On the territory of this small country, unique natural complexes and historical monuments, a beautiful sea coast with hundreds of islands and numerous castles, dense forests and many thermal springs miraculously coexist. And taking into account the fact that Croatia lies at the intersection of many roads almost in the center of Europe, its recreational opportunities are only increasing.
According to THEMOTORCYCLERS, Zagreb, the capital of Croatia since 1557, was formed as a result of the merger of the cities of Kaptol and Hradec in the 11th-13th centuries. Most of the medieval city has survived to this day, turning it into one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with many parks, museums and galleries.
- The Gothic Church of St. Mark is the center of Hradec. Near it are the buildings of the Croatian National Assembly (1908) and the presidential palace of Banski Dvori
- Museum space – the most prestigious exhibition hall in the city
- stone gate of the XIII century with the image of the Virgin Mary, miraculously survived the fire of 1731.
- Ivan Zakmardiya pedestrian street leads to the funicular that connects the upper and lower parts of the city, and to the Lotrscak tower, from the observation deck of which offers a beautiful view of the city
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built in 1899 on the site, and using some elements of a medieval cathedral destroyed by an earthquake in 1880
- The Archbishop’s Palace, which served as a fortress that protected from the raids of the Turks
- central square of Josip Jelacic
- Mirogoj cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe
- picturesque Dolac market
- Comedy Theater
- Zagreb University, founded in the 17th century, is considered one of the oldest, and its building is one of the most beautiful in Europe
Pedestrian zones scattered throughout the city with numerous cafes and restaurants in the open air, with flower-decorated terraces and balconies give a special charm to Zagreb. Practically through the whole city, from the old center to Mount Sleme, a strip of many parks stretches, among which the largest garden and park building in the country – “Maksimir” (XIX century) and the Botanical Garden stand out. 42 km from Zagreb is the famous Naftalan resort with the world’s only sources of medicinal oil – “naftalan”, as well as sodium chloride hot mineral waters. Istria peninsulalies in the very west of the country, on the border with Italy. This is one of the most famous resort areas of the Adriatic, called the “Istrian Riviera” for its unique resort opportunities. This is 430 km of beautiful coastline, wonderful climate (beach season – from May to October), clean sea and rich history. Medieval town of Rovinj considered the pearl of Istria. The city is famous for its Baroque Cathedral of St. Euphemia (1736, 57 m high – the largest building in Istria) with the saint’s tomb and a bell tower, on top of which there is a rotating bronze sculpture of St. Euphemia showing the direction of the wind. The Franciscan monastery and church (XVIII century) on Rue de Amikis contain a rich library and museum. There are 22 beautiful islands around the city, which are known as one of the centers of beach holidays and nudism in the country – Crveni otok (“Red Island”), Monsena, Valalta, Koversada and Katerina Island, as well as one of the best dive sites in Croatia – the sunken island Chiss and the passenger ferry “Baron Gouch” lying at the bottom (sank in 1914). North of Rovinj, among small narrow fjords, Poreč.
There are many attractions in the old city:
- ruins of two Roman temples
- Ephrasian Cathedral (6th century, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with magnificent Byzantine mosaics
- the ancient Decumanus street with the local history museum located on it in a baroque palace, the Roman temples of Neptune and the Great Temple (one of the largest in the Adriatic)
- ancient street Cardo Maximus and the remains of defensive structures – Round, Pentagonal and Northeast towers
Pula is the largest city in Istria, a large seaport and an international tourist center. In the old town, many museums and well-preserved ruins of Roman buildings attract attention – the Arena amphitheater (1st century BC), the Roman theater with gates (2nd century AD), Roman walls, the Triumphal Arch of Sergievac (Arch of Sergius, 27 BC) and the Temple of Augustus. The tourist complexes of Pula, stretching for almost 190 km along beautiful bays with stunning nature, have made the city famous as one of the best resorts in Europe. The group of Brijuni Islands ( Brijuni, Brioni Islands), which has been a national park since 1983, is located 6 km northwest of Pula. The group includes 2 large (Veliki Brijuni – 5.6 sq. Km, and Mali Brijuni – 1.1 sq. km.) and 12 small islands, overgrown with magnificent forests. Here are the famous villas of Marshal Tito – Jadranska, Biela and Brionka, the medieval church of St. Germain on Veliki Brijuni, a safari park, the ruins of a Roman villa (I century AD), a wonderful Ethnographic Museum and many modern hotels, and underwater the entire Venetian fleet was flooded on the shores of the archipelago. Split is the second largest city in Croatia, the heart of Central Dalmatia and the most important transport hub of the country. The Old City (III century BC) lies on the southern side of a high peninsula, the western part of which is occupied by a vast park. The main attraction of the city is the square fortress of the Diocletian’s Palace (III century) made of white stone, from which, in fact, Split “grew”, and which is considered one of the most interesting Roman monuments in Europe.
Be sure to visit:
- Peristyle Square, dominated by the neo-Romanesque tower of the Cathedral
- open dome vestibule
- Golden and Silver Gates
- the Cathedral (7th century) rebuilt from the mausoleum of Diocletian with the sarcophagus of St. Due, the patron saint of Split
- Temple of Jupiter
- Gothic Venetian Town Hall (XV century) and Venetian tower (XV century)
