Archive for 'Tourist Attractions in Croatia'

If you have found a vacation rental in Karlovac and are looking for a wonderful daytrip destination that combines a bit of a stretch of the legs, incredible views of the amazingly lush Croatian landscape in this part of the country, a stunning ruin of a historic architectural gem in an impressive setting, fascinating local legend and much more besides then you should head towards Ružica Grad. This medieval castle fortress is one of the largest in Croatia and is entangled in tales of fairies and noblemen but is also one of the most picture-perfect places in the country and a must-see for those in search of hidden gems that are far from mass tourism.

The actual origins of the building are not properly known but, per local legend, the area in which the castle is located used to be the meeting place of fairies and where magic potions were made. That is, until a nobleman decided to build a fortified city right on top of their meeting place. The fairies were very upset and used their magic to fight back, ruining whatever the workers had built during the day overnight.

There are plenty of reasons to visit the beautiful and vibrant city of Split, where modernity and tradition come together; there are stunning views over the Adriatic and beaches along the coast, there is always somewhere to grab something delicious or go for drinks, Roman ruins and architectural gems abound, and there is an endless list of things to see and do. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Split and you are interested in unique or bizarre attractions, then you should definitely pop into the UNESCO-protected SPAR in town…

Okay, so, technically it is actually a Billa supermarket (an Austrian supermarket group that has since been purchased by the Spar food retail chain) and it is technically located in a building that is part of a UNESCO-award architectural complex. In fact, it is part of the Mala Papalićeva Palača, a palace that is the former home of a noble family, which dates back to the 13th century originally and was rebuilt in the 15th century. This borders with Diocletian’s Palace and it part of Split’s Historic Centre, which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. So, the SPAR is, technically UNESCO-protected by being located inside this building.

Krk, the nearby island of Prvić, and the island of Cres are the last habitats for griffon vultures in Croatia. Cres, in particular, as a natural gem that has been largely untouched by mass tourism, is an especially good and important outpost for the majestic creatures.

Birds of prey, they belong to the scavenger group and feed on large dead animals, which are usually dead sheep on the island of Cres. Griffon Vultures are amongst the largest flying birds and measure up to 93 to 100cm in height, with a wingspan of 235 to 290cm, and weigh up to between 7 and 12kg. However, despite their scale and nature as birds of prey, they are actually gentle partners that mate for life, living in colonies of two, three, or five couples and spend almost all of their time together in marital flights. Pretty cute, right?

For the first five years of their lives, the birds leave Cres and migrate across Europe, Asia and Africa before returning to Cres to breed. Therefore, the birds you'll see on the island are babies and adults with all the teenagers and young adults off having adventures. Sadly, only 4-5 of the 40-50 hatched each year ever actually manage to return.

Summer in Croatia can get really very hot so, if you have found a vacation rental in Istria and are looking for somewhere where you can cool off and unwind, why not head to Aquapark Istralandia for a day? This waterpark in Istria, is located on the northern coast of the Istrian Peninsula, 5km from Novigrad, and is in the most scenic and beautiful spot, surrounding by lush greenery and forests that offer cool pools of shade to lay out in. It has all the facilities you could need for a family to have a great day out including various pools, water slides, multiple eateries, a store, lockers, and much more besides.

If you were to blink for a second and think you're in Italy, you would very much be forgiven as, standing in front of the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik, Croatia, conjures the incredible elegance and beauty of the great Renaissance cities of the world. This architectural gem is one of the most stunning buildings in the country and is the crowning pearl of this lovely seaside city, which is saying something as Šibenik itself is quite the beauty in its own right. Located in central Dalmatia, where the river Krka meets the Adriatic, it is an often overlooked destination by tourists in favour of some of the more famous cities in Croatia but the discerning visitor will take note: it is the oldest native Croatian city, the first city in the world to have a system of electric street lights, boasts lovely views out onto the Adriatic, has some incredible beaches, is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites (the cathedral being one of them), hosts many interesting festivals throughout the year, and remains an authentic little gem that has gone untainted by the outside world. The Cathedral is the final flourish, the cherry on top of the pretty cityscape of Šibenik, that completes the picture and makes it such a very appealing place to holiday. If you have found a vacation rental in Šibenik, you should make sure to pencil in some time to check it out and admire the wonderful feat of fifteenth century architecture that it is.