Croatia

Croatia – detailed information about the country with photos. Attractions, cities of Croatia, climate, geography, population and culture.

Croatia (Republic of Croatia)

Croatia (Croatian: Хорват). Hrvatska, Republika Hrvatska)  — is a state in southern Central Europe in the northern part of the Mediterranean. This small country is washed by the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea and borders on the northwest with Slovenia, in the northeast – with Serbia and Ugorschina, in the south – with Montenegro and Bosnia, in the west has a maritime border with Italy. Croatia is divided into 20 counties and is a parliamentary republic. The majority of the population professes Catholicism.

Croatia is a small southern country with a rich cultural heritage, beautiful nature and delicious cuisine. It is a real pearl of the Adriatic with beautiful beaches in Istria and Dalmatia, warm emerald sea, charming ancient seaside towns, olive groves and peaks of the Dinaric Mountains. Croatia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe, a country of amazing contrasts, where ancient Roman heritage is built on Old Slavic buildings, and Venetian architecture meets monumental Austrian and socialist buildings.

Useful information about Croatia

• The official language is Croatian.
• The currency is the kuna. A kuna consists of 100 linden trees.
• Visa – Croatia has been a part of the European Union since 2013. A Schengen visa is sufficient to visit the country.
• The standard of living is high.
• The population is over 4 million people.
• Area – 56 594 sq. m.
• Capital — Zagreb.
• Time zone +1. The difference from Kyiv time is 0 in summer and -1 in winter.
• Croatia is famous for its beaches and clean sea. Many beaches have the prestigious Blue Flag. The best beaches in Croatia: Spiatsa on the island of Susak, Nin near Zadar, Bacvice in Split, the beaches of the island of Brac and Hvar, Kupari south of Dubrovnik.
• Tax-Free can be refunded from a purchase of more than 740 kuna.
• The flag of Croatia is a rectangular panel of three equal horizontal stripes: the upper one is red, the middle one is white and the lower one is blue; with the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia in the middle

Geography and nature

Geographically, Croatia is located in the south of Central Europe and occupies a part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country’s territory can be divided into the Adriatic coast, the Middle Danube Lowland, and the Dinaric Highlands. In terms of relief, most of Croatia is plains and lowlands. The Danube, Drava, Sava, and Mura rivers flow through its territory. Interestingly, about 60 percent of the rivers belong to the Black Sea basin. The largest lake is Vranske. The Plitvice Lakes are very picturesque.

Due to its geographical location, terrain and climate, Croatia’s nature is diverse and rich. Here you can see mixed forests, Mediterranean landscapes and alpine meadows.

The Adriatic coast is more than 1700 km long. There are many islands in its waters, the largest of which are Cres and Krk. The sea in Croatia is clean and warm. This makes Croatian resorts a very popular vacation spot. The most popular are Istria and Dalmatia.

In regional terms, Croatia is divided into:

• Istria is a peninsula in the northwest of the country on the Adriatic coast bordering Slovenia.
• Kvarner – the outskirts of the bay of the same name between Istria and continental Croatia.
• Dalmatia is the southern part of the Croatian Adriatic up to the border with Bosnia.
• Slavonia is a northeastern part of Croatia, a region of fields and forests.
• Central Croatia is the continental part of the country with Zagreb.

Climate.

Croatia’s climate is very diverse. The north of the country has a temperate continental climate, the coast has a warm Mediterranean climate, and the Dinaric Alps have a mountainous climate. In the central and mountainous regions, winters can be quite cold and snowy, while the coast is warm and humid. Summers are warm almost everywhere, and hot on the Adriatic coast.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit depends on the purpose of your trip. If you want to focus on culture and sights, spring and fall (until November) are ideal. If the main goal is a beach vacation, then July-September is the best time (although the beach season lasts from May to October).

