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NATIONAL PARKS NATURE NATIONAL PARK - an exceptionally GORNJI (UPPER) KAMENJAK AND THE rich cultural and historical heritage on this MEDULIN ARCHIPELAGO - notable 14 isle archipelago. A former residence of landscape President Tito, it offers beautiful beaches, DONJI (LOWER) KAMENJAK - notable remains from Antiquity, a Zoo Safari park, landscape golf course and superb gastronomic selec- 12 PALUD - special ornithological reserve 14 tion and quality THE BAY OF - special nature reserve - maritime nature reserve THE MOTOVUN WOODS - special forest vegetation nature reserve THE VEGETATION OF - notable landscape

13 15 stria truly is “terra magica”; blessed Discover I with unspoiled nature, the crown jewel of which are the Brijuni islands, hidden one of the most beautiful archipela- gos in the Mediterranean. This is a treasures land whose long and rich history can be read literally from dinosaur foot- of breath- prints. Fortified by the northerly bora taking and invigorated by the mistral, fra- f course, without forgetting the fa- grance imbued with Spanish broom, O mous Istrian cuisine! From delicacies ISTRIA. sage and lavender, drowsy from stone of the sea to delectable truffles, the liquid 21 history and pines, thyme and immortelle, with a gold of the domestic Malmsey, the aromatic climate that makes for a five month Muscat of Momjan, or the ruby-red Teran unspoiled long swimming season, Istria is in- that once fortified Casanova himself, your deed the ideal tourist destination. palate will combine these divine pleasures nature into a fusion of unforgettable Istrian ex- periences. So, rather than dreaming of the holiday of your life - wake up in Istria!

8 Istria.

tep into this vibrant hub of civili- sessed by no other place in the Medi- of history behind it and a unique place S sations whose cultural arboretum terranean. Here, you will find a town in the Mediterranean. Pula boasts a di- has been jealously nurtured since the which, just like Rome, lies on seven hills verse, impressive cultural heritage. Just times of the Histri, the Celts and the and boasts a famous amphitheatre. On like the peninsula upon which it rose, Romans, through the Slavonic peoples one of those hills, a weary Hungarian it is not without reason that it carries a and the Venetians, all the way to the king felt the desire to exchange his re- feminine name. Modest but fascinating, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and you will splendent robes for the modest robe of Pula and Istria have long been known soon learn why Istria is so special. Re- a monk, and die in a state of sanctity. as enchantresses with a hundred faces, member the Legend of the Argonauts; The immortal Dante, inspired by the faces that have been seducing visitors In vain pursuit of Jason and the stolen view from a certain belvedere, wrote for thousands of years. Whoever strays Golden Fleece, having arrived to the the verses of his La Divina Commedia. once into their invisible web, and ex- shores of Istria, the people of Colchis The name of this town is Pula, Istria’s periences but a morsel of the joy they decided not to return to their home. largest urban centre. It is the beating can give, always wishes to return again, There is something in her magic, pos- heart of the peninsula, with 3000 years and again!

[ 1.8.11.16. 2.Savudrija 3.Umag 4.Vrsar 5.6.7.10.Pula 9.Poreč 12.13.Brijuni 14.Rt Kamenjak 15.Lim 17.Beram ] ]

CULTURAL HERITAGE GASTRONOMY AMPHITHEATRE (Pula) - magnificent monument of Antiquity Truffles, Istrian pro- dating from the 1st century, once the arena where gladi- sciutto, olive oil, fish ators and lions fought, today a unique stage for festivals and frutti di mare and concerts specialties, meat and OF ST. EUPHRASIUS (Poreč) - complex of early fish dishes prepared Byzantine architecture and art dating from the 6th century, 16 under a “peka”, ome- included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage CHURCH OF ST. EUPHEMIA (Rovinj) - an imposing creation lette with asparagus, of Baroque architecture and art with a rich collection of works “fuži” (home-made of art and the sarcophagus of the patron saint of the city pasta) with game DANCE MACABRE (Beram) - a small church with unique goulash, “biska” frescoes dating from the 14th century brandy, Istrian soup, DVIGRAD - remains of a medieval town indigenous wines TWO-PART SINGING IN THE ISTRIAN SCALE - UNESCO Teran, Refošk, Istri- Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage 17 and Malmsey 1

