Newsletter

PREFERRED DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2011/2012

Newsletter

09|2011

Contents News

Goveđari - Mljet`s first gallery 2 Zadar - ‘Iadera’ opens its doors 3 Zagreb - Tourism and the media 3 Trbounje - The luxurious ‘Rokovi Dvori’ 4 Buzet –Boutique hotel surrounded by history 4 Pula - A new amphitheatre next to the old one 5 Bale - Hotel town 6

Croatia in the world

Pag - Zrće and Papaya the most desirable for young people 7 Dubrovnik and Hvar among the most elite summer destinations 8 Zagreb - London designers in awe of the capital city 8 «The six most beautiful things you must experience in Croatia» 9

Investments

Zagreb - Hilton to open the Doubletree hotel 10 The island of Ugljan - The apartments in Kukljica get a makeover 10 Punat - The former bishop’s summer house gets another star 11 Selce - The first five stars on the Crikvenica Riviera 12

Events

Koprivnica - Renaissance in Podravina 13 Dubrovnik - Chamber music among ancient walls 14 Varaždin - Trash Film Festival 15

Projects

PHOTO: TZ ŠOLTA

Šibenik - A beach in the town centre 16 Božava - New investments on Dugi otok 16 Prelog - A Croatian Garden in Draškovec 17 Varaždinske Toplice - The regional centre of health tourism 17

Introducing

Veli Iž - A hotel for lovers of the alternative 18 The central Dalmatian islands of Hvar, Brač, Šolta and Vis 19

News

PHOTO: MARIO ROMULIĆ & DRAŽEN STOJČIĆ

A multifunctional gallery, under the name ‘Stara Skula’ has recently opened on one of the most beautiful islands of the Adriatic `the green island of Mljet`, in the picturesque village of Goveđari. The exhibition space dates back to the last century, when it housed a school for the pupils from the island and later the local post office. Now, this exhibition space will hold various exhibitions, film projections, concerts, video installations, guest speaker presentations, literary evenings etc throughout the year. The gallery, built in Dalmatian stone, is located inside an architecturally unusual house in the centre of the village Goveđari, upon a green hill covered in pine and palm trees, which rises above the Veliko and Malo lakes and together with the surrounding villages makes up the National Park Mljet. In September, Stara Skula - the first gallery in Mljet - will host an alternative group from Europe, which has recognized the quietness, vegetation, sea and calming colours of nature as an ideal place for meditation, yoga and a different way of life. The owners of the gallery also offer boutique accommodation and their hospitality has been recognized by foreign guests which have recommended it to the most influential travel website, tripadvisor.com. Mljet is the eighth biggest Croatian island located not far from Pelješac peninsula, Dubrovnik and the island of Korčula. It is a Mediterranean area with dry summers and mild winters, with almost close to 2500 hours of sunshine a year, which makes it one of the sunniest islands on the Adriatic. Many consider it to be the most beautiful and most forested island on the Adriatic, as well as one of the most attractive cultural and historical pearls of the Mediterranean. It is visited by couples in love, adventurists, explorers of nature and lovers of history and legends.

PHOTO: HOTEL ODISEJ

Goveđari - Mljet`s first gallery

The Tourist Board of Dubrovnik-Neretva County www.visitdubrovnik.hr The Tourist Board of Mljet www.mljet.hr

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PHOTO: ROBERT BALAŠKO

Zadar - ‘Iadera’ opens its doors

The newly built hotel Iadera situated on the edge of Punta Skali peninsula near Zadar, has received its first guests. It is the most luxurious facility in the ownership of the Austrian group Falkensteiner in Croatia. This five star hotel offers accommodation in 210 rooms and apartments and its specialty is the spa centre and wellness oasis which stretches across 6000 square metres and offers five different types of sauna, massage chairs, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a 700 square metre Turkish bath and a large selection of wellness, health and relaxation facilities. The first class restaurants which offer an Alpine-Adriatic cuisine with regional specialties make the offer of the hotel a combination of luxury and exquisite design. The hotel also has a 600 square metre conference centre equipped with the most contemporary technology and is therefore ideal for congress tourism. It has seven congress halls which can accommodate from 30 to 200 participants. For next year, Falkensteiner has announced the opening of a family hotel in Crvena Luka, close to Biograd na Moru. Iadera offers swimming pools, a water sports centre, a diving base, diving equipment rental, surfing and jetski, a multifunctional playing court for individual and team sports, as well as organized trips for guests looking for different activities.

