Croatia – A Mediterranean Fantasyland Turned Reality

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Croatia remains one of the most popular holiday destinations among travellers. And it’s not only due to their excellent performance in football’s recent FIFA World Cup 2018 or for being a backdrop on the hugely popular TV series Game of Thrones. There is so much to see and do in Croatia that one may feel one visit is never enough. There’s the clear sea, the beaches and islands around it. But then there’s also the fresh seafood and fine wine, the historical sites and cultural landmarks, the luxury hotels and unique diving spots. Croatia is also one of Europe’s sunniest spots, so holidays there are all the more enjoyable. So while in Croatia, don’t miss the chance to visit the following places.

Zagreb

Grounded Sun, Zagreb

Grounded Sun, Zagreb           (Pic Credits: commons.wikimedia.org)

Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of Croatia in terms of area and population. It is a city known for its diverse economy, high quality of living, museums, sporting, and entertainment events.
Among the many interesting places to see in Zagreb is the Museum of Contemporary Art which is also among the best in the world.
The Zagreb Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the tallest building in the country and its impressive spires reach 106 metres into the sky. The cathedral is also depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 1000 kuna banknote. The Zagreb Cathedral Organ with more than 6,000 flue pipes, seventy-eight registers and four manuals is classified among the top ten finest and top-quality organs in the world!
One must definitely visit the art installation in Bogovićeva street, called Nine Views. Together with the sculpture Prizemljeno Sunce (The Grounded Sun) there, it makes up a consistent model of the Solar System at a scale of 1:680 000 000. It is actually the Sun scaled down, with the planets situated all over Zagreb in scale with the Sun. Earth’s model, located at 9 Varšavska Street is about 1.9 cm in size and at 225 m distance from the sun’s model.
Zagreb hosts many performing arts festivals like Animafest, the World Festival of Animated Films (every even-numbered year), and the Music Biennale an international festival of avant-garde music (every odd-numbered year).
And for the football lover, take a visit to the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb or the Stadion Poljud in Split, where most home matches of the Croatia national football team are played.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik City Walls, Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik City Walls, Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is often called the Pearl of the Adriatic and the Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw on his visit to the city in 1929 said, “If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.”
One of the main features of Dubrovnik is its walls. They run almost 2 kilometres around the city and are 4 to 6 metres thick. The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the vulnerable city. The walls have been made popular as it was one of the main filming locations for the fictional city of King’s Landing in the television series, Game of Thrones.
Close to the centre of Dubrovnik are the hidden caves of Betina špilja which is accessible only from the sea. It comprises a large cave entrance and a carpet of fine white pebbles and is a perfect picnic spot.
Visit the island of Lokrum which locals believe is haunted. Tourists usually head there for the day but return to the mainland before sunset. Legend has it that Richard the Lionheart’s ship ran aground there in the late 12th century.
At Sveti Jakov Beach you can enjoy outdoor activities like river rafting & tubing, boat tours & other water sports.
Plan a trip to Kojan Koral, where you can go horseback riding, go off-road on a Segway or on an ATV Quad Tour.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Central Croatia

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Central Croatia

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest and the largest national parks in Croatia.
Situated in the mountainous area of central Croatia, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register in 1979 due to its breath-taking views, its fauna and the unique turquoise waters.
The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres and records more than 1 million visitors each year. The territory is so huge that you definitely cannot go around the whole park by walking. Check out the special transfer service that will take you from point A to point B either by ferry or by train.
There are currently 16 interconnected natural lakes which are a result of the confluence of several small rivers. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.
The Lakes have intriguing names like Scrub Lake, Gypsy’s Lake, Round Lake, Whirlpool, Mile’s Lake and Goat Lake. It is important to note that swimming is strictly forbidden in the park.
The Plitvice Lakes national park is heavily forested and within the park 55 different species of orchids can be found. A great number of the plants and species found there are protected by law. The national park is home to an extremely wide variety of animal and bird species. Rare fauna such as the European brown bear, wolf, eagle, owl, lynx and wildcat, can be found there. And around 157 bird species have been counted up to now.

Biokovo Mountain Range

Biokovo Mountain Range, Dalmatian Coast

Biokovo Mountain Range, Dalmatian Coast

The Biokovo mountain range contains Croatia’s highest peak – Sveti Jure (1762 m) which has recently been included in professional road bicycle races like the Tour of Croatia. The Sveti Jure or the Biokovo road is the highest road in Croatia, and the views you see while driving it are second to none. There are over thirty-eight marked trails leading up the mountain on different sides.
On your way up, you will pass ancient villages on the foothills of the magnificent rocky mountain. The main hiking trail, Biokovo Mountain Trail has twenty control points. One should be well-prepared for the ascent. Go well equipped with hiking boots, backpack, spare clothing, raincoat, drinking water, and a good map of the Park. The weather conditions can change in a moment, no surface water is to be found and one should not deviate from the marked trail.
The Biokovo mountain range is protected as a nature park with over 1,500 plant and animal species, some of which are native to the area. And when the weather is very clear, from the top of Biokovo it is possible to see Monte Gargano in Italy, which is 252 km away.

Book your Croatia trip with Travco Holidays and have an unforgettable vacation. To know about our packages visit our website or call now on 9860090341. We provide complete passport and visa assistance as well.

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