Croatia stands out as a remarkable destination that seamlessly blends history, culture, and natural beauty. Its stunning architecture, rich maritime history, superb cuisine, and vibrant local life find it on many travelers’ bucket list. It is a favorite destination of Europeans and is a recent discovery of Americans, which results in many tourists during late summer. However, a fine time to visit would be Apr, May, Jun, Sep, or Oct.
This picturesque country is located in southeastern Europe. Croatia has a crescent shape, with mountainous regions in the west, flat plains in the north, and a long, thin coastline and over a thousand islands nestled along the Adriatic Sea across from the Eastern coast of Italy. The Dinaric Alps rise in the western part, providing breathtaking views and numerous outdoor activities. The coastal areas benefit from a Mediterranean climate, featuring hot, sunny summers and mild winters, while the inland regions experience a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.
Linda and I spent the last two weeks of August exploring along the Dalmatian Coast. Week one was land-based around Dubrovnik, with a few days in neighboring Montenegro around Kotor Bay (a 2 ½ hour drive). Week two was aboard a mini cruise ship (36 passengers max) traveling the islands between Split and Dubrovnik. See next week's post for a complete review by Linda of the experience and other options for travel to Croatia.
The history of Croatia is rich and complex. The Croats settled in the region around A.D. 500, and by the 10th century, Croatia had established itself as a kingdom. Over the centuries, it was ruled by various powers, including the Romans, the Venetians, the Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, Croatia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which later transformed into Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence in 1991, leading to a tumultuous civil war that lasted until 1995.
The country has since made significant strides towards recovery and development, joining the European Union in 2013 and adopting the euro in 2023. The predominant religion is Roman Catholic, and the official language is Croatian. The economy is mixed, with significant contributions from tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. The tourism sector thrives due to the country's natural beauty, historical sites, and cultural festivals. The manufacturing industry produces a variety of goods, including food products, machinery, and textiles. Agriculture remains vital, with fertile lands supporting the cultivation of crops such as corn, wheat, and grapes, which are used for wine production.
Dubrovnik, often referred to as "The Pearl of the Adriatic," has a history deeply intertwined with maritime trade and diplomacy. This UNESCO World Heritage has extensive, well-preserved medieval architecture and breathtaking scenery – no wonder it was a key filming location for Game of Thrones. The iconic city walls, built in the 16th century, encircle the Old Town and are among the best-preserved fortifications in Europe. Throughout the Middle Ages, Dubrovnik maintained a delicate balance of power, skillfully navigating relationships with larger empires, including the Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice. This strategic positioning allowed Dubrovnik to flourish economically, becoming a significant trading hub by the 15th and 16th centuries, even establishing trade routes as far as India and the Americas. A visit to Old Town Dubrovnik is an exotic step back in time. We visited a pharmacy that has been in continued existence since 1317. To walk the narrow streets dotted with outdoor cafes and bustling nightlight definitely made me wonder how much had really changed in 500 years.
While in Dubrovnik and Montenegro, we immersed in many of the available activities such as kayaking, hiking, wine tasting, oyster tasting at an oyster and mussel farm, scuba diving, sunset cruise on a luxury yacht, swimming at the some of the many beaches, watching local water polo, riding the cable car, and tours of old town.
We found the locals very engaging and friendly. While many visitors experience just a glimpse of each port of call from the huge cruise ships, in the next couple of weeks, we will introduce a more intimate, immersive, enriching and enjoyable way to travel Croatia.
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