CULTURE AND HISTORY OF CROATIA

 

Welcome to Croatia! A land whose rich cultural heritage is not discovered only from within the walls of numerous museums, galleries and churches, many of which today, as zero category monuments, are included in a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, but much more in that magical place on the Mediterranean, where even the shortest stroll becomes a journey down a staircase thousands of years old which takes one through a history that is at the same time turbulent, exciting and glorious. Whether walking the intricate grid of narrow white stone streets and alleys, or revelling in the teeming life of the port towns of Istria, Kvarner or Dalmatia, or climbing the green serpentines of Central Croatia to the fairy-like fortresses and castles, each step is an ever fresh experience, made special by the fact that on her territory as many as four cultural circles meet, intertwine and complement one another - west, east, Central European and the southern spirit of the Mediterranean. Croatia is a land of urban culture which numbers more cities than any other part of the Mediterranean.

If you are interested in the days of antiquity, you should start from the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, through Zadar and its forum - the largest excavated forum on the eastern shores of the Adriatic - and then to the magnificent palace of Emperor Diocletian in Split. Walk through time, from the pre-Romanesque Church of St. Domnius in Zadar dating from the 9th century, to the world of the Romanesque that is the magical monument city of Trogir, or the islands of Krk and Rab. Follow the Gothic period in Zagreb, Pazin, or, for instance, the town of Ston on the Pelješac peninsula. Discover the Renaissance in Osor on the island of Cres, Šibenik cathedral, the islands of Hvar and Korčula, and finally, the one and only Dubrovnik. The towns of Varaždin, Bjelovar and Vukovar glow with the splendour of the Baroque, while the heritage of the 19th century is at its best in Rijeka, Osijek and, of course, in downtown Zagreb.

 

 

Split 

Diocletian's Palace, the forerunner of the city of Split, is one of the most important and best preserved monuments of late antique architecture in general, and its shape resembles a castrum - a military camp, and extends to 38 000 square meters. 

 

 

Dubrovnik 

The walls of Dubrovnik is one of the most grandiose monuments in Europe and a magnificent example of architectural development fortress. Construction of the first fortifications began back over a thousand years, but construction was most intense from 13 to 16 century.

 

 

Šibenik

The current cathedral was erected on the south side of Central Square, the site of the old Romanesque church of St. James and the construction lasted from the mid-15th century, a full 105 years. 

 

 

 

Korčula 

The town of Korcula was built in the northeastern part of the island, on a small peninsula protruding into Peljesac Channel. Bounded by walls and towers from the 14th century, the medieval part of town, which was built in the shape of a fish bone, the uniqueness is that Korcula is widely recognized.

 

 

Trogir 

Trogir is a city museum in Central Europe is considered the best preserved Romanesque-Gothic city whose core is surrounded by the round tower of St. Brand and Kamerlengo fortress with walls, which is one reason why is on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

 

 

Rab 

On a small peninsula and Bay St. vital. Euphemia and its port, has grown into a picturesque island town, which with its four characteristic bell, gives a universal vision architecture.

 

 

 

Poreč 

Porec is an old city street layout preserved Roman castrum. According to this principle is a city built with two main streets Decumanus and Cardo Maximus, which are still preserved in its original form.

 

 

 

Desert Blaca - gem stone on the island

Blaca desert is a unique historical monument on the island, but also on the Croatian coast, which was founded by monks in the 16th glagoljaši century when they fled from the Ottoman conquest. Initially, the first settlers in the area farmed, that ten years later received permission to build churches and monasteries.

 

 

River Krka

Krka river has always played an important role in history: from the old ages when it was the dividing line between Illyrian tribe Liburna and Dalmatians, through the Middle Ages when the area formed the core of the first Croatian state to the early modern era as an area for which they fought the Venetian Republic, Habsburg Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

 

 

Skrip-the oldest place on the Brac

Brac, one of the most popular Croatian islands and summer destination, in its interior hides many unknown beauty, like the creak, the oldest of the island, whose history records for three millennia.

 

 

 

 

Zadar 

Zadar is a city rich heritage of world importance, and we see at every step. The Roman Forum, St. Donat, vol. Anastasia, the walls of the town gates and numerous palaces and plazas, are only part of what is on their peninsula 'collected' old city of Zadar.

 

 

Zagreb 

Although there are more than 900 years, today's Zagreb officially 'created' 7 rujna 1850th , the merging of Gradec (Upper Town) and lowlands.