, not far from Zagreb, the rustic Hrvatsko Zagorje region is renowned for its idyllic landscapes and large number of romantic castles and manor houses, as well as a wealth of thermal springs. Slavonia and Baranja, in eastern Croatia, possess endless fertile plains, fragrant oak forests and calm navigable rivers which offer a wealth of sublime images and sensory pleasures.

One cannot neglect to mention Moslavina, a wine-producing region. Podravina, the homeland of naive painting, the playful Posavina and the somewhat melancholy Medimurje, all areas between the Drava and Sava rivers. They are all notable for the harmonious intermingling of hills and rivers and urban and rural lifestyles. They are also a haven for hunters and fishers.

The meeting place of all the most important rivers and overland routes of northern Croatia is also the location of the country's capital and largest city, Zagreb. Among other things, this city has one of the most attractive Central European urban physiognomies. Other notable towns in this part of Croatia are Varazdin, with its noble baroque town center, or the Slavonian towns of Vukovar, millennial Pozega and Osijek, with its ornate Art Nouveau architecture. In fact, the entire Pannonian plain of eastern Croatia is resplendent with restful lovely towns and hospitable rural communities. All in all, experiencing Croatia in a comprehensive manner requires a harmonious balance between its Adriatic and mountain zone and Pannonian and lowland zone.