Zagreb - Tourism and the media

From 12 - 13 September the capital city of Croatia will host the first international conference dedicated to the relationship between tourism and the media. The conference will be organized by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Croatia and under the slogan `Tourism as Headline News`. The conference will address the question why tourism, despite the fact that it is one of the leading and fastest growing world’s economic sectors, rarely finds itself in the media headlines or economy sections of newspapers. As an export category, tourism holds a fourth place in the world, after oil, chemical and automobile industries, but its economic development and meaning are often neglected by the media. The goals of the conference will be the upgrading of the ratio and accuracy of the media`s tourism coverage, a highly sensitive sector in which negative, sensational news stories can easily damage an image of a country and ultimately lead to loss of work places. Considering the presence of leading communication experts, the conference will also be an opportunity for tourist communicators to learn about tools and strategies which will help them in their future work. The conference is organised in collaboration with the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and CNN, as a world media partner, where representatives of leading world media houses and specialised tourism media, as well as communication experts from the tourism sector will all come together. The Tourist Board of Zagreb www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

The Tourist Board of Zadar County www.zadar.hr

The Ministry of Tourism www.mint.hr

The Tourist Board of Zadar www.tzzadar.hr

UNWTO www.unwto.org

Falkensteiner www.falkensteiner.com

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PHOTO: SERGIO GOBBO

PHOTO: FORTUNA DALMATE D.O.O.

Trbounje - The Buzet - Boutique luxurious ‘Rokovi Dvori’ hotel surrounded by history

In the past few years, there has been a rise in exclusive rural tourism in Croatia, with Istria as a leader in this segment of tourism. Istria`s example was followed by some other areas, such as the Dalmatian hinterland, which has recently presented a new exclusive tourism facility. Rokovi Dvori is a recently refurbished manor house dating from 1890, located in Trbounje, close to Drniš, at the entry to the National Park Krka. The estate, which stretches across almost 16000 square metres and had ruins of a family home, abandoned 40 years ago and the foundations of three outbuildings, was being renovated under the supervision of conservators for two and a half years. The result is a luxury, 450 square meter three storey villa, which offers guests a hint of the traditional feel with maximum comfort and privacy. The five star villa offers guests the following services: meet and greet at the airport, yacht rental in one of the marinas in Skradin, Vodice and Primošten as well as private chefs and service staff. The estate has a beautifully decorated garden with a swimming pool, a fake grass tennis court and a vineyard surrounded by a dry stone wall. There is a plan for the construction of a heliodrome which would make the estate more approachable to guests arriving by mega yachts into a new marina being built in Šibenik, a Dalmatian coastal town which is located around thirty kilometres away. The Tourist Board of Šibenik-Knin County www.sibenikregion.com

A four star boutique hotel Vela Vrata recently opened on the once favourite promenade of the Istrian town Buzet. The hotel was created by joining up and renovating of old buildings in the historical town core, while the construction works were overlooked by conservators. The hotel has 18 contemporary designer rooms and three apartments. Every room is furnished individually featuring a combination of antique and custom made furniture. There is also a plan for the construction of a multifunctional conference hall and a swimming pool. The hotel restaurant has a top gastronomy offer based on the indigenous cuisine of a seasonal character and the unmissable truffles for which Buzet is widely famous. The hotel was named after the stone arch built in 1547, at the entrance to the old town of Buzet, next to which it is located and makes an intimate relaxation place for those whishing to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Buzet is an old medieval town located in the far north of Istria close to the border with Slovenia, on a hill above a fertile valley of the largest Istrian river, Mirna. It is known as the `city of truffles`, because the best `hunting grounds` of this heavenly mushroom are located precisely in the woods along the valley of Mirna. Every year, from September to November, `Truffle Days` are organized in honour of the white Istrian truffle and on the second week-end in September in Buzet, there is a fair traditionally featuring a huge frittata of scrambled eggs (more precisely 2011 of them) with more than 10 kg of truffles prepared by the locals in a massive frying pan measuring several meters. This is how the `Truffle Days` traditionally begin in Istria.