22

[ 1.Opatija 2.Lovran 3.Oraj ]

2 3 RIJEKA DELNICE OPATIJA LOVRAN CRIKVENICA

KRK NOVI VINODOLSKI

CRES RAB

Kvarner. LOŠINJ KVARNER. 23

Where true diversities come together.

erhaps you imagine an ideal holiday, one where you can set P off from the shore towards sunny islands, and then sail back Kvarner. to seek the peace and quiet of a mountain peak. In the process you dream of a sun-bathed Riviera that can, should you so wish, be replaced within a span of 10 km by ascetic peace and fresh mountain air where you are in the company of eagles, wolves and bears, and where your lungs are filled with forest scented air. If that is indeed the case, then you are looking for Kvarner and Gorski kotar - separate parts of this small country that differ significantly one from the other. 1

2 3

24 [ 1.2.3.Opatija 4.5.6.7.8.Rijeka ]

o begin with, walk the wonderful gardens and parks to lead you towards Set off T Opatija Riviera and enjoy its 12 km Rijeka, the metropolis of the littoral and long promenade by the sea. Here, the today the largest trading and maritime from the foundations of tourism were laid way centre of the northern Adriatic. Sitting back in 1844, when a wheat merchant under the watchful eye of the magnifi- Opatija with vision decided to build the first cent fortification of Trsat, with the oldest hotel in Opatija; the famous Villa Angi- Marian sanctuary in , together Riviera... olina. It was not long before the town with a Franciscan monastery, St. Vitus’ became one of the most elite summer Cathedral and the famous votive chapel, resorts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Rijeka is a fascinating city, not just as a one that attracted many famous names - maritime centre but also one of enviable from members of the imperial family, to cultural and artistic life, and home to artists, scientists and politicians. Then, the greatest carnival event in Croatia. allow the elegant villas and hotels, lush

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KVARNER. 25 TO EXPLORE CULTURAL HERITAGE 8 OPATIJA RIVIERA - a 12 km long promenade SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF TRSAT - the oldest Marian sanctuary in along the edge of the sea Croatia, with a Franciscan monastery ISLAND OF KOŠLJUN - spiritual and vegeta- TOWN OF RAB - medieval churches and aristocratic palaces THE BAŠKA PLAQUE (Bašćanska ploča, island of Krk) - the largest tional paradise - Park Wood Croatian LUBENICE (island of Cres) - stone-built settle- written monument in old Glagolitic ment, 378 metres ASL script, dating from the 12th century OSOR - town with a turbulent history, and, ZRINSKI CASTLE (Čabar) nowadays, lovely musical evenings IVAN GORAN KOVAČIĆ MUSEUM, and the amphitheatre (Lukovdol) DOLPHIN WATCHING: Cres-Lošinj aquatorium VRBOVSKO - traditional architecture ADVENTURE SPORTS: windsurfi ng, parachut- TWO-PART SINGING IN HRVATSKO PRIMORJE - UNESCO ing, paragliding, car racing, wake-boarding, Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage rafting, kayaking, cycling, diving, sailing ANNUAL CARNIVAL BELL RINGERS’ PAGEANT FROM THE Cycling trail, hiking trails, mountaineering KASTAV AREA - UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural routes Heritage Kvarner. hBr

