Croatia, One Of The Most Beautiful Regions In Europe
Croatia is a country in Central Europe between Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. It has an exit to the Adriatic Sea. With the capital at Zagreb, Croatia, one of the founding members of Yugoslavia gained its independence in 1991.
Croats arrived in Dalmatia and Pannonia in the seventh century. Led by Croatian Princes, dukes since 852, Dalmatia, comprising the territory of Pannonia, after a period of Byzantine and Carolingian dominion, became a powerful independent kingdom in 924. In 1102 the Croats have become vassals of the king of Hungary.
In the fifteenth century Hungarian kingdom was hard hit due to the expansion of the Ottoman, the Turks conquering Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, Dalmatia became mostly Venetian. Dubrovnik, Byzantine and Venetian city-state in the beginning, unlike other city-states of Dalmatia, gained its independence, being known as the Republic of Dubrovnik.
After the Battle of Mohács in 1526 the Croatian Parliament offered the country to the Habsburgs. Because of this, until the eighteenth century, the greatest part of Croatian territory was liberated from Turkish dominion. In large part, this area was shaped by the Ottoman conquests. Istria, Dalmatia and Dubrovnik, came in time, between 1797 and 1815 under Habsburg authority.
During the Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy, the Croatian territory was divided between its two components, Dalmatia was included in Austria, and northern (Croatia-Slavonia) being part of Hungary. Although in 1868, Hungary granted certain autonomy to Croatia, in which leadership was exercised by the Hungarian political class and political and cultural rights of Croats were violated.
After the First World War, Croatia joined the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (around Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia), which together with Serbia, subsequently formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. Yugoslavia was invaded during the Second World War; Croatia was turned into a fascist puppet state called the Independent State of Croatia. After the defeat of the Axis powers, Yugoslavia became a federal socialist republic.
Along with Slovenia, Croatia declared its independence on June 25, 1991, following the Croatian war for independence. The first country to recognize the new state was Germany, in December 1991. Croatia is currently enrolled in the European Union accession. Negotiations began in December 2005. Croatia is situated in the Balkan Peninsula. It has many neighbors: Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy. Its continental territory is divided in two, because of the exit to the Adriatic Sea which Bosnia and Herzegovina have at Neum.
Terrain: Plains, hills, lakes in N – NE (Central Croatia and Slavonia, part of the Pannonian plain); mountains (Lika, Gorski Kotar, Dinaric Alps); rocky coast of the Adriatic Sea (Istria, Dalmatia). The climate is temperate-continental in the north and east, Mediterranean coast and in central and southern Montana. On the UNESCO World Heritage List are registered from Croatia the following objectives: The historic center of Dubrovnik (1979, 1994); The historic center of Split and Diocletian’s Palace (1979); Plitvice National Park (1979, 2000); Euphrasius Church and the historical center of Porec (1997); Old Town Trogir (1997); ST. Jacob Cathedral in Šibenik (2000).
At the census of 2001 Croatia had 4,437,460 inhabitants. The residents of the census of 2001 were 4,399,364 (99.14%) Croatian citizenship, 44,340 (1.00%) still had a nationality. 17,902 (0.40%) held a foreign citizenship, and 9811 (0.22%) had no citizenship. The 10,383 inhabitants (0.23%) nationality was unknown. Official language: Croatian. Other languages that are spoken: Slovenian, Hungarian, Italian. Religion: Roman Catholic (72%), Christian Orthodox (14%), Muslim, Protestant, Jewish. Currency: kuna.
Croatia lies between the Danube, Drava and the Adriatic Sea. Croatia comprises depressions in lower valleys of the Sava and Drava (part of the Pannonian plain) and a high plateau with Croatia Karlovac depression and a hilly region, plus a mountain parallel to the coast, mountains made of Velika Kapela, Velebit Dinaric Alps, stretches towards the Adriatic coast of Dalmatia deeply ridged, with Istrian peninsula and islands around 1880, the region is crossed by water and the Danube, with its tributaries, the Sava and Drava (belonging to the Black Sea basin) and a series of short rivers, including the Neretva, Adriatic Sea Basin.
Despite its location in a deprived geographical area, often disturbed by armed conflicts or simply held by the diplomatic level, Croatia has long been considered one of the most beautiful regions of Europe. Its fame owes much of the Dalmatian coast, exit to the Adriatic Sea, materialized in one of the most spectacular coastal areas worldwide. Before the separation of Croatia from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in 1991 only came here more than 10 million tourists annually.
