Split, the heart of Dalmatia  by Tatyana Kogut

Split can be listed among the most solemn cities of Croatia. The city is located in the centre of Croatian coast, between Zadar and Dubrovnik, separating Dalmatia into two parts. That is why it is also the heart of the country.

Some time ago the city celebrated its 1700th anniversary! In the course of the last 17 centuries many civilizations left traces of their life here. They even say that “this is the place where different epochs are tied together by the ends of clothes-lines.”

The name – Split – derives from the word “Palatium” which means “a palace”, since the city was founded on the spot where approximately in 295 AD the palace of Roman emperor Diocletian used to stand. At the time the building was surrounded with thick walls, so when in the 8th century Avars and Slavs came to ravage the territory local people could hide within the palace.

Later on the palace turned into a military fortress with a city inside it, and nowadays this is one of the best-known city attractions. The palace walls are 2,5 meters thick and 15-20 meters high. Scientists say the construction included 16 towers, however, there were only three of them left. The whole ensemble consisted of a hall, temples, a mausoleum for the emperor’s family and other structures. The palace is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Monuments.

The main city square is called “People’s square”, adorned with the Split Town Hall – a very beautiful building with three pointed arches. Nowadays the building houses an Ethnographic museum that displays a wide collection of traditional dresses, cloths, ceramics, household stuff etc. Another city attraction is a Benedictine Monastery built in the 16th century. There is Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin) statue standing next to the monastery. The person immortalized in the statue was a bishop who introduced the Croatian language in the religious services. Rubbing the statue's toe is said to bring good luck.

Landmark not far from Split is the ancient city of Salona (2 – 4 centuries BC). Unfortunately, great part of Salona was destroyed in the invasions of the Avars and Slavs. You will be captivated by the Maritime Museum, located in the 17-century fortress. The museum displays a vast collection of maps, photographs and varied nautical equipment. Mestrovic Gallery contains a collection of works by this renowned sculptor. One of the oldest Croatian museums - Archaeological Museum – is situated at the Zrinsko-Frankopanska street. Major part of the museum’s exhibits are discoveries from Salona – sarcophagi, mosaics, ceramics, jewellery.

Local people do deserve all praises: most beautiful women live in Split, and local men are tall and well-built. But Split is not only famous for its history, architecture and citizens; it is also a popular Croatian resort, with numerous modern hotels and picturesque lagoons. From here one can easily reach wonderful Dalmatian islands of Brac, Hvar, and visit three national parks – Krka, Kornati and Plitvice Lakes.

The best time to visit Split is summer, when Split Music Festival is held, followed by Split Summer (Splitsko ljeto) theatre festival. Summer is also excellent for sunbathing. As mentioned above, there are lots of beaches here. Plus to this, many restaurants, taverns, cafes and bars are found right at the sea-front. Local dishes are mostly prepared of fish, mollusca, lobsters etc., which go well with local wine.

About the Author - Visit Split hotels to reserve a room in Split hotel.  www.allrez.com - online hotel reservation. 

Where Croatia's northwest coast meets Slovenia, a triangular shaped peninsula juts out into the Adriatic. This is the beautiful region known as, Istria. Historically, Istria has shifted back and forth from Venetian to Croatian rule and it still has a significant Italian-speaking population, a fact highlighted by the dual language road signs. Many of its historic buildings reveal Venetian style architecture. Add the piazzas, pizzas, local ice cream and superb Istrian wine to this Italianesque atmosphere and it is little wonder that some travel writers have dubbed parts of the Istrian hinterland as "The New Tuscany".

Istria has been a popular holiday destination since the sixties, especially with tourists from Austria, Germany and the U.K. The climate of the coastal areas is very much a Mediterranean one, providing warm sunny weather throughout June, July and August. Package tour holidays have made their impact in one or two coastal towns but on the whole Istria remains an unspoilt gem, which appeals mainly to independent travellers.

Away from the coast, the landscape of vineyards and rolling hills that are often topped with pretty little towns, does indeed have all the looks of Tuscan scenery. But the comparison does not stop at appearances. Many of the vineyards produce wines of Tuscan standard and the world's finest truffles are to be found growing in the woodlands.

The only city in Istria is Pula. At first glance, you might be tempted to write it off as a ramshackle port, devoid of any charm or beauty. This is a pity as Pula has a wealth of Roman history to reveal. Its amphitheatre is the largest Roman arena still standing, anywhere in the world and it is more than just a museum to ancient gladiatorial spectacles. In fact, it is regularly used on summer nights for both classical and pop music concerts when up to 23,000 people pack into the seats once occupied by Romans.

