Known as Tragyrion (island of goats) in the time of the Greeks, it became Tragurium under the Romans, finally ending up as Trogir with the Croats. This exquisite medieval city is certainly one of the highlights of the Dalmatian coast. Built on an island, but linked to the mainland by two bridges, it resembles a ship at anchor. The smell of spindrift fills the air, which in turn permeates the light Brac stone all around.
Hvar is the longest and sunniest Croatian island – one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Both rustic and worldly, bucolic and chic, Hvar is an island of fields. Inland, it is as rugged as ever – strong-smelling dense maquis, rocky mule tracks, and abrupt cliffs dropping down to the sea. Elsewhere, there are entire fields where fragrant lavender bushes grow, hillsides overrun with wild herbs, slopes covered with carpets of green vines and clear creeks. With its architecture, beautiful nature and mild climate many would describe it as a true fairy-tale city. Not surprisingly, many of a famous writer has been bowled over by Hvar, Croatia.
Continue reading Hvar – the star
Vis is the furthest and most westerly of the Dalmatian islands, Croatia. The ferry runs between the Islands of Solta and Brac, around Hvar and on, before docking two and a half hours later at Luka, the port of Vis Town. In the ancient times it was a bustling place, known as Issa to the Greeks, who made it their first trading port in the Adriatic. If the numerous amphorae lining the seabed are anything to go bay, the Romans, too, carried out a roaring wine trade there. There are still traces of a Roman road and the ruins of a thermae, now overgrown with the vegetation. During the years of the Second World War, Tito established his headquarters there and it then subsequently became a base for the Yugoslav navy.
With eight restaurants offering cuisine drawing inspiration from around the world, eight further bars and cafes and extensive shopping, sporting, business and leisure facilities, Le Meridien Lav Split’s four interlinked buildings are an ideal way to escape, away from it all in holiday bliss. Located on a private stretch of white, sandy beach a mere 8 km away from the city center of Split, Croatia, the hotel’ distinctive panoramic sea views are literally unsurpassed for miles around.
Continue reading The ideal spot from which to launch an exploration of the bustling city of Split
Croatia is a country with a long history, its monuments, cathedrals and palaces, as well as its natural attractions, belong at the top of many sightseeing itinerary, while its tranquil land- and seascapes are just as capable of taking one’s breath away. The small town of Rovinj exudes charm, with its red, brick and saffron-colored rooftops cascading down the hillside, the steeple of St Euphemia’s cathedral grandly rising above it to rival that of San Marco in Venice.
Continue reading Originally an island
The Brijuni archipelago, consisting of 14 distinct islands, now forms a protected marine national park. In the 1st century BCE, the Greek geographer, Strabon, mentioned these islets scattered about the bay of Pula, Croatia. According to Pliny the Elder, the earliest documents on the subject that can be verified refer to the Insulae Pullariae, the islands of crows, most probably due to the moorhens which used to nest there in great numbers.
Continue reading The Brijuni Islands
Far to the western reaches of Istria, the town of Porec, Croatia, lies on a peninsula and, from 1902 to 1935, was linked to Parenzana by a small railway line. First founded by the Romans in 129 BCE as a military camp, it had grown into a “municipium” known as Colonia Julia Parentium by the 1st century CE. The old town still retains the original cruciform street layout from those olden times, with a long central road, the “decumanus”, lying at right angles to another main road, the “cardo maximus”, off which run endless narrow lanes.
The Nautika is a member of Croatia‘ acclaimed Esculap Teo restaurant group, which was started some 30 years ago, and now also includes two other equally lauded and prestigious properties: Proto and Konavoski Dvori, perfectly located in a tranquil valley slightly east of Dubrovnik. Nautika is set in a cove with a dramatic view of the Adriatic, eschewing showy and fanciful interiors for the classic beauty of its surroundings. A venue of such aesthetic scope is prime location for the countless culinary odysseys and televised cookery shows that have discovered this national treasure.
Continue reading The finest dining experience in Dubrovnik
Situated on Gundulic Square in the heart of Dubrovnik, the Pucic Palace is former nobleman’s home and long-time favorite of visiting dignitaries, royalty and artists that has recently been completely refurbished and has now re-opened as one of the Croatia‘ finest hotels.
Totally renovated in 1998, Hotel Excelsior encompasses a private beach, fitness center and a dazzlingly exclusive wide range of high-end retail boutiques. A landmark building, rises majestically out of the enticingly blue waters of the Adriatic, it is one of Croatia‘s most internationally renowned hotels. Hotel Excelsior is truly the embodiment of the coastal holiday experience.
Continue reading A haven of luxury in the heart of ancient Dubrovnik
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