The war has temporarily halted this trend, which is now beginning to emerge again, with more power. Westerners visiting Croatia to enjoy sun, sea and nature of an extremely economical way to its Adriatic coast is the local variant much more affordable and interesting of the Costa del Sol. Here can be found many medieval monuments and some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Europe. Another great advantage is the impeccable quality of services provided by Croatia, whether it’s about the accommodation or about simple courtesy of the highly civilized people, difficult to associate with what we usually mean by “Balkan nation”.
Luxury hotels are found along the entire Dalmatian coast, but for people who count the money twice before you pay, there are double rooms with prices ranging between 12 and 40 dollars (now euro) per night. With about 60 USD a day can rent private apartments with two or three rooms. In seaside resorts in peak season prices are lower, but at the same time increasing the inner cities, especially in the capital Zagreb.
There on the Dalmatian coast and camping option, about 100 in number, this is open between 15 May and late September. Local hostels offer cheap, clean rooms, many of which can be booked in advance via the Internet. Service quality is very good regardless if you decide you staying at a hotel or rent an apartment or a room on the individuals.
Most European cities are related to the Croatian capital Zagreb by regular flights. The international airport is 17 km from the city, south-east. The local tax is 93 kuna (KN), about 11 USD, but is usually included in the ticket price. Buses leave frequently from Zagreb to more cities in Hungary and Germany, but also to Amsterdam and Brussels. From here you can travel by train to Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia and Yugoslavia.
The ferry is especially recommended for connection to Greece and Italy. Domestically, Croatia Airlines provides regular flights from Zagreb to Brac, Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar. Buses travel all over the country and are very affordable. Trains are cheaper and more comfortable, but not as fast. Travel on water is recommended for travel between the coast and islands, or travel between the latter. Thus, there are ferries commutes several times a day between Dubrovnik and Rijeka. Others link the Mali Losinj and Zadar and the main Croatian islands.
Tourists traveling by own car in Croatia are offered four points of the border with Hungary, 29 in Slovenia, 23 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and 7 in Yugoslavia. The speed limit is 60 km / h in towns, 90 km / h outside and 130 km / h on the highway. The latter connects Albania to Italy along the spectacular Adriatic coast, offering a unique experience sensation for amateur drivers.
Some regions included in Croatia’s tourist circuit, although at first glance seem to be extremely welcoming and well cared for, can hide some anti-personnel mines, left over from the war. Most likely they are on the banks of the Danube in eastern Slavonia and Krajina. Do not venture in any form fields or abandoned villages. Local currency, kuna HRK (approximately 100 HRK – 13.6 EUR), is divided into 100 subunits called Lipa. Money can be raised from the banks between 7:30 and 19:00 (weekdays), respectively, between 8:00 and 12:00 Saturday. Stores where you can spend the bonus are open the same hours, except on the coast, where at around 1:00 p.m. people take lunch.
Croatia has a kitchen heterogeneous, with differences from one region to another, the proto-Slavic roots especially seen in the continental regions. Many traditional festivals are related to culinary ways, be it physical activities (gathering fruit or building a house), religion (Christmas, Easter, pilgrimages, holy days) or crucial events in everyone’s life (baptism, wedding day birth, funeral).
Some are public holidays, while others are celebrated in the family, but there is one for each dish. The pilgrimages and fairs to eat pork and potatoes, Christmas Eve and Holy Vineir eat cod and New Year’s Day to prepare pork. Donuts are always present at carnivals and in the south are preparing something like donuts, called hrostule. Easter ham and boiled eggs served with vegetables and dessert is composed of several traditional dishes. Kulen is a way that includes meat is served hot and at harvest. The Christmas goose is cooked meat, turkey and other poultry, and cabbage. At weddings it serves a variety of culinary dishes and dozens of cookies and sweets. Some favorite dishes include Croatian roasted lamb and pork meat, grilled fish, ham, cheese and fish soup.
Croats are wild after much oil or bacon dishes that lubricate well the stomach. These include traditional delicacies weight burek, a pie made from several layers of meat or cheese, and Piroska, met with a predilection dessert cheese in Zagreb region. Among the best known continental specialties manistra od Bobic (a soup made from dried beans and grains of new corn) and struki (dumplings with cheese, fried in oil). The chapter drink is ideal to taste local wines, but beer lovers can choose between brand choices, as conservatives in the cuisine can be found anywhere as fast food products, food and good, and boring steak fries.
The seaside cuisine is greatly influenced by the Italian, with significant differences from north to south. The Istrian peninsula, for example, food is cooked rather than fried, is very spicy and contains more fish and olive oil. Seafood is also a basic ingredient. Some specialties include brodet coast (a food fish choked, mixed with boiled rice), visovacka begavica which is made from lamb and sheep kefir, and orahnjaca (a dessert of flour, yeast, sugar and many ground peanuts).
