The coastline undulates along the Mediterranean Sea, craggy cliffs giving way to medieval towns and half-hidden pocket beaches. Small harbors welcome home fishing boats and pleasure craft, and larger ports host cruise ships filled with vacationers eager to get a look at this ancient land. This is Croatia, built by kings, strained by war and still showing a spirit undaunted by the stresses of the modern world. Find your Croatia on the streets of a city that had its origins in the seventh century, on the shores of a quiet lake or sipping a fine red on an island that's been growing grapes for centuries.
Visiting Dubrovnik
- Its nickname is the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” The walled city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to the seventh century and has survived massive earthquakes and the horrors of war. The architecture is mixture of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance, most evident in the churches and palaces that dot this city. Visitors from the sea are greeted by a massive wall that surrounds the well-laid-out red-roofed community. To the south is a small harbor that’s been welcoming fishing boats for centuries. Enter Old Town via the Pile Gate and you cross a wooden drawbridge that once protected Dubrovnik from invaders. Steps to the left of the entry lead to the Minceta Tower, once the domain of armed guards, now a viewing platform that offers picture-postcard views of Dubrovnik and the Mediterranean.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
- On the northern end of Croatia close to the Bosnia/Herzegovina border is another UNESCO-designated site. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is made up of 16 lakes divided into two sections. The upper section is surrounded by forests and the lakes are deep, fed by waterfalls heavy with mountain runoff. The lower lakes are shallower and surrounded by a more open landscape. Roughly 126 species of birds are found in the park, along with the European brown bear, wolves, owls and eagles. Plitvice Lakes National Park also has cultural significance. Evidence of Illyrian and then Roman settlements dating back to 1000 B.C. have been found. The Slavs arrived in the eighth century. They left behind pieces of ceramic and tools dating to the Bronze Age. Hiking and cycling trails run through this day-use park; various hiking routes take anywhere from two to eight hours to complete.
Kornati Islands National Park
- Sitting off the northern Dalmatian coast, the 147 islands of Kornati Islands National Park are a draw for snorkelers and scuba divers. Most of the islands are uninhabited, which enhances the underwater experience. Acres of coral and the craggy coastline give fish the nooks and crannies they need to hide from predators, and divers don’t have to swim out very far to find abundant marine life. One favored diving area is the Telascica Bay Nature Park, a sheltered waterway dotted with 10 islands, some of them mere blips in the water. One of the largest islands in the area is Vgljan. It’s 12-mile length includes the town of Preko and acres of fig and olive trees.
Island of Korcula
- The locals lay claim to the explorer Marco Polo, steadfast in their belief that the legendary sailor was born within the walled city of Korcula. Boats carry his name and even the modern Hotel Marco Polo boasts an association with the man. Even without that tidbit of local history, the walled city of Korcula is a medieval feast for the eyes. The entry into Old Town is a gate, the Kopnena Vrata, which was built in the 14th century. Once inside you’ll find the Town Museum, housing works of art created in the 1400s. Korcula is also home to the Moreska Sword Dance, a re-creation of a fight between two kings over a maiden. The dance is performed on the Old Town streets every year on St. Todor’s Day, July 29. The fact that the swords are real adds an element of danger to the celebration. The Croatians wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wine-Tasting on Hvar Island
- The Island of Hvar sits off the central coast of Croatia near the town of Split. Hvar Town, framed by walls that date back seven centuries, is a piece of medieval history only steps from the ferry. High above the town is the impressive fortress, the best place in the city to get a panoramic view of the area. Head out into the countryside and you'll find the real treasure of Hvar Island, the wines. Blessed with an average of 2,724 hours or sunshine each year, the grapes ripen to perfection, as they have been since the Greeks first planted their vines in 384 B.C. Head out on your own to do a bit of wine-tasting or join a tour. Half-day wine tours from Hvar Adventures include transportation from your hotel or boat, a tour of one of the wineries and sampling of wines with tasty snacks to go along with them; full-day tours include two wineries and a picnic in an olive grove. A favored saying on the island is “pijese na ure, ne na litre.” It means “one drinks in hours, not liters.” The idea is that good wine should be shared and savored. That is the way of things in Croatia.
