|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
- Sail out of Dubrovnik harbour on the majestic galleon Tirena
- Try 2 of Croatia’s top wines - Zlahtina white from the island of Krk and Dingac
red from the Peljesac peninsula
- Find your own island for a day. Fix a price in advance with a small water taxi,
take a picnic and let the “captain” decide - go in the morning and agree a time
to collect you later in the day
- Buy a small bottle of lavender to take home for the bath. Produced on the
island of Hvar, most of it is organic
- Try local fish caught in these waters: gavuni are delicious small fish, larger than
whitebait and similar to sprats
- Climb to the church at the top of the town (most places have one) - you can
usually access the bell tower for fantastic views
- See the fabulous mosaics in the Basilica of Euphrasius in Porec, the Dubrovnik
ramparts & the Roman ruins at Solin
|
|
| |
|
Visas |
None required by holders of British or other
EU passports, USA, Canadian, Australian or
New Zealand passports. |
Language |
| Croatian, although English is widely spoken
in hotels and restaurants. |
Money |
The currency of Croatia is denominated in
Kuna. There are approximately 9 Kuna to
the British Pound although this will depend
on the exchange rate at the time. Sterling,
whether cash or travellers’ cheques, is
readily accepted and easily changed.
Larger restaurants and many shops accept
international credit cards. ATM cashpoints
are available in most resorts. |
Local costs |
A 3-course dinner around £20 and a
glass of wine around £3. These prices are
approximate and for guidance only. |
| Vaccinations |
| None are compulsory. |
| Time difference |
| BST+1 / GMT+2 (GMT+1 in winter). |
| Electricity |
| 220v |
| Flight time |
| 2hrs – 3hrs 15mins. |
| Location |
| With the Danube forming much of its northern boundary, and the Adriatic marking its
western reaches, the country shares its borders with Slovenia and Hungary to the north,
while Bosnia & Herzegovina occupy the centre of Croatia’s crescent shape. Italy’s northeastern
coastline faces Croatia from the west. |
| Beaches |
Sandy beaches are rare here, the majority of them are fine shingle including the well
known Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) on the island of Brac – which points a 300 metre finger
into the Adriatic.
The island has a smaller sandy cove near Postira, along with several
pebble bays. A gently shelving sandy beach attracts families to little Lopud island, offshore
from Dubrovnik, while this region’s ‘riviera’ is a series of picturesque pebble bays and
water’s edge promenades. White pebble beaches form a gleaming ribbon along the
Makarska Riviera, and the ragged and indented coastline of the Istrian Riviera creates a
medley of sheltered coves and rocky outcrops. Korcula Island is hemmed by 195 beaches and coves that make excellent snorkelling grounds. |
| Food & Wine |
Served with fresh vegetables and cooked in olive oil, coastal Croatia’s cuisine is based on
a hugely varied range of seafood dishes. It’s said that 400 species of fish thrive in local
waters. Some which appear on mouth watering menus could include bream, cuttlefish
and fresh sardines, swordfish-style dentex and orhan, prstaci shellfish, langoustines like
mini lobsters, and squid - often deliciously prepared with rice in its own blue-black ink.
Try the brodet - a mixed fish stew with rice.
The Italian influence on Croatia extends to
its inexpensive specialities with pizza and pasta dishes in many eateries. Local meat is
usually produced from free-roaming outdoor reared animals. Specialities include prsut – a
Parma ham equivalent, served as a starter with local cheese in oil, cevapcici - little rissoles
of beef, onion and herbs, and raznjici - pork kebabs. Manistra od bobica - a dish from
the inland area, is a vegetarian soup of beans and maize. Local wines include some from
organic vineyards. Some of the best bottled wines are (reds) Dingac, Postup and Kastellet,
(whites) Posip and Grk from Korcula island and Bogdanusa and Zlatan Otuk from Hvar. If
you opt for carafe wines you’ll find the reds are more reliably good than the whites. |
| Activities |
| With such famous sons as Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic, it’s no surprise that Croatians
are keen on tennis. Wherever you are, there’s sure to be a court nearby - along with a
basketball court and / or football pitch, two other favourite sports. Sailing is a super way to
enjoy the coastal seas, and boats and berths can be hired in many little ports. Waterskiing,
windsurfing, and fun rides on ‘donuts’ and banana boats are widely available in high
season months, and Croatia has several recognised dive schools for scuba enthusiasts. |
| Shopping |
Lace, leather goods, embroidered table linens, wood-carvings and colourful ceramics all
contribute to the variety of locally hand-crafted giftware. All the towns and even small
villages have somewhere selling local crafts, from market stalls to curiosity shops.