Cheese and Pag is famous on the island of the same name, prepared by a secret recipe. Coast red wines are preferred: Teran, Cabernet and Merlot in Istria, Opolo, Plavac, Postup and Dingac in Dalmatia. The main white wine varieties in the region are Malvazija, Kujundzusa and Nibbling or biting. Even if it’s difficult to find very cheap accommodation, transport, food and entrance tickets to concerts or theater at reasonable prices. An austerity budget for visiting Croatia is therefore a ceiling can keep $ 35 per day, you live in hostels or in private homes, even less if you stay in camp. Double this amount if you are addicted to comfort and triple it if you want something eccentricity.
Croatian government intentionally overestimates kuna at low prices to obtain hard currency. You can change money in different places at similar rates. The difference is that currency exchange offices charge a fee, and banks do not. The latter still having the advantage that the only who convert foreign currency in kuna. You can withdraw money from your credit card anywhere in the country, although not all banks accept Visa.
Mentioned first documentary in 1094, Zagreb became a free city since 1242. Important medieval fortress, it was between 1526 and 1918 under Austrian rule, under the name of Agram. It was appointed provincial capital in 1557; much of the medieval city is keeping in good condition until today. After scaring the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Croatia was included in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, briefly called Yugoslavia since 1929.
Local nationalists, angered by the fact that Belgrade was named capital, instead of their much-beloved Zagreb, allied with the rebels and organized the murder of Macedonian King Alexander, in protest in 1934. Although this story was supposed to give the Serbs thought, they bombed the Presidential Palace in Zagreb in October 1991, drew on their European Union sanctions. But the Croatian capital has not suffered too much, showing today seem to be more beautiful than ever. Communications hub and university, Zagreb Fair is famous for its international samples.
The Croatian capital lies at the foot of Mount Medvednica, the two historical hills and Kaptol Gradec, being crossed by the river Sava. Zagreb is formed, in fact, by three distinct areas: the Upper Town, lined with relics of past times, Lower Town, with the appearance typical European capital Zagreb and a new urban complex of specific buildings and modern architecture. All periods in the history of the city left their mark on the appearance of monuments, of streets, parks and gardens.
Neo-baroque style buildings, such as the National Theatre, neo-Gothic Cathedral, the Museum Mimara, Dolac outdoor market or Ban Jelacic Square are just some of the landmarks of the city. Going up the funicular, and then discover the narrow streets of the Upper Town, with St. Michael Church and the Stone Gate. Here is the Lotrscak Tower, built in the thirteenth century, the top which can be seen in the palm around the Croatian capital. Welcome would then walk through city parks, renowned for their beauty.
Most Croats are Roman Catholic, while Serbs are Orthodox Old Rite territory, meaning that they worship the icons, priests and accept the marriage, to the horror and the horror of the majority, the word does not give two shakes of his Holiness the Pope. Despite the downturn recorded in the communist period, Catholicism now shows resurgence in popularity among Croats, churches are full of believers every Sunday. Muslims are also found in Zagreb (about 1.1% of the city population), Protestant (0.4%) and a tiny Jewish community.
Sculptor Ivan Mestrovic (1883-1962) most resembles is representative of Croatian art world renowned for his paintings of historical inspiration, but for a number of classical compositions. His sculptures can be found in many markets across the country, especially in the capital. Also, some buildings Mestrovic designed structure of the utmost importance for Croatia, which include the National History Museum in Zagreb.
Neo-Gothic Cathedral – Formerly known as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, it is now dedicated to the Assumption. It stands out mainly because the two twin towers, built in neo-Gothic style, visible from virtually any area of the city. Unfortunately, it is almost always in the process of renovation, largely because of its tumultuous history. Founded in 1093, was completed only in 1242 the original building in the Romanesque style.
The next 21 years have been quite harmful to the building, badly damaged by the repeated sieges of the Tartars. In 1624, a series of devastating fires almost completely destroyed the church, because, in 1645, the last eruption of flames to break down all that was left standing. Rebuilt with great difficulty, was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1880. There followed 12 years of restoration, during which they raised its beautiful neo-Gothic towers. In 1990, restoration work commenced on the exterior of the cathedral and is still under development. The old buildings are preserved frescoes of the thirteenth century, Renaissance pews, marble altars and a pulpit in Baroque style.
Housed in a neo-Renaissance style building, Mimara Museum contains one of the most valuable art collections in Europe. The objects, some thousands in number, were donated by Ante Topic Mimara municipality, a private collector, originally from Zagreb. Currently, the museum’s galleries are at 3750 works of art, which include signed works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Gogh and Da Vinci. Here one can admire an impressive collection of artifacts belonging to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, or ancient Rome. The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10:00 and 17:00, and Thursdays between 10:00 and 14:00.
