Top Things to See
Croatia’s
top cities are literally teeming with fascinating sights, with
the capital in particular offering an exceptionally impressive selection.
A total of six World Heritage sites can be found across the country, giving
prospective visitors an idea of the richness of its sightseeing
attractions. Whether it’s architecture or
archaeology that lights your fire, Croatia is sure to impress.
 Dubrovnik
Situated in Croatia’s far south, Dubrovnik is
a coastal city that is among the country’s most popular visitor
destinations. A wealth of historical sights are on offer, including St
John's Fort and Fort Revelin, St Saviour’s Church, the old Franciscan church
and the Onofrio’s fountains. The magnificent
Sponza Palace,
built in late Gothic and Renaissance styles, is a must-see with few visitors
not in awe of its 16th century architectural splendour. Literary
buffs should be sure to include a visit to the house of Croatian author,
Marin Drzic.
 Pula
Situated at the tip of the Istrian peninsula, Pula is city
with strong Italian influences, having previously belonged to Italy. There
is still an Italian minority within the city’s population and language and
other cultural aspects are evident in many areas. The city has a variety of
interesting sights on offer with it Roman amphitheatre
providing the highlight. The Arena, as it is known, is a well-preserved
Roman structure that dates back to the 1st century AD, with some additions
having been made by the Flavian emperors in 69-96 AD. Visitors can take an
audio tour of the Arena, which includes access to its subterranean caverns.
Also of note is the nearby Venetian fortress, a star-shaped structure dating
back to the 17th century and the 13th century
Franciscan church, with its impressive statue of the Madonna with Sleeping
Child. The city’s Archaeology Museum gives visitors a deeper insight into
its Roman history, as well as exploring aspects of Egyptian history through
an impressive collection of artefacts from ancient Egypt.
 Split
The largest city in the Dalmatia
region was built around one of its most famous landmarks, the
Diocletian palace (the residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian and now a
UNESCO World Heritage site) and there are still various other examples of
its Roman history around the old centre. Visitors are permitted entry to the
palace and can view its fascinating excavated lower sections as well as
notable features such as the four gates: Porta Aurea, Porta Argenta, Porta
Ferrea and Porta Aenea. Other Roman sites of interest in the city include
St Duje's cathedral, Jupiter's temple and the ancient city
of Salona, which includes an amphitheatre, basilica, cemetery and various
other well-preserved structures. The city’s Archaeological Museum continues
with the Roman theme, while the Galerija Meštrović shifts to more aesthetic
territory with its selection of works by Ivan Meštrović, the country’s most
famous sculptor.
 Zagreb
Zagreb is the country’s capital
city and is a destination crammed with fascinating historic structures and
sites of great aesthetic beauty. The Kaptol and Gradec districts are the old
parts of the city and the places to head to be assured of some decent
sightseeing material. The cathedral, located in Kaptol, is one of the
highlights, offering visitors some stunning architecture hailing from the 13th
to the 15th centuries. Of major historical interest is the old
Stone Gate, the remains of an 18th century
structure built on the same site as the original medieval gate that served
the same purpose. The churches of St Catherine’s and St Mark’s are well
worth seeing, the latter especially for its interior designed by
Ivan Mestrovic, the country’s most celebrated
sculptor.
Top Things to Do
Discover
the art of Croatia.
If you are
passionate about aesthetics then make the effort to familiarise yourself with
the country’s contribution to the global art scene through the works of its most
celebrated artists. Notable venues include:
The Museum of Contemporary Art,the Croatian Naive
Art Museum, the Miroslav Kraljevic gallery and Gallery of Modern Art in Zagreb;
the
Museum of Modern Art in Rijeka, the
Zilic Gallery in Petrinja, the Bukovcan gallery in New Marof City, the Ca’ Bon
Gallery in Motovun and the Galerija Balen in Slavonski Brod. Split’s Ivan
Mestrovic Gallery is un-missable with its collection of works by Croatia’s most
famous sculptor.
Imbibe a glass or two of rakia.Considered
the national drink in Croatia and other Slavic countries, rakia is a spirit
made from fermented fruits and with a taste not dissimilar to brandy. Though
its regular volume is 40 per cent, the stuff brewed locally can be between
50 and 60 per cent and the variation known as prepecenica, which
is double-distilled, can be in excess of 60 per cent proof. Enjoy but drink
with caution!
Set off on the Roman trail. Croatia’s collection of Roman
remains is among the most impressive in the world with palaces, theatres and
amphitheatres among the remains to be visited. Cities such as Pula, Split and
Salona are home to well-preserved Roman structures, which make for fascinating
viewing and awesome photo album material.
Spend a day museum-hopping. Actually if you
visit Zagreb, a single day won’t be anything like enough, as it is the city
with the largest collection of museums per square foot in the world. You can
draw up a shortlist, however, of those that interest you most and devise an
itinerary accordingly. The most popular museums in the city include: the
Archaeological Museum, the Croatian Natural History Museum, the Technical
Museum, the Museum of the City of Zagreb, the Arts and Crafts Museum, the
Ethnographic Museum and the Mimara Museum.
Visit some of UNESCO’s finest. The agency responsible for
identifying some of the world’s most outstanding sites of cultural or natural
importance has bestowed World Heritage site status on six locations in Croatia.
The Historic city of Trogir, the Old city of Dubrovnik, the Episcopal complex of
the Euphrasian Basilica in Porec, the cathedral of St Jacob in
Šibenik, the
Plitvice Lakes and the Palace of Diocletian.
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