The Tourist Board of Drniš www.tz-drnis.hr

The Tourist Board of Istria County www.istra.com The Tourist Board of Buzet www.istria-buzet.hr Hotel Vela Vrata www.velavrata.net

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PHOTO: RENCO KOSINOŽIĆ

Pula - A new amphitheatre next to the old one The centre of Pula was recently enriched by a small city boutique hotel called Amfiteatar featuring an exquisite restaurant. The hotel, in which more than three million euros were invested, is located less than a hundred metres away from the famous Arena - the Roman Amphitheatre. The building works were completed after a year and the hotel is now leased by Denis Zembo, one of Croatia`s best chefs and the owner of he famous restaurant ‘Le Mandrać’ in Volosko. The three star hotel has 18 rooms and is decorated in a minimalist, modern style. One of its first guests was the famous Italian singer Zucchero, who held a concert in the close by Arena. The Tourist Board of Istria County www.istra.com The Tourist Board of Pula www.istria-pula.hr Hotel Amfiteatar www.hotelamfiteatar.com

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‘La Grisa’ hotel recently opened in the old town core of Bale, a small Istrian town close to Rovinj and Pula. The hotel was constructed by the renovation and joining up of three old buildings into one. The houses share a garden which will be turned into a terrace adjecant to the hotel restaurant. One can get from one street to the other through the yard and the archway and the central reception is right next to the hotel. 12 rooms and one apartment are curently opened for quests. The opening of a café, kitchen and restaurant, a wine room and a place to taste indigenous products is expected soon. 12 more rooms and one apartment as well as a luxury wellness centre will be created in the last phase. Hotel La Grisa is part of the story of Bale, a hotel town where the entrance to the city is the reception desk, while its old lively streets make up for hotel corridors. Bale offers guests an original tourist offer thanks to the collaboration of different entrepreneurial initiatives. So for instance, a guest who comes to one of the most beautiful and most luxurious Istrian estates Meneghetti, can try top quality olive oil, awarded in Croatia and abroad, produced by the local olive oil producer Emanuel Grubić. While visiting you can also tour his oil museum and find out how oil was made a hundred years ago, after which you can enjoy jazz music at the local tavern as well as classical music concerts, visit an exhibition at the lapidarium and art workshops as well as look around the lavender oasis and other indigenous plants in the arboretum under the name Histria Aromatica. All of this was recognized by Loney Planet two years ago, which named Bale - because of the international «Last Minute Open Jazz Festival» - a place definitely worth visiting along with Dubrovnik.

PHOTO: SERGIO GOBBO

Bale - Hotel town

The picturesque small, stone town of Bale dates back to the Roman Empire. The Italian name Bala-Valle means valley. The Roman castle became a fortified town in the middle ages and was first mentioned as Castrum Vallis (Valle) in 965. Today, it is a town whose town core is full of interesting sites, from the Gothic-Renaissance castle Soardo-Bembo and the 19th century tower in the centre to the parish church and the city hall with a loggia from the 14th century. The Tourist Board of Istria County www.istra.com The Tourist Board of the Borough Bale-Valle www.bale-valle.hr

