CROATIA – ADRIATIC SEA
The land of a thousand tiny islands glimmering upon the rugged Dalmatian coast, positioned at the heart of Europe on the crystal clear Adriatic Sea.
With a wonderful, mild Mediterranean climate, discover Croatia's deeply rooted history, whilst you enjoy everything that this unique cruising destination has to offer. Most of the islands, however, are small and uninhabited and only twenty of them are popular. Over the years, almost 100 foreign celebrities and Heads of State visited these islands, since they were guests of Tito while he was using them as his summer residence, including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, and Gina Lollobrigida.
Despite the hype, Croatia’s pleasures are more timeless than trendy. Along its 1778km coastline, a glistening sea winds around rocky coves, lapping at pine-fringed beaches.
Some of the most famous Super Yachts in the world glide up the coast, movie stars discreetly arrange to buy one of Croatia’s 1185 islands and no Mediterranean cruise is complete without a stop in Dubrovnik. The interior landscape is as beguiling, even though less visited. Soak in a thermal spa at Istarske Toplice in Istia.
Even as a tide of speculators and developers wash ashore, there is a real commitment to preserving the extraordinary beauty of the coast. Whether the country can hold out against the lure of easy money is an excruciating test of its character. But, so far the signs are promising.
Hiking through pristine forests watered by mountain streams in the west is a lovely experience. The waterfalls of Plitvice will moisten your face. And then there's the culture. The country that endured Roman, Venetian, Italian and Austro-Hungarian rule has a unique and slightly schizoid identity. You’ll find a strong central European flavour in the baroque architecture of Zagreb, and Italian devotion to the good life percolates up from the coast, permeating Croatian food and style. During holidays and festivals the country’s Slavic soul emerges, as colorfully costumed dancers whirl about to traditional folk melodies.
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