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[ 1.7.9.11.13. Krk 2.Cres 3.Osor 4.5.12. Rab 6.Baška(Krk) 8.Brseč 10.Lošinj 14.Gorski kotar 15.Crikvenica ] Epic images amid the blue of the sea f you are yearning for the silence of the umbrella pines, and the 2700 species of allow you to observe the habitat of rare grif- I wide blue expanse and the charm of the amazing fl ora. These islands will also reveal fons, and in the waters beneath them enjoy islands, then set off into the Kvarner Bay, themselves as the habitat of an enviable the magical play of dolphins and Mediter- ringed by the mythical Absyrthian islands number of animal species. Strolling through ranean monk seals. All those seeking clean from the legend of the Argonauts: Rab, Krk, the towns of Lošinj, Osor on the island of air with special medicinal properties should Cres and Lošinj. Apart from enjoying the Cres, or Vrbnik on Krk, will open up their continue their journey in the direction of the epic sights of bora-bleached cliffs, coves nooks and crannies, revealing numerous Crikvenica-Vinodol Riviera which, in 1906, and inlets reaching deep into the sea, remains of a rich heritage, like the famous was offi cially declared a climatic health re- small sunbathed towns with stone-built Baška Plaque - a carved stone monument sort, and where the Therapia Hotel - one of houses, abandon yourself to the intoxicat- of the dating from the the most beautiful hotel buildings along the ing fragrances of lavender, sage, myrtle and year 1100. A climb to the peaks of cliff s will entire Croatian coast - was built in 1895. 26 NATURE ZELENI VIR - special geomorphologic reserve UČKA - nature park JAPLENŠKI VRH - special geomorphologic VELA DRAGA - geomorphologic natural reserve phenomenon BIJELE STIJENE (white rocks) and SAMAR- ANGIOLINA PARK AND ST. JACOB’S SKE STIJENE (samar rocks) (Mrkopalj) - strict (Opatija) - park architecture monument nature reserve - Nature Park LOPAR (island of Rab) - notable landscape, stunning 1,500 m long sandy beach DUNDO (island of Rab) - special forest vegetation nature reserve FOJIŠKA-PODPREDOŠĆICA (island of Cres) - special ornithological nature reserve SOURCE OF THE RIVER (Čabar) - natu- NATIONAL PARKS ral phenomenon RISNJAK - Rich and diverse animal and plant FUŽINE - mountain lakes and caves world, karstic phenomena 5

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12 KVARNER. 27 Oases of peace and silence by the sea quite special experience awaits an increasingly popular destination of A you on the steep hills of the Učka Croatian winter tourism. If you start Mountain, overshadowing Istria and the travelling northward, you will get to western part of Kvarner, especially in its the near Delnice nature parks. Lovely green landscapes and numerous reserves of diverse and of exceptional ecological value with a rich indigenous flora and endangered high concentration of protected spe- animal species, spread across the green cies, rising only about a dozen metres mountains. All are idyllic holiday loca- from the sea are true oases of peace tions for those seeking to truly become and tranquillity which are becoming one with nature.

GASTRONOMY Kvarner prawn, “šurlice”: homemade pasta (island of Krk), Cres lamb, specialties made from cherries, aspara- gus and sweet chestnuts (Lovran), indigenous wines: Vrbnička žlahtina (Krk) and Trojišćina (island of Susak), Island of Rab cake, game, frogs, mushrooms, freshwater fi sh, mountain liqueurs, plum and pear brandies

TOURISM PLUS 16 Health tourism: Opatija, Crikvenica (talassotherapy), Lovran (treatment of bone diseases), Wellness, Congress Tourism Skiing: Croatian Olympic Centre, Bjelolasica, Platak Hunting, fi shing, rafting, canoeing, paragliding, 15 riding 28

Where Croatian culture begins.

1 [ 1.Zadar2.Pag]

Dalmatia.. D . Zadar. of Croatian cultural heritagebetter thanany book. Holy Cross measures but36paces!). The region ofthesources ofZadar tells the story Croatian royal boaststhesmallestcathedral city) intheworld (theChurch ofthe churches like St. Donatus, St. AnastasiaandSt. Chrisogonus. Nearby Nin (the oldest 2 man forumontheCroatian sideoftheAdriatic andunforgettable Romanesque almatia’s centre Zadar, is3000-year-old withthe largest acity researched Ro- DALMATIA. ZADAR.DALMATIA.