History

Before our era, the territory of Croatia was inhabited by descendants of the Impreso culture. By the beginning of our era, the entire territory of the country was conquered by the Romans. Croatian tribes came to these lands in the 7th century. They formed two principalities: Croatia and Pannonia. The Trpimirovic dynasty united the two principalities into a single Croatian Kingdom.

In 1102, the Kingdom of Croatia lost its independence after a union with Hungary. The Hungarians ruled Croatia until the early 16th century. Later, the north of the country was occupied by the Turks, Istria and Dalmatia were captured by Venice. Only the republic led by Dubrovnik retained its independence.

In 1526, most of Croatia became part of the Habsburgs. After the fall of the Republic of Venice, Istria and Dalmatia were added to their possessions. After World War I, Croatia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which was later renamed Yugoslavia.

In 1939, Croatia gained autonomy. In 1941, the pro-Nazi Croatian state was established under Pavelić’s leadership. After World War II, Pavelic’s regime collapsed and Croatia was again part of Yugoslavia until 1991. In 1991, the Croatian state declared independence. This led to a war that lasted until 1995. Croatia’s borders were finally established in 1998.

Administrative division

Map of Croatia

Croatia is divided into 20 županjas:

• Osiecko-Baranska – Osiek
• Krapynsko-Zahorska – Krapina.
• Pozheshko-Slavonska – Pozhega
• Істарська — Пазин
• Virovitichko-Podravska – Virovitica
• Shibensko-Kninska— Sibenik
• Dubrovacko-Neretvanska – Dubrovnik
• Sisatchko-Moslavacka – Sisak
• Koprivnychko-Kryzhevachka – Koprivnytsia
• Licko-Senska – Gospic
• Splitsko-Dalmatinska – Split
• Primorska Goranska – Rijeka
• Zadarska – Zadar
• Karlovacka – Karlovac
• Vukovarsko-Sriemska – Vukovar
• Zagrebaczka z center in Zagreb.
• Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska – Bjelovar
• Varaždinska – Varaždin
• Medjimurska
• Zagreb

Population

About 90% of the country’s population are ethnic Croats. Croats belong to the group of South Slavic peoples. They speak the Croatian language and profess Catholicism. Croats are very hardworking, patriotic and independent. Respect their traditions and culture, and avoid topics related to Yugoslavia and Serbia.

Transportation

The largest airports are located in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Pula. In Croatia, you can fly from London, Istanbul, Prague, Madrid, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Paris, Vienna, Moscow, Kyiv, Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Tokyo, Seoul.

The railway network connects all major cities in the country (except Dubrovnik). Croatia has direct rail routes from Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Greece.

The fastest and most economical way to travel within the country is by bus. The main points of international transportation are Split and Dubrovnik. The Adriatic coast of Croatia has regular ferry connections with Italian cities (Bari, Ancona, Venice).

Croatia has a pretty good road network, so a car is also a great way to get around.

Speed limit: 50 km/h – in settlements, 90 km/h – outside settlements, 130 km/h – on highways. Headlights must be on at all times of the day and all passengers must wear seat belts.

Cities in Croatia and popular destinations

Найпопулярніші міста Хорватії:

• Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and the largest city in the country.
• Dubrovnik — is one of the most picturesque Croatian cities included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Split — is an ancient port city with Roman ruins.
• Pula is the largest city in Istria with an ancient Roman amphitheater.
• Osijek is the capital of Slavonia.
• Rijeka is the country’s largest port.
• Varaždin — is a baroque gem of Croatia.
• Zadar is one of the most beautiful cities in Dalmatia.

