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After more than a decade of civil and ethnic unrest, Croatia is
once again emerging as an attractive tourist destination. With
its magnificent coastline, 1,185 islands, islets and reefs, Roman
ruins and picturesque medieval villages, it is fast becoming a
rival to the magical Greek islands - alluring for lovers of fun,
sun, local colour, great food and a little history.
After centuries of fighting for independence, and being sliced
and diced geographically to suit political and ethnic divisions,
Croatia has ended up arc-shaped. Its long Adriatic coastline
forms the western leg, tapering to the unique ancient seaport
of Dubrovnik in the south, while the land between the rivers
Drava and Sava form the northern section. The capital, Zagreb,
sits in-between.
The most prominent feature of Croatia's tourist industry is
its Dalmatian coastline, which is indented with rocky cliffs,
peninsulas and small inlets. Numerous good quality hotels and
marinas have been resurrected or constructed in the past few
years, and the Croatian province is once again beginning to enjoy
a tourist boom reminiscent of its heyday in the 1930s. There
is a special atmosphere to Croatian towns and villages, many
of which are built on the sites of ancient Greek settlements
dating from the 4th century BC. This, coupled with a welcoming
and determined population, Mediterranean climate, scenic beauty
and lush vegetation, is aiding Croatia's rise from the ashes
of war into one of the world's tourist hotspots.
Essentials:
Time:Local
time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Saturday in March to end
of October).
Electricity: Electrical
current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European style round, two-pin
plugs are standard.
Language: The
official language is Croat.
.
Communications: The
international access code for Croatia is +385. The outgoing code is 00
followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).
The city code for Zagreb is (0)1 and (0)20 for Dubrovnik. Public phones
take phone cards, which can be bought in post offices and hotels. GSM
operators have active roaming agreements with most international networks,
and cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the larger
towns and cities.
.
Belgium Climate :The climate of Belgium is temperate with marked seasons. Belgium
experiences pleasant warm summer weather between May and September,
and fairly cold winters with snowfalls commonplace
DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik © Croatian National Tourist Board
Despite a turbulent history during which it has been occupied and
conquered by a succession of its neighbours and European colonial
powers, Dubrovnik is now a town at peace, allowing visitors to
make the most of its rich vegetation, beautiful lakes, white pebble
beaches and crystal-clear sea.
Political upheaval has seldom kept tourists away from this uniquely
lovely Adriatic port city; for centuries it has drawn those seeking
fine accommodations, excellent cuisine, beautiful surroundings
and recreational opportunities. George Bernard Shaw is quoted
as describing Dubrovnik as 'heaven on earth'.
The old town, dating from the 7th century, is on UNESCO's list
of World Heritage Sites. Enclosed by city walls built in the
12th century, the buildings of the town represent a cross-section
of medieval architectural styles and remain well preserved. The
centre of the town is the Stradun, its main street, which was
originally a channel separating an island from the mainland,
and was filled in to join two opposite towns into the merged
city of Dubrovnik. The main tourist area lies southeast of the
old town at Ploce, where most hotels and the best beaches can
be found. There are numerous churches, monasteries and museums
to explore and the coastal belt is awash with marinas, piers
and promenades.
ATTRACTIONS IN DUBROVNIK
Franciscan Monastery
The 14th-century Franciscan church and monastery enclosed
in the walls of medieval Dubrovnik boasts a world-renowned collection of ancient
manuscripts,
open for viewing to the public in a beautiful reading room. The research library
has been utilised by many famous writers and historians, including Croatian
literary scholars. The original library of the monastery was destroyed by fire
after an earthquake in 1667, and the present collection was put together in
the early 19th century by a Franciscan friar, Inocentije Culic, who energetically
worked to save the manuscripts of several monasteries that were closed down
during the French occupation of the city. The friar donated hundreds of manuscripts
and valuable printed works to the library, leaving the city of Dubrovnik a
treasure-house of learning and literature. Also at the Franciscan Monastery
is a fascinating pharmacy museum, which preserves the relics of the medieval
pharmacy that was run in the monastery as far back as 1317.
Address: Placa 2; Telephone: (0)20 321 410; Opening time: 9am to 6pm daily;
Admission: 6 kn (adults), 4 kn (children)
City Walls
The impressive walls enclosing the ancient city of Dubrovnik were
laid out in the 13th century and became an ongoing work for almost two centuries.
Today
they stand proudly with five bastions, three round towers and 12 square towers,
and provide a popular diversion for visitors wishing to explore their 6,365ft
(1,940m) length.
Address: Gundulièeva poljana
2; Telephone: (0)20 425 942; Opening time: 9am to 7.30pm (summer), 10am to
3pm (winter); Admission: 15 kn (adults); 5
kn (children)
Marin Drzic’s
House
Croatia’s literary genius, Marin Drzic, has
been immortalised by turning his Dubrovnik home into a museum which introduces
visitors to the writer with
a 40-minute presentation on his life and work. The presentation is also a good
introduction for visitors to the history and culture of Dubrovnik itself.
Address: Široka ulica 7; Telephone:
(0)20 420 490; Website: www.mdc.hr/dubrovnik; Opening time: 9am to 1pm, closed
Sundays. The presentation is shown to groups
of 15 at a time; Admission: 10 kn (adults); 5 kn (students and children)
ZAGREB
Zagreb, capital of Croatia, is the country's economic centre and gateway to
Western Europe. The city is sited on the slopes of Medvednica Mountain along
the banks of the Sava River, in the northern part of Croatia. The core of the
city consists of the preserved medieval city, known as Gradec and Kaptol, while
the residential area covers the southern slopes of the Medvednica Mountains.