Dalmacija. Zadar. 29 30

s the centuries-long centre of the only in its abundant archaeological Discover the A Illyrian tribe of Liburni, and the and monumental treasures, jealously capital of Dalmatia for millennia, Zadar guarded down the centuries, but also 3000 years is a place whose rich spiritual and ma- in the fact that the foundations of the terial culture is best testified to by its oldest university in the Land were laid of Zadar’s walls and numerous sacral monuments, here in 1396. Replete with rich archives, crowned by the symbol of the city: the libraries and outstanding treasuries of fascinating 9th century Church of St. Donatus, the sacral music, Zadar is also the city in most monumental Croatian building which the first Croatian novel was writ- history of the early Middle Ages. Enjoying the ten, and where the first newspapers in protection of as many as four patron the Croatian language were printed. saints - Zoilus, Simon, Chrisogonus and Anastasia - Zadar takes pride not

NATIONAL PARKS CULTURAL HERITAGE NATIONAL PARK - unique ST. DONATUS CHURCH complex of canyons and a wealth of flora (Zadar) - symbol of the city and fauna of Zadar CHURCH OF THE HOLY NATURE CROSS (Nin) - the smallest SALJSKO POLJE (Dugi otok) - notable cathedral in the world 5 7 landscape LACEMAKING ON PAG - RIVER CANYON - notable UNESCO Representative landscape List of Intangible Cultural TELAŠĆICA - Nature Park, with the safest, Heritage most beautiful and largest natural port on the Adriatic VRANSKO JEZERO () - nature park VELEBIT - nature park 6 8 A land that inspired the gods lthough it may seem pretentious A to describe the Zadar region as an area of divine inspiration, it is indeed a land of singular natural beauty. This claim is best borne out by its numer- ous national parks. With its mountains, lakes and waterfalls, its canyons, caves, karstic holes and the blue expanse of the open sea embraced by a string of lovely islands full of small welcoming ports and romantic beaches, it is easier to paint 2 this part of the world by the brush than

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1 by words. Without forgetting the sound of the sea organ - the architectural won- der of the Zadar waterfront from which, as Alfred Hitchcock once said, one can watch the most beautiful sunset in the world. With a slice of Pag cheese and a glass of the famous Maraschino, a local

Zadar. liqueur made from the native Maraska sour cherry, in your hand, you can en- joy all the blessings of this area and the fruits of this land of matchless, divine inspiration.

4 Dalmatia. DALMATIA. ZADAR. 31 TO EXPLORE PAG - architecture of the town, production of PAG Pag Lace ISLANDS OF UGLJAN AND PAŠMAN - archi- tecture of stone-built houses NIN GASTRONOMY 9 ZADAR Pag cheese, salt from Pag 10 and Nin, prosciutto from DUGI OTOK Posedarje, “Ninski šokol”, Maraschino liqueur, Rosé of Benkovac TOURISM PLUS Cycling trails, hunting, [ 1.3.Zadar 2.4.5.Pag 6.Nin 7.8.9.Ugljan 10.Dugi otok ] riding 32 Where pearls are easy to fi nd.

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et amid the wild beauty of white karstic rock S and the azure sea, the Šibenik aquatorium Dalmatia. Šibenik. is a yachting paradise, boasting as many as 240 isles and reefs, each of which holds an interest- ing feature or two. If you want to meet the best known coral hunters in the Adriatic, set sail for Zlarin. If you wish to see the centre of sea sponge harvesting, then Krapanj is your destination. On the other hand, if you seek an experience like no other, then venture into the open sea and discover [ 1. 2.Šibenik ] the Kornati Archipelago. KORNATI VODICE PRIMOŠTEN ŠIBENIK are atrueparadise formodern day Robinsonsseekingunspoiled nature. anywhere elseinthe world. At thesametime, themellow, and hiddenbeaches tiny ports lashed by thefragrance saturated bora, plummetinginto thesea,isone that hasno equal sight ofthelace-like pattern ofislandcliffs, bleachedby thenoble saltoftheAdriatic and 365 strikinglybeautifulisles, 150formaquite theKornati specialentity: National Park. The in ayear. Here, thesaying “an islandfor eachday oftheyear” really doesapply, andofthe to say that the numberofthesestellar tears petrifiedinthe seaequalsthenumberofdays incomparable creation ofnature, thelargest group ofislandsintheMediterranean, itsuffices Shaw whenreminiscing aboutthisbreathtakingly beautifularchipelago. Talking about this “T stars andthebreath ofthesea,theycreated theKornati.” wrote So George Bernard he godswanted to setacrown upontheirwork, soonthelastday, outoftears, 2 DALMATIA. ŠIBENIK.

