Croatia is a travelers dream destination in that it offers the rich combination of history, culture and cuisine all set in the most ideal location imaginable. Croatia is nestled on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea directly across of Italy. Slovenia lies to its north with Bosnia to the east and Montenegro to the south. The largely undeveloped coastline is 1,777 kilometers long and offers 1,185 islands, of which only 66 are inhabited.
Croatia is rich with 3 thousand years of culture and history. Six of it’s premiere destinations are declared UNESCO world heritage sites. The people are friendly, good natured and some of the most physically beautiful in the world. Even though Croatia is easily accessible from all of the major European hubs, it’s not yet overrun with tourists. With all this going for it, it’s no wonder that Croatia is rated as the number 1 destination for 2005 by Lonely Planet, and in 2006 by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
This site is the result of the indelible impression Croatia left on me during a trip I took there with a group of friends in September 2006. I’ve documented my personal take on all of the locations we experienced, including a collection of photos and resources that should make your Croatia travel planning easier. I hope that you will find croatiatravelblog.com helpful and that you’ll return to share your experiences in this amazing place.
- John Brackett
Dubrovnik Croatia is known as the “Jewel of the Adriatic” for good reason. It’s timeless beauty is encased in ancient fortress walls that surround Old Town Dubrovnik. I shot photos on the Dubrovnik wall, visited the history of Dubrovnik at the Rector’s Palace, Big Onofrio’s Fountain, and the Church of St. Blaise. We had cocktails at Cafe Buza and listened to American Jazz at the Troubadour Jazz Cafe.
The exotic and mysterious country of Montenegro is just being discovered as a tour destination. Our travels took us from the undisturbed fjords to the medieval town of Budva. We explored the man-made island of “Our lady of The Rock” in the Bay of Kotor and the luxury island hotel of Sveti Stefan.
Traveling Through the Peljesac Peninsula
Traveling through the Peljesac Peninsula by car is the ideal way to experience this wonder of natural beauty. Connected by land and close to Dubrovnik, the Peljesac Peninsula is easily accessible. Our stops included exploring the medieval towns of Ston and Korcula. Wine tasting at Grgich Winery, and eating fresh oysters in Mali Ston.
They call Hvar “Queen of the Dalmatian Islands” because it is literally paradise. Hvar has a rich history as a strategic and commerce center. More recently it has become the famous as “The New Riviera”. Our traveling to Hvar included hiking to Fortica Spanjola, The Fortress of Hvar, Exploring the Eden like oasis of Sv. Jerolim Island, and enjoying food and drink in Hvar Town.
Split is living ancient history. Diocletian’s Palace still stands as a monument to the power of the Roman Empire. Medieval buildings that sprout from the Palace walls have been converted to modern shops, cafes and hotels. We crawled the streets and back alleys of Split as well as the catacombs of Diocletian’s Palace. From Split we visited Brac Island, Bol Beach and the historical city of Trogir.