Since the 1950s the city has grown appreciably to the south of the Sava River,
and the main industrial area is in the southeast. Besides being a commercial
hub Zagreb is a tourist centre, and a popular international conference venue,
with a history dating back nearly a thousand years. It is rich in historical
monuments, museums and galleries, has modern shops, restaurants, sport and
recreation facilities and a good transport infrastructure. Its attractions
are largely historical, dating from the Palaeolithic Veternica Cave, through
Roman culture and the fascinating medieval old town.
ATTRACTIONS IN ZAGREB
Andautonia Archaeological Park
Near the village of Scitarjevo, close to Zagreb,
are the remains of the ancient Roman town of Andautonia which have been excavated
and provide a fascinating
tourist attraction. Andautonia was a prominent administrative, economic, cultural
and religious centre about 400 years ago. Archaeologists are still excavating
the site, but visitors can view a 26,910 square foot (2,500 sq m) area of the
Roman City including parts of the main street, city baths, colonnades and side
streets. Tourists can also visit the present-day village of Scitarjevo, which
offers examples of typical rural farms with their characteristic wooden houses.
Address: Archaeological Museum:
19 Nikola Subic Zrinski Square; Telephone: (0)1 487 3000; Transport: Regular
buses run to the site from Zapruðe and
Velika Gorica; Opening time: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 8pm;
Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm (May to 23 September). Tuesday to Sunday 10am
to 6pm (24 September to October). Museum: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday
and Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission: 10 kn (adults), 5 kn (concessions)
Croatian History Museum
The building that houses Croatia’s history is itself a part of that
history. Sited in the historical town centre, it is the beautiful Baroque palace,
Vojkovic-Orsic-Rauch, built at the end of the 18th century and formerly the
private residence of three successive baronial families. In the late 1930s
the palace became the residence of Zagreb’s mayors, before being designated
as a repository for the historical relics of the city. It currently houses
more than 140,000 artefacts in various collections, from stone monuments to
fine art, religious artefacts to heraldry. The exhibitions are not permanent
but constantly changing so that all the collections get an airing.
Address: Matoševa
9; Telephone: (01) 4851 900; Opening time: Daily
10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission:
10 kn (adults), 5 kn (concessions). Free on Mondays
SPLIT
The pretty city of Split has a rich history. Since ancient times it has, in
various guises, served as the economic and administrative centre of the beautiful
Croatian Adriatic coastal region, today called Dalmatia. The city sits mainly
on a peninsula on the eastern part of the island of Ciovo, although it has
nowadays spread onto the mainland and encompasses the mouth of the River Cetina.
From the 5th to the 2nd century BC Greek colonists settled the mainland and
adjacent islands. Later, came the Romans: in particular the Emperor Diocletian,
who, being of Dalmatian origin, elected to build a huge palace at a spot then
called Salona, in AD303. A town grew up around the palace, and eventually,
by the Middle Ages, the city of Split had begun to develop. Diocletian's Palace
still stands in the very heart of the old part of Split, which charms visitors
with its cobbled streets. The greater Split area is characterised by its lush
vegetation and green areas, particularly Marjan Hill on the west of the peninsula
with its ancient indigenous forest. The city makes an ideal base from which
to explore the islands, beauty spots, and historic villages in central Dalmatia.
Split Summer Festival
The month-long festival of contemporary arts has been entertaining visitors
for over half a century in the delightful city of Split. A number of performances
in music, art, fringe and dance take place and the lively atmosphere throughout
the city entices visitors from all over Europe, for whom Croatia is a favourite
summer getaway.
Venue: Various; Date: 14 July to 14 August 2007; Website: www.splitsko-ljeto.hr/splitskaljeta/index.htm
CONTACTS:
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should you require
consular help - here are the details
Croatian National Tourist Board, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 469 9333 or www.croatia.hr
Embassy of Croatia, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 588 5899.
Embassy of Croatia, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7387 2022.
Embassy of Croatia, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 562 7820.
Embassy of Croatia, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6286 6988.
Embassy of Croatia, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 1206.
Embassy of Croatia, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 476 7181.
Consulate-General of Croatia, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 836 5581.
United States Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 661 2200.
British Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 600 9100.
Canadian Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 488 1211.
Australian Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 489 1200.
South African Honorary Consulate, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 489 4111.
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 631 0025.
New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Croatia): +39 (0)6 441
7171.
Emergencies: 92 (Police); 94 (Ambulance)
AIRPORTS:
Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
Location: The airport is situated 10 miles (17km) southeast
of Zagreb. Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Saturday in March
to end October). Contacts:
Tel: +385 (0)1 45 62 222. Transfer to the city: A bus service connects to the
city centre's bus station, leaving from outside the international arrivals
hall. A taxi rank is also situated right outside the international arrivals.
Car rental: Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz are among the rental agencies
represented at the airport. Facilities: The airport has a bank, duty-free shops,
a post office, tourist information kiosk, and 24-hour left luggage service.
The Faust Vranèiæ Restaurant is situated on the first floor of
the passenger's terminal; a cafe/bar is also available. Departure tax: None.
Website: www.zagreb-airport.hr
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