Archive for 'Parks & Gardens in Croatia'

The Brijuni archipelago is a group of islands made up of two main islands and 12 smaller islets, located just off the coast of Istria. While the largest island, called Veli Brijun, is the only one that can actually be visited, it is still worth making your way there as the archipelago, as a whole, is one of the true jewels of both Istria and Croatia and is utterly beautiful.

Blanketed in meadows, forests, and rare plants, like wild cucumber and marine poppy, the islands were declared a national park in 1983 and for good reason: the islands are special natural wonders and Veli Brijun can readily be visited as a day trip if you find a vacation rental in the city of Pula.

Admired for their great beauty since at least Roman times, the islands of the Brijuni archipelago can count the likes of Indira Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth II, Sophia Loren, and Elizabeth Taylor as former visitors and fans.     Read More

Croatia is one of those destinations where the living during vacations is slow and good, summers are hot, and the surroundings are beautiful. As such, days are often spent wandering, splashing in the sea, eating, drinking and doing very little of anything else.

Specific attractions, museums, historic sites and architectural gems do exist, of course, (and they are great) but the key activity during a Croatian getaway is relaxation. If you have found a vacation rental in Split, there is a great place to do just this.

Marjan Hill is located close to the city centre of Split and extends from Marmont Street, continuing westward. Declared a park in 1964, it is a protected area, covered in beautiful and lush Mediterranean forestry, and acts as the perfect respite from the hot weather at the height of summer. Marjan is a popular spot for hiking, walking, running, jogging, climbing and bike riding.     Read More

The stunning Croatian island of Hvar is famously beautiful. Consistently one of the top ten islands in the world according to Conde Nast, it is a rather unique place that is unusual for the area for having a large fertile coastal plain and fresh water springs. Its hillsides are covered in pine forests, with vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and lavender fields and it boasts both mild winters, and warm summers with long sunny days. The coasts of the island are dotted with perfect sandy beaches and pretty marinas full of boats and yachts and lovely little towns and settlements dot the countryside.

However, there is one feature, above all others, that helped propel this pretty island into the spotlight; its iconic lavender fields. In fact, the incredible images of endless fields of lavender tossed by playful breezes are what first caught the attention of the world and made many add the island to their bucket lists. While the island no longer looks quite like those famous pictures, it is still a stunning place and a must for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Split-Dalmatien.     Read More

Lokrum is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, just 600 metres off the coast of Dubrovnik. The first written record of the island comes from the 11th century when a Benedictine abbey and monastery were founded on the island and its name comes from their time on the island. The Benedictines began the tradition of planting exotic plants on the island and Lokrum comes from the Latin “acrumen”, meaning sour fruit.

Today the island is a natural paradise still dotted with lemons and oranges, that is a popular day-trip destination. Regular ferries depart from the Old City harbour in Dubrovnik and take visitors across to the island in just fifteen minutes. With a rich and fascinating history and an incredibly scenic setting, Lokrum is the perfect place to recharge your batteries once you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik and are a little tired from days of darting around the city.     Read More