Pula's amphitheatre is only the beginning of Pula's Roman treasures however. The Archaeological museum displays many artefacts from Roman times and the Triumphal Arch of Sergius is another well preserved Roman monument that has been standing in Pula for nearly 2000 years. In the Roman Forum you will also find the Temple of Augustus which dates from the first century and still has intact columns.

Rovinj is the most attractive town on the Istrian coast. Its Venetian appearance is underlined by the number of Italian speaking inhabitants and excellent Italian restaurants. After a day spent on one of the beautiful beaches in the area, Rovinj is just the place to spend a summer evening.

For a major tourist resort that has attracted the package tour holiday crowds, Porec is still worth a visit for its well-preserved Roman streets and compelling old town. There is no shortage of bars, restaurants, hotels and things to do in this very tourist conscious town.

Tranquillity and quiet are never far away from even the busiest of Istrian resorts however, and the whole coastline is dotted with small islands, peaceful bays, and secluded beaches. Hidden coves with sparking, white pebbles dazzle and invite naturists to skinny dip in a crystal clear sea. Larger bays and flat platforms of rock provide idyllic spots from which sunbathers can lay back and apply copious amounts of factor thirty whilst listening to the mixed sounds of gently lapping waves, birdsong and cicadas. The many walking trails around pine-fringed inlets, lagoons and through beautiful woodland offer naturalists opportunities to observe rare and diverse specimens of flora and fauna.

Holiday destinations in Istria are easy to get to with cheap flights to Pula and other airports in the region being available from several U.K. airports including Gatwick and Stansted. These flights can be booked on line. As well as cheap flight offers, there are many Internet sites advertising accommodation throughout the Istrian peninsula and especially around the coastal resorts. 

The Croatian National Tourist Office is reporting  that many visitors are now choosing the country for a really authentic Mediterranean experience on the fine Adriatic Coast. These visitors are also discovering the medieval hilltop villages in the country's Istria region, and the green hinterland of Dalmatia as well as the country's established National Parks. Everywhere, the country offers a variety of holiday ideas for those looking for a beach, but also want to be active on holiday. Here are a few of the highlights of a holiday in Croatia.

A popular option for visitors who want an all-round introduction to the culture of the country, is a two-centre holiday starting in the capital Zagreb. Zagreb is a great cultural centre with a fine mix of museums, theatres, shops and parkland, and with less than 2 hours flying time from southern UK airports, is a popular arrival point.

A few days here can be combined with a longer stay at the well-known Kvarner Riviera, but also for example at the upcoming north-eastern region of Slavonia which has the Kopa ki Rit nature reserve (ideal bird-watching territory) and acres of wine-producing landscape where excellent local wines match heartily with local cuisine. Exciting to see also are the Lipizzaner horses of Djakovo.

For hikers and cyclists, the mountains of Gorski Kotar in the north offer great opportunities. Europe's last great mammal - the brown bear - can be seen here. Also in this region are the islands of Losinj, Krk, Rab and Cres where the rare griffon vulture flies in beautiful unspoilt scenes.

The Dalmatian coast is probably the best-known area of Croatia, but now for UK visitors, new direct flights to Zodar mean that the northern areas of the Dalmatian coast are more accessible, including the amazing Kornati archipelago which is a National Park with all amenities, and is a gateway to five of Coatia's eight such parks.

Many special interest operators are now offering new inland programmes, including food and wine tours, bird watching trips as well as historical and cultural tours to all such regions.

With new motorways completed, and with regular year-round flights from Gatwick and Heathrow to Zagreb by Croatia Airlines amongst others, those with a few days to spare and an independent spirit can easily hire a car and be in Croatia's Kvarner Riviera resorts less than 2 hours from landing. Indeed hiring a car and enjoying a leisurely, independent view of Croatia's varied landscapes is a choice which is growing in acceptance as the country opens up once again to its new waves of visitors.

Meantime, as Croatia is outside the Eurozone, UK holidaymakers are likely to find excellent self-catering deals, and excellent value in restaurants and bars, where spending-money goes a lot further than in Eurozone Mediterranean areas.

About the Author:  Jimi St. Pierre, in collaboration with travel correspondent Penny Church writes for several Travel Companies in the UK, including Airport parking specialist AIrport Parking Offers UK who offer a wide variety of airport parking and hotel arrangements for UK travellers. Airport Parking at discount prices can be found at http://www.airport-parking-offers.com