Popular destinations:

• Istria is a peninsula on the Adriatic coast, one of the most famous and popular places in Croatia. It is famous for its picturesque coastal resort towns with Venetian architecture and Italian flavor. — Poreč, Pula, Umag, Rovinj, Medulin, good wines and olive oil.
• Kvarner is a stretch of coastline between Istria and mainland Croatia around Rijeka. The most popular resorts are Opatija and Crikvenica.
• Northern Dalmatia is the region between Kvarner and Split. It is home to the beautiful seaside town of Zadar, the fascinating Sibenik, and the magnificent Trogir.
• Makarska Riviera is one of the most famous tourist destinations on the Croatian coast with many beautiful beaches, pine forests and sparkling emerald sea water.
• Southern Dalmatia is famous for its fine wines and beautiful places. The most prominent city in the region is Dubrovnik.
• The Croatian Adriatic includes more than 1000 islands. The most popular of them are: Cres, Krk, Rab, Brac, Hvar.

Attractions

Dubrovnik – is the most popular city in Croatia. It is known for its magnificent old town, enclosed in a ring of mighty medieval walls, old houses with red tiled roofs, charming streets and beautiful views of the emerald waters of the Adriatic.

Diocletian’s Palace in Split is one of the most famous Roman buildings in Croatia. It was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Inside the walls there is a magnificent arcade courtyard, a cathedral with a beautiful bell tower. The old town of Split is also very interesting and is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Amphitheater in Pula or Arena — is the main attraction of Pula and the symbol of the city. This is a large amphitheater built in the 1st century during the time of Vespasian for gladiatorial battles simultaneously with the Colosseum. It is considered to be one of the 6 largest amphitheaters of the Ancient period. The Pula Arena could accommodate more than 20 thousand spectators. It is a large oval structure 130 meters long and 100 meters wide, built of limestone.

Khwar — is an ancient car-free city on an island in the Dalmatian region. The historic center consists of a spacious main square overlooking the 16th-century cathedral, a beautiful fishing harbor, and a hilltop fortress.

Plitvice — is one of the most beautiful places in Croatia. 16 emerald blue lakes connected by a series of waterfalls, surrounded by hills and forests.

Upper Town in Zagreb — is a medieval city with ancient monuments: the cathedral with a neo-Gothic facade and double spires, the Church of St. Mark with a colored tiled roof, the parliament building, and the 13th-century tower.

Kornati — an archipelago of 80 picturesque islands.

The ancient city of Zadar is famous for its Romanesque churches built between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Golden Horn — is one of the most famous beaches in Croatia on the southern coast of the island of Brac. Depending on the winds and currents, it moves and changes shape from season to season. The sea here is very warm and clear.

Korcula — is an ancient city in Dalmatia on the island of the same name. It is considered the birthplace of Marco Polo and is known for its medieval walls and towers.

Mljet — is a national park in the west of the island of the same name with picturesque nature and two salt lakes with turquoise water.

Rovinj — is one of the most picturesque cities in Istria. Its Old Town is famous for its Venetian architecture and colorful houses by the water.

Accommodation

Thanks to Croatia’s popularity as a tourist destination, finding accommodation is not a problem if you start looking in advance. There is a large selection of hotels, villas, and apartments, the concentration of which increases near the resorts. In general, the prices for accommodation in Croatia are close to European prices and slightly lower than, for example, in neighboring Italy.

Kitchen

Croatian cuisine is very rich and varied. It is a mixture of Mediterranean (Italian) and Eastern European cuisine. The Italian influence is strongest on the Adriatic coast, which is mixed with an abundance of fish and seafood. In Istria, you can try dishes with truffles. Eastern Croatia is famous for stews, soups, goulash and meat dishes. Traditional products include olive oil, wines and cheeses.

Traditional dishes:

• Čobanac-  a mix of different types of meat with red paprika sauce.
• Omelette with asparagus.
• Brodet – stewed fish with polenta or rice. It is very popular in Dalmatia.
• Pršut – tire.
• Pasticada – stewed meat with gnocchi.
• Štrukli – Orvatska pasta with syrup.
• Fuzi s tartufima – macaroni and truffles.
• Hvarska gregada – a typical fisherman’s dish with potatoes, herbs and white wine.
• Istarska jota – stewed pork with beans and potatoes.
• Purica s mlincima – ndi.