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Croatia

Croatia - a land whose rich cultural heritage is not discovered only from within the walls of numerous museums, galleries and churches, many of which today, as zero category monuments, are included in a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, but much more in that magical place on the Mediterranean, where even the shortest stroll becomes a journey down a staircase thousands of years old which takes one through a history that is at the same time turbulent, exciting and glorious. Whether walking the intricate grid of narrow white stone streets and alleys, or revelling in the teeming life of the port towns of Istria, Kvarner or Dalmatia, or climbing the green serpentines of Central Croatia to the fairy-like fortresses and castles, each step is an ever fresh experience, made special by the fact that on her territory as many as four cultural circles meet, intertwine and complement one another - west, east, Central European and the southern spirit of the Mediterranean. Croatia is a land of urban culture which numbers more cities than any other part of the Mediterranean.

If you are interested in the days of antiquity, you should start from the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, through Zadar and its forum - the largest excavated forum on the eastern shores of the Adriatic - and then to the magnificent palace of Emperor Diocletian in Split. Walk through time, from the pre-Romanesque Church of St. Domnius in Zadar dating from the 9th century, to the world of the Romanesque that is the magical monument city of Trogir, or the islands of Krk and Rab. Follow the Gothic period in Zagreb, Pazin, or, for instance, the town of Ston on the Peljesac peninsula. Discover the Renaissance in Osor on the island of Cres, Sibenik cathedral, the islands of Hvar and Korcula, and finally, the one and only Dubrovnik. The towns of Varazdin, Bjelovar and Vukovar glow with the splendour of the Baroque, while the heritage of the 19th century is at its best in Rijeka, Osijek and, of course, in downtown Zagreb.

List of UNESCO destinations in Croatia

Diocletian Palace and Medieval Split

Dubrovnik old town

  • The Pearl of the Adriatic became a major Mediterranean power after the 13th century. This late-medieval planned city with its historical core has preserved the character of a unique urban whole throughout the centuries.

Early-Christian Euphrasius Basilica Complex in Porec

  • The cathedral complex in Porec was named Euphrasius Basilica after Bishop Euphrasius who thoroughly renovated the cathedral in mid-6th century and decorated it with famous mosaics.

Historical Core of Trogir

  • Excellent example of urban continuity. Orthogonal street plan of this island settlement originates from the Hellenic era, consecutive rulers continued to decorate it with exceptional public and residential buildings and forts.

National Park Plitvice Lakes

  • Creation of gypsum and rearrangement of the river bed created a string of 16 lakes representing a magnificent natural architectural phenomenon, surrounded by forests inhabited by many rare animal and plant species.

St. Jacobs Cathedral in Sibenik

  • Built between 1431 and 1535, St. Jacobs Cathedral witnessed important exchanges in the area of monumental art between North Italy, Dalmatia and Tuscany in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Starigrad Plain

  • The vineyards and olive groves in the Starigrad Plain have remained practically intact since ancient Greeks and they are a unique example of the geometric land division used in the ancient Greek times.