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5 From the spectacular falls of the River to Šibenik, Krešimir’s city f you follow the fairy tale-like paths beautiful, Roški slap and Skradinski buk, I of the karstic empire of the Krka River human hands have enhanced nature with to the sea, you are on the path to opening two famous buildings: the Orthodox Chris- the door to the most protected natural tian monastery of The Holy Archangel, harbour in the central Adriatic and to and Visovac monastery. Like the mythical the proud city of King Krešimir: Šibenik. Avalon, unparalleled in its location on a Along this green route, abounding with tiny isle set in the middle of the emer- the remains of medieval settlements, a ald green lake formed by the River Krka, wonderful place which provides a habitat Visovac Franciscan monastery houses a for over 222 species of bird and which valuable library, works of art and numer- boasts the only falconry centre in Croatia, ous precious items, among which is the beautiful Krka spills her cool waters over sword that once belonged to a famous seven waterfalls. Between the two most warrior.

NATIONAL PARKS 6 CULTURAL HERITAGE KORNATI NATIONAL PARK - the most in- ST. JACOB’S CATHEDRAL (Šibenik) - Renais- tricately indented archipelago in the Medi- sance cathedral dating from the 15th and terranean 16th centuries (included in the UNESCO - natural and karstic World Heritage List) phenomena BRIBIRSKA GLAVICA ARCHAEOLOGICAL LOCALITY - dating from the 16th and 17th centuries FORTRESS ON SPAS MOUNTAIN (Knin) 7 - military fortification dating from the 9th century NATURE OJKANJE SINGING - List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safe- ISLAND OF KRAPANJ - the lowest island guarding in Croatia [ 1.3.7.8.Šibenik 2.Krka 4.Primošten 5.Visovac 6.Kornati ]

the only International Children’s Festival List. Raise your eyes to this audacious Amazing cultural in the world, for the Evening of Dalmatian edifice, unique in the history of European Chanson, and for the colourful (Šibenik) architecture. While admiring the innova- heritage of a Medieval Fair. tions of the local master builder, Georgius Standing proud with its fortifications Dalmaticus, try to imagine this: it is the millenia old city and towers, Šibenik, the birthplace of 15th century, there is no sophisticated Faust Vrančić (inventor of the parachute) technology, let alone modern day cranes is best known for its largest and most and hoists. What you are standing be- irst mentioned in 1066 in documents precious sacral monument, the Goth- neath is a monumental barrel-vault and F issued by King Petar Krešimir (hence ic-Renaissance cathedral of St. Jacob a dome that contains no wood or brick, its name: Krešimir’s town), Šibenik was (15th and 16th century) whose dome only clean blocks of stone, each weighing founded over 1000 years ago. Take a stroll of white stone dominates the city. Its several tons, fitted into grooves carved in through its streets, alleyways and squares construction took more than a century. stone ribs! Impressive, you must admit. If and some of the most precious works of It is constructed solely of stone from the you also take time to wander around the art in Dalmatia will appear right before islands of Brač and Korčula. The original sacristy, which lies like a crypt beneath you. Incidentally, if you are there at the method of its construction: using large the cathedral, and view the elegant right time in summer, those same streets, blocks and slabs of stone, has earned it three-leaved facade and the famous alleyways and squares become stages for a place on the UNESCO World Heritage frieze of 88 heads encircling the outer Šibenik.

4 Dalmatia.

walls of the cathedral apse, you will then understand why St. Jacob’s cathedral is so special. It rightfully carries the appel- lation of the most beautiful cathedral in Dalmatia and is the most striking sacral building in Croatia.

