Archive for 'Curiosities in Croatia'

While many think of Croatia immediately as a destination for sun holidays and seaside getaways, for ancient and picturesque harbour cities, and perfect beach resorts, there is, of course, much more to the country than that. Croatia has a landscape that is far more varied than these immediate associations belie and far more astoundingly, jaw-droppingly beautiful than most are aware of. There are towering peaks, forests full of butterflies, endless little islands that are world unto themselves, impressive waterfalls that thunder past, and lots of national parks that protect natural phenomena, flora, and fauna. If you are interested in exploration and seeing the great bounty of the natural world with your own eyes, then Croatia is likely a destination that will delight. Look past the stereotypical, if charming, appeals of Croatia as a holiday destination and see how much more it has to offer the discerning and adventurous tourist!

We may all be stuck at home and inside right now but that only gives us all ample opportunity to dream, look ahead, develop a serious case of wanderlust, and start putting together elaborate bucket lists of things we want to see and do and places we want to go when it is safe to do so again. And we're definitely all due a getaway when this thing is over! One of the places that we always favour is Croatia and one particular island in Croatia, quite the hidden gem, that we'd love to be exploring right now is Lastovo. Here are some reasons as to why it is on all of our bucket lists right now:

1. It is a natural gem.

Lastovo is a uniquely beautiful and unique island in Croatia as it is the only island in its entirety to be declared a Nature Reserve in the country. As such, her immense natural bounty and the fascinating flora and fauna of the island, have remained protected and preserved.

2. It is a perfect place to relax.

Home to less than one thousand people, sleepy, half-empty, pretty, little villages wonderful views over the Adriatic, and some excellent vineyards, it is a place of peace, calm, and relaxation.

We're all probably currently dreaming ahead to better and brighter days right about now, when vacations don't seem so far away and, while reading about one of our favourite destinations, Croatia, I came across a rather more unusual tourist attraction; the Pag Triangle. The Pag Triangle is a strange geological phenomenon that can't be explained and features a perfect geometric shape that has just cropped up in the wild and simply looks strikingly bizarre and odd and, therefore, has prompted theories about aliens, UFOs, and other strange happenings...

Located near Novalja, a small town on the moon-like and dramatically barren island of Pag, that is famous as an up-and-coming Ibiza-like party destination with a vibrant nightlife and pretty beaches, the Pag Triangle is a bizarre geological formation in the shape of a perfect isosceles triangle that has baffled and intrigued experts, locals, and tourists alike. What appears to have happened, or what it certainly looks like, is as if some massive, unknown object pressed down on the earth and made this strange impression, though what that might possibly have been, who did it, and why is unknown. This strange site is a bit of a departure from the other attractions on the island and is more obscure and fascinating, drawing all sorts of visitors from all over the globe to see it and puzzle over it for themselves.

Croatia is a famously popular holiday destination, particularly for those in search of sun, sea, and fun, as it has a long and incredibly beautiful coastline dotted by lots of amazing resorts and seaside towns. Many of these towns are slick and chic and filled with modern developments and villas but there are some older and more historic settlements among them. In particular, one of the most beautiful and intriguing seaside resorts is Opatija, which was a popular coastal getaway and fashionable resort in the 19th century and remains filled with stunning Habsburg-era villas to this day.

Opatija is a pretty and charming little gem that was in a bit of a decline for a long time but has been since revived in the last decade or so and now regularly draws a largely mature audience for its grand spa hotels, incredible location along the Adriatic, climate that supports pleasant weather for trips pretty much all throughout the year, and its famous Lungomare promenade that hugs the coast and offers wonderful views over the town and neighbouring islands. If you’re looking for peace, relaxation, a perfect seaside escape, and very pretty surroundings, a vacation rental in Opatija is an excellent idea.

During your time in Opatija, between swimming in little bays (as there aren’t real beaches to speak of), wandering the promenade, dining in the city’s brilliant restaurants, watching the sun set over the coast, and generally just kicking back and relaxing, you should probably head to the Villa Angiolina at some stage, which is the Croatian Museum of Tourism and the only traditional tourist attraction to speak of in the town.

“Game of Thrones,” fans likely already have Dubrovnik on their bucket lists as a holiday destination in Croatia as it is famously where much of the scenes set in some of the warmer climes of the show were filmed. Browse our vacation rentals in Dubrovnik now and you can get a taste of what it would be like to step into the fantastical world of the show! Once you're there, you can take various tours that have been set up by local tourism groups and companies and which bring you to all of the sites used in the filming of, “Game of Thrones,” but you can also just look them up and visit at your own pace and at your leisure. If you are going for the latter option, then you definitely need to pencil in a visit to Lovrijenac.

Lovrijenac, Fort Lovrijenac, or St Lawrence's Fortress is a fascinating old building that has had two main purposes throughout its existence: as a fortress and as a theatre. Often called Dubrovnik's Gibraltar, it is first recorded in a document discussing a vote for the Commander of the Fort by the local council in 1301. Chronologists, however, reckon that the construction of the fort actually dates to sometime between 1018 and 1038. Neighbouring Venetian forces were constantly trying to invade the city and a story from the 11th century states that they planned to claim the site on which the fort now stands and build a fortress that would help their attempts to conquer Dubrovnik. Instead, the city, upon hearing of this plan, quickly mobilised her citizens and built their own fortress instead before the Venetians could get to it. One can only imagine their surprise to encounter a building already on the site that they had hand-picked for themselves!