Mirogoj Cemetery – Located in the north of Zagreb, Mirogoj is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe. Here you can admire some absolutely spectacular mausoleums and English landscape type are surrounded by a large arch neo-Renaissance style, dating from the nineteenth century. Flickering lamps, arranged with ornate tombstones and surrounded by colorful flowers, make this place the rest of the dead in a corner of paradise for the living. It is interesting to note how different religions are represented here, languages and cultures. Cemetery is the final resting place for local personalities such as Drazen Petrovic, Franjo Tuđman Petar Preradovie or Ljudevita Gaja.
Wild Animal Farm – Description Maksimir park, located in Zagreb, seems to be the very definition of the ideal place to relax: green lawns, lakes with clear water and sky like a watercolor painting. The 18 hectares of land covered with lush vegetation were open to the public in 1794; the park opened the first of its kind in this region of Europe. For those who do not like flowers without fauna, Maksimir also offers a surprise: the road to the city zoo.
Nada flowers – Established in 1890, Zagreb botanical garden contains over 10,000 species of plants, some more spectacular than others. In addition, the nature park was flooded in for all kinds of turtles, birds and entire families of ducks. For recreation, the visitors are made several times by benches.
Croatians like to joke that each of them saying they can buy an island if they want. Not likely, but not impossible, considering the large relief of the former Yugoslav republics. In short, Croatia totaling 1777 km offshore Continental Island 4012 km from shore and not less than 1185 islands, islets and atols, of which only 66 are inhabited. Hard to do a stack of these patches of land, whose shapes and colors are impossible to describe in words. Let’s add on the coast there are only three major national parks, covering 36,000 hectares of land, and forecasters promise that some 2,600 hours of sunshine every year. Croats have speculated the beauty of their homeland blood, investing heavily in tourism. As proof, look great hotels, and ports of thousands of abundant recreational boats.
It’s hard to say which part of the Croatian coastline is more suited for a vacation, because everywhere there are serious temptations. Istria Peninsula, located in the northern Dalmatian coast, is an idyllic region, blessed with ancient cities, forests and a chain of resorts, including Opatija, Porec, Umag, Rovinj. Immediately to the south is the island of Krk, the largest in Croatia.
It is connected by a bridge and the coast has its own airport. Note two resorts: Malinska and Baska. Going south you reach Split, the largest city on the Croatian Adriatic coast. Nearby is the island of Brac, famous for its beaches. Dubrovnik, the last major city on the coast, is a maze of streets paved with river stone, with marble floors and markets, churches, palaces, fountains and museums.
Rocky Adriatic coast is a paradise for yachting enthusiasts. There are plenty of excellent channels for navigation, and boats can be rented from any port in east. Sea kayaking Elafiti practice and Kornati islands. Recently developed and diving centers in areas where topography allows this activity. Also, professional rock climbers can occur, exceptionally, on the seashore.
Croatia includes no fewer than seven national parks. Brijuni is the most extreme care, being placed here the best preserved Mediterranean oak forests. Risnjak National Park, at altitude, is the home race, while in the lush forests of Paklenica and has made numerous dwelling insects, reptiles and birds, including eagles, a species endangered. Plitvice Lakes National Park is the kingdom of bears, wolves and deers.
Climate on the Adriatic coast is different than in the mainland areas of Croatia. Sunny regions on the Dalmatian coast is remarkably hot and dry summers, while winters are very mild here, but rainy. Rocky coastline protects Croatian high cold winds from the north, bringing autumn to early spring and extending to the middle of winter.
Istrian Peninsula – It lies in the extreme northwest Dalmatian coast, almost broken by the rest of Croatia, it is united by a thin strip of land near the town of Rijeka. Its shape is similar to that of a heart, and the border with Slovenia which has a neighbor is greater than about its own country. The entire region is extremely picturesque, standing out both by the unspoiled beauty of its forests, and by the Roman remains of its main cities, particularly well preserved. You can visit a Roman amphitheater in perfect condition, and a temple of Augustus. Among the Istrian villages still to be seen necessarily include Opatja and resort town of Rovinj. In the southern peninsula is the island of Krk, the largest included in the territory of Croatia.