Brilliant
browsing grounds include Dubrovnik’s medieval streets and marble-paved squares,
Cavtat’s old town, the atmospheric centre of ancient Rovinj, and among the cobbled
streets of Porec. |
| Entertainment |
| As you would expect, the variety of bars and nightclubs is more extensive in direct
proportion to the size of the town and, though some stay open late into the night, it’s fair
to say that Croatia’s nightlife is generally low key. Many of the larger hotels offer evening
entertainment and the summer calendar includes a host of village festivals, carnivals and
concerts - covering everything from folklore to classical and jazz. Atmospheric venues
include churches and palaces, and al fresco events on Dubrovnik’s ramparts and in Pula’s
Roman arena. |
| Getting Around |
| A superbly scenic coastal road runs from Dubrovnik north to Zadar, turning inland
before returning to the sea to encircle the Istrian peninsula. A hire car would be a real
bonus for discovery here. Good regular ferry services link the mainland ports to their
outlying islands. |
|
| Croatia > Brac
An Introduction to Brac…
The island of Brac is well known for its lovely coves and beaches, wonderful bathing
and unsurpassed scenic beauty which provides an ideal setting for an escape from the
tempo of modern living. It is the third largest island in the Adriatic and enjoys hot and
dry summers. The island is famous for its vineyards, olive groves, lush pine forests and its
white stone, which has been used in many famous buildings all over the world, including
the White House in Washington. There are beautiful Renaissance and Baroque palaces
along the island’s famous, picturesque bays.
Bol is Brac’s oldest settlement and its origins have been traced to the beginning of the
Christian era. Situated on the south shore of the island, nestling under the steep heights
of Mt. Vidova Gora, it is a distinctive medieval seaport and the most well known resort on
the island.
In the harbour area, there is a promenade with a selection of bars, cafés and
restaurants. The famous ‘Zlatni Rat’ beach, known as the ‘Golden Horn’, is reputed to be
the most beautiful in the Adriatic. This unique beach is 630m long and extends 300m into
the sea. There are also other beautiful pebble beaches nearby.
An Introduction to…
The Islands of Hvar & Brac
The Island of Hvar
Hvar is the second largest island in the Adriatic and in 1997 was voted as one of the ten
most beautiful islands in the world by Traveller Magazine. It is known as the ‘Madeira of
the Adriatic’, and its splendid climate boasts an average of 2,715 hours of sunshine a year.
The island is noted for its lush vegetation, pinewoods, olive trees and various aromatic
plants that perfume the crystal-clear unpolluted air. Hvar is renowned for its spectacular
lavender fields and its many vineyards, producing over 47 different types of quality wines.
This is an island with a rich cultural heritage and architecture, hosting many beautiful
resorts and picturesque villages in peaceful, idyllic settings.
Hvar Town is a handsome fortified town built of honey-coloured stone, which today has
become cosmopolitan and is often lively. It is one of the most architecturally beautiful
in the world with its Venetian Palace and a perfect, centuries-old theatre, the first to be
built in Europe and still in use today. There is a white polished stone square in front of the
Cathedral, which looks out over the pretty harbour with a backdrop of islets.
The island of Brac
The island of Brac is well known for its lovely coves and beaches, wonderful bathing
and unsurpassed scenic beauty which provides an ideal setting for an escape from the
tempo of modern living.
It is the third largest island in the Adriatic and enjoys hot and
dry summers.
The island is famous for its vineyards, olive groves, lush pine forests and its
white stone, which has been used in many famous buildings all over the world, including
the White House in Washington. There are beautiful Renaissance and Baroque palaces
along the island’s famous, picturesque bays.
Bol is Brac’s oldest settlement and its origins have been traced to the beginning of the
Christian era. Situated on the south shore of the island, nestling under the steep heights
of Mt. Vidova Gora, it is a distinctive medieval seaport and the most well known resort on
the island. In the harbour area, there is a promenade with a selection of bars, cafés and
restaurants.
The famous ‘Zlatni Rat’ beach, known as the ‘Golden Horn’, is reputed to be
the most beautiful in the Adriatic. This unique beach is 630m long and extends 300m into
the sea. There are also other beautiful pebble beaches nearby.
Postira is a small picturesque fishing village located on the north coast, and is surrounded
by ancient olive groves, pine forests and other Mediterranean flora. The local people
welcome visitors and mix with them in the village bars and restaurants. Nearby Lovrecina
has a wonderful sandy beach sheltered by a cove which is ideal for children.
Supetar is a small picturesque town with a harbour that has regular ferry services linking
Brac to the mainland. It is a charming resort with imposing buildings and has long been
popular with visitors of all ages. It enjoys a wide range of restaurants and bars along the
waterfront where many excursions are offered by boat to nearby islands and attractive bays.
|
|