DALMATIA. ŠIBENIK. 35 Discover and savour the magic of Dalmatian cuisine t would certainly be remiss of you to I miss the opportunity of savouring the food of this area, particularly the famous mussels harvested where the River Krka meets the . Washed down TO EXPLORE 8 with a sip or two of Babić from the nearby ŠIBENIK - St. Michael, St. John, vineyards of Primošten, they make an un- Šubićevac and St. Nicholas forgettable meal. As for those vineyards Fortresses of Primošten - ah, the beauty of them! ISLAND OF VISOVAC - Francis- can Monastery Their unusual geographical location, the sparse soil in which they grow (despite TOURISM PLUS the best eff orts of the bora) have made RAFTING (River Krka), BUNGIE them a monument to the dedication, skill JUMPING (Šibenik bridge), fish- ing, sailing and hard work of the diligent hands of the people of this area. The image of those GASTRONOMY vineyards displayed in the vestibule of the Drniš prosciutto, Babić red wine United Nations building tells its story in (Primošten), cake a hundred languages. 1

Where beauty is nature’s

36 second nature.

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Dalmatia. Split.

hen, in the year 305, the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruled the W entire world at that time, decided to build his leisure time abode - in which he intended to spend the rest of his life - he had no doubt as to exactly where build to it. In the very heart of Dalmatia, in the bay of Aspalathos (Split), well protected from the sea by the islands of the Split archipelago, and defended on its landward side by high mountains, Diocletian created a special point on the map of the Adriatic: the future city of Split. DALMATIA. SPLIT. 37

4 5 6 Split. Dalmatia.

[ 1.Bol(Brač) 2.3.4.Split 5.Dubovica() 6.Sinj ]

mere 6 km from cos- tural and artistic in- ture of the city at its densely populated A mopolitan Salona, then A Roman Em- terventions. Among historical heart, full of enchanting stone the centre of the province of them, somewhat palaces, Diocletian’s residence today is Dalmatia which boasted up peror’s mag- ironically, a Catholic a place of cellars that ring with song. to 60,000 inhabitants, Split cathedral, or rather One can feast here on local specialties, was protected by strong nifi cent city that part of it which from delicacies of the sea to lamb and walls and numerous fortresses, with rose out of the magnificent mausoleum the “arambašići” of Sinj, washed down many temples, palaces and thermal of the last pagan Roman emperor. The with the finest of red wines. Concealed spas, which today make up the great- cathedral is dedicated to St. Domnius, within its embrace is what locals like est complex of monuments in Croatia a Christian martyred by the very same to call the smallest street in the world, dating from Antiquity. The residence Diocletian. The most striking feature of which carries a rather curious name: Let Diocletian built for himself was beyond the cathedral is its famous walnut door me pass. Altogether, this enchanting, comparison in his time. Although the frame constructed in 1214, and carved unique heart of Split has rightly been Palace has lost many of its original fea- by Master Carver Andrija Buvina. Suc- declared a monument of zero category tures over the past 17 centuries, it has cessfully withstanding time’s thievish and is included in the UNESCO World been enriched by subsequent architec- progress, deeply embedded into the tex- Heritage List. [ 1.3.4.7.Split 2.10.Vis 5. 6.8.9.Hvar ]

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True charm of the southern Mediterranean