Rovinj – Located on the western side of the Istria Peninsula , Rovinj is a charming city with clean and elegant streets, paved with cubic stone. The village is bordered by wooded knolls at the bottom of which were built elegant hotels for tourists who come here from around the world. The port city is always crowded with fishing boats, bringing it up here very easily in the Italian city of Trieste. In addition, Rovinj has its own archipelago, consisting of 13 emerald islands, clearly visible from the coast when the sky is blue. The town is dominated by the largest baroque building in the peninsula of Istria, the Cathedral of St. Euphemia, with a height of 57 feet and dating from the days when Rovinj Venetian fleet was one of the bastions.
The relics of Saint Euphemia were brought here from Constantinople in the year 800 after Christ, five centuries after its martyrdom. Every year on September 16, St. Euphemia is celebrated by Christians. Turning to the secular, Rovinj Aquarium is open for over a century, housing an impressive collection of venomous fish and colorful anemones. In the southern city, lies Forest Park Punta Corrente, a great place for walking, swimming and declarations of love.
Greater influence over its neighbors is among the most evident in Croatia, especially on the coast. Only in Rovinj there is a very large Italian community and brings much Istrian cuisine with the Latins. Music has changed in this context. For example kolo, a Slavic dance alert, is now accompanied by violinists or singers in the Roman style drum, a mandolin as local. Croatian bands play guitar and accordion melodies themselves diverse unquestioned Italian flavor.
The best months to visit are May and September in Croatia. In July and August the Dalmatian coast is dangerously crowded. September is the ideal time for an extended stay as prices fall, hordes of tourists returning home, the water is still warm, and fruits, which are delicious, can be found at your discretion.
Rab Island, located south of the Istrian peninsula is a magnet for admirers of the Adriatic. Arid and rocky in the north-east, it is covered in the south-west of lush pine forests. Medieval town of Rab, one of the most beautiful in the region, is built on a narrow peninsula, which closes a sheltered port. Towers of four village churches are easy to spot among the red roofs of houses. St. Anthony Monastery was built in 1675 in Romanesque cathedral dedicated to Our Lady has a beautiful terrace facing the sea, and the church of St. Justine currently houses a small museum of religious art. The old church of St. John has not only keep a bell and a part of the foundation.
Ruins of ancient city Salona (now known Solin) wine lands are located north of Split and is the most interesting archaeological zone in Croatia. Salona was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia from the time of Julius Caesar, and by 614 BC, when it was conquered by barbarians. Outside the old city walls was a burial place of Christians killed in this period when religion was considered illegal, as well as a basilica in the fifth century, there was opened a museum of archeology.
To the south are the ruins of a place of Christian worship, which included a church, a public bath and a place for baptisms. At the western extremity of the salon you can visit the remains of a vast amphitheater dating from the second century AC, destroyed by the Venetians in the seventeenth century, so it can not be used as refuge by Turkish invaders.
Split – The city is considered by locals the heart of the Dalmatian coast. It is located 150 km north of Dubrovnik, the largest town on the coast. When Salona colony was invaded by barbarians, in the seventh century, many of its inhabitants fled to Split, behind the high walls of Diocletian’s palace.
The main attraction of the city, where it is now found most impressive Roman ruins in the region. Built as a fortress, it sheltered the imperial apartments, several temples and a mausoleum. Excellent preserved an original palace hall, market, with columns, Temple of Jupiter and the Mausoleum of Diocletian, now transformed into a cathedral. Roman ruins are found next to some medieval buildings, including a town hall dating from the fifteenth century.
Caius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus known to us mostly in the name of Diocletian was emperor of Rome between 284 and 305. Through his reforms, he founded the political-administrative system of domination. But the empire was not the only passion of Diocletian, who often killed during the aristocracy and organizing lavish Vulgate both games, in which was a pleasure to whet lions of early Christians. After he abdicated in 305, Diocletian retired to Split (then Spalatum), where he died 11 years later.
The most interesting museum in Split is the Navy, which is housed in a fortress dating from the seventeenth century. Among the exhibits include an extensive collection of maps, photographs, artifacts and various forms. Museum of Archaeology is extremely original many of its key parts are displayed in a garden outside.
Founded in the seventh century AC, the city of Dubrovnik had a very troubled history, which fortunately left behind numerous monuments of beauty. Anyone who has ever set foot in the old town to coastal markets left immediately charmed by its paved with marble, it crossed with cobblestone streets and take delight admired tall houses, churches, monasteries, palaces, fountains and museums, all built from the same stone as a pale moonbeam.
Surrounded by high walls for protection, the city was blessed with an extremely pleasant climate and rich vegetation, due to his placement at the southern end of the Dalmatian coast. Although heavily bombed in 1991, Dubrovnik has been restored, saying that its visitors would be better today than even before the war. Among its attractions include Stradun, a wonderful promenade for the exclusive use of pedestrians, which crosses the city from one end to another.11