CROATIA
by Jan Skov
Croatia has become one of Europe's hot destinations. The coastline is about
1800 kilometres with coves and inlets. There are 1200 islands, and a wide
choice of beaches surrounded by lovely hills, impressive mountains and very
clean waters. Apart from the scenery, Croatia also has a fascinating history
and culture. Especially, the city of Dubrovnik in southern Dalmatia is a
must-see. Two thousand years ago the Romans ruled the area and left an
amphitheatre in Pula, Diocletian's Palace in Split, and many smaller remnants
of that great culture. For years Croatia was then ruled by the Republic of
Venice. In Dalmatia, the towns of Hvar and Korcula on the islands of the same
names resemble the architecture of Venice, and in Istria, the bell tower in
Rovinj is much like the tower of St Mark's Square in Venice.
The Croatian interior was recently a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Zagreb, Croatia's capital, has an architecture that resembles Vienna or
Budapest, and it has a small quarter that resembles Prague.
Several national parks are of the utmost beauty and offer climbing, walking, rafting, or simply a relaxing stay in exquisite natural surroundings. One park deserves special recommendation: Plitvice National Park has to be seen to be believed. There are 16 lakes lying at different altitudes, and they are connected with waterfalls everywhere. The park has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.
Croatia attracts many visitors and the most common accommodation in Croatia
is a privately rented apartment or villa. Croatia offers a wide choice of
holiday apartments, with classifications from 2 to 5 stars. The classification
is done by the national tourist authorities, who are very strict and guarantee
that whatever accommodation you rent, it will have a certain standard and will
be inspected regularly by them.