wash in the warm charm of tly rocks the moored boats, you CULTURAL HERITAGE 7 A the Mediterranean, Split is will discover a city in which the DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE (Split) - included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage a city with rich history, not only famous Roman emperor left the OLD CITY NUCLEUS (Trogir) - included in the UNESCO List of World within the walls of its museums, imperial mark of his presence Heritage ANCIENT CITY OF SALONA (Solin) - capital of the Roman province palaces and churches, but in the on every corner, together with of Dalmatia city itself. Its heritage speaks the saint he decided to execute. RENAISSANCE NUCLEUS OF THE TOWN OF HVAR - St. Stephen’s Cathe- loudest and has done so since the Another special aspect of this dral, town loggia with a tower and arsenal with a theatre dating from 1612. SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF SINJ - the largest Marianic sanctuary times of Antiquity, on the Peri- city are the songs, and the suc- in Dalmatia style and from its stone houses; cesses achieved by its athletes THE on Hvar (UNESCO World heritage List) PROCESSION ZA KRIZEN (‘following the cross’) on the island of Hvar - while the true Mediterranean - including a Wimbledon win- UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage spirit lives in the vibrant cellars, ner - numerous Olympic cham- LACEMAKING ON HVAR - UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the murmur at street corners, pions and NBA stars and, they 8 SINJSKA ALKA - UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural in the squares and alleyways and say, the most beautiful women Heritage of Humanity in the beauty of the waterfront. in the world. If you harbour any OJKANJE SINGING - List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent If you follow the weave of these doubts as to the latter, just take Safeguarding white, stone-paved streets to a stroll along the Split water- TOURISM PLUS Wine Roads, cycling trails, riding, rafting, paragliding, hunt- the edge of the sea which gen- front some time… ing, fishing Discover the artistic treasure trove of a museum-city lthough its central part measures age List. It is not without reason that it dating from the 4th century BC. In short, A but 750 paces - as a certain earnest is called a museum-city, bearing in mind Trogir is a veritable treasure trove of art, historian measured and recorded a few the sites it holds: the famous portal of as well as being a stage for young tenors hundred years ago - Trogir is a superbly , a work by Master Ra- from all over the world who come here balanced small city built of stone, its his- dovan dating from 1240; the Renaissance every year to engage in competition. tory rich far beyond its size. Its signifi - city loggia; the 1000-year-old monastery cance is recognised by the inclusion of its of St. Nicholas that houses a relief of Kai- historical core in the UNESCO World Herit- ros - ancient god of the lucky moment, Split.

4 56 Dalmatia.

The blue expanse and nature in complete harmony DALMATIA. SPLIT. 39

other Nature has indeed been build not only the local cathedrals and M generous to Central Dalmatia, other grand edifices, but also a number bequeathing to it a coastline and long of other prestigious buildings. Brač is SINJ pebble beaches shaded by fragrant also known as the island of wind. No- pine trees and adorning its sea with the where else in the Adriatic, surfers tell TROGIR SPLIT beauty of a string of islands of exquisite us, does such a magnificent landward beauty. Immediately above the beaches breeze blow as in the channel between BRAČ MAKARSKA of the famous Makarska Riviera is the Brač and Hvar, particularly at the beach BOL massif, still the habitat of the known as Zlatni rat, whose shape actu- HVAR chamois. Here you can enjoy the rising ally changes depending on the direction VIS of the summer sun, with a view that of the wind and waves. Having been re- extends all the way to the outermost is- cently placed on the list of the ten most lands in the open waters of the Adriatic. beautiful islands, sunny Hvar is, without The largest of the islands of the Split competition, numbered among the most and stone-paved, narrow streets, worn archipelago is Brač, known worldwide as seductive of Dalmatian islands. Boasting smooth and glistening in the sun, it is the island of stone and wind. Island of the largest island town square on both difficult to decide whether Hvar cap- stone, because the finest quality stone sides of the Adriatic, one of the first tivates more with the harmony of its has been quarried here for centuries by communal theatres in Europe, built in history and art, or with the beauty of its the highly skilled and hard working lo- long gone 1612, the Arsenal, the famous nature, enhanced with the intoxicating cal stone masons. It has been used to “Tvrdalj” Palace of Petar Hektorović, fragrance of lavender.

NATURE RIVER - notable landscape, the 105 km long wa- tercourse and the canyon (Omiš) will delight fans of rafting and canoeing BIOKOVO NATURE PARK - the highest mountain along the Croatian coast, with rich flora and fauna ZLATNI RAT - notable landscape ISLANDS OF RAVNIK, DONJA BRELA, PAKLENI OTOCI (island of Hvar) - notable landscapes MODRA ŠPILJA AND MEDVIDINA ŠPILJA - caves on the 9 island of Biševo - geomorphologic natural phenomenon VRANJAČA CAVE (Mountain of Mosor) - geomorphologic 10 natural phenomenon CRVENO JEZERO (RED LAKE) AND MODRO JEZERO (BLUE LAKE) (Imotski ) - geomorphologic natural phenomenon GASTRONOMY Dalmatian “pašticada”, “luganige” sausages, “arambašići” - beef in cabbage (Sinj), flat-bread of Vis, pepper cookies from Hvar, “smutica” - wine with milk (island of Brač), Vugava and Plančić wines (island of Hvar)