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Croatia in the world The last ever edition of one of the world`s leading tabloids, the British News of the World, proclaimed the club Papaya and the beach Zrće on the island of Pag, one of the most desirable world tourist destinations for young people. A reporter for the News of the World - the tabloid which shut down after 168 years because of a phone tapping scandal - spent time on Zrće during the performances of two of the world`s most famous DJ`s Armin Van Burren and Fatboy Slim and rated the Croatian beach neck to neck with the most famous party locations – the Greek Mykonos and the Spanish Ibiza. Praises of the beach in Pag and the Papaya Club were published alongside attractive photos on two pages of the last edition, printed in five million copies, in the travel special, dedicated to the best summer destinations, under the title Ìslands That Love to Party`. The article states that Pag is the Balkan version of the Hamptons on Long Island near New York – for nine months of the year it is àsleep`, but when the summer comes and the sun comes out, it becomes an unmissable place for partying. It also mentions the bikini and swimming trunks as the obligatory dress code `which is to be worn during the day as well as night` while for recovering from all the partying he recommends a swim at the beach Zrće or a cup of coffee in the nearby Novalja. Just how much the reporter liked Zrće can also be seen in his message to readers to visit the beach in Pag, because in a few years time they will be boasting to their friends how they were among the first to discover it. Along with the text, there is all the necessary information about how to get to and where to stay in Pag. The inflight magazine of the low budget air carrier Ryanair recently also featured a story about the phenomena of the popular Zrće beach. It was one of the strongest topics also featured on its cover. Over the seven pages of the magazine, Pag is proclaimed the `new Ibiza`, a party island, where the fun never stops and where the clubs are cool and open non stop. The praised Papaya Club stretches across 3000 square metres, and was opened in 2002. The story about Zrće as a favourite party destination for young Croatians dates back to the late 1990s, when alongside the already existing club Kalypso, clubs Papaya followed by Aquarius also opened their doors. They began to offer entertainment that could not be found anywhere else on the Adriatic. They organized various programs with singers and DJs, which were enriched with dancers and hostesses and in time also became a favourite destination for foreigners who discovered Zrće beach. Today Zrće holds the position of one of the best destinations for summer fun.

PHOTO: TZŽ ZADARSKE

Pag - Zrće and Papaya the most desirable for young people

The Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County www.lickosenjska.com The Tourist Board of Novalja www.tz-novalja.hr News of the World www.newsoftheworld.com

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Dubrovnik and Hvar Zagreb - London among the most elite designers in awe of summer destinations the capital city

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

Dubrovnik and Hvar were recently included on the list among the most glamorous summer destinations in Europe, by the reporter for the Spanish magazine Hola. These two Croatian tourism pearls were put neck to neck with St. Tropez and Monte Carlo as well as a few other Spanish and Italian destinations. The reporter calls Dubrovnik an ìn` place and says that Hvar has irresistable natural beauties Famous designers Felder&Felder, who presented their new and crazy night life where many of the world`s celebrities collection at Zagreb Fashion Week this year in May, have can be seen. recently praised the beauty of Zagreb in the British edition of Harper`s Bazaar. The designers advised on where to sleep in Zagreb, where The Tourist Board of Dubrovnik-Neretva County to shop, have lunch and of course where to go out in the www.visitdubrovnik.hr evenings. For accommodation they recommended the Palace Hotel, which they described as a beautiful place close to the main town square, surrounded by museums and a beautiful The Tourist Board of Dubrovnik park. For shopping they recommend Croatian designer www.tzdubrovnik.hr stores. As an excellent place to have lunch or dinner, the London designers recommend Dubravkin Put, a restaurant The Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County which offers a variety of creative dishes. Felder&Felder www.dalmatia.hr describe the nighlife in Zagreb as more than good and were especially surprised by the Croatian energy. As a place for The Tourist Board of Hvar having a drink they mentioned the Hemingway lounge bar, www.tzhvar.hr followed by Pepermint Club which plays excellent music. Hola www.hola.com

The Tourist Board of Zagreb www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

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PHOTO: ANTE VERZOTTI

The British Daily Mail has recently published an article under the title «The six most beautiful things you must experience in Croatia», in which it says how Croatia is ready to become one of the most popular short stay destinations of the year. In the article’s introduction, readers are reminded that Lonely Planet proclaimed Istria one of the best tourist destinations of 2011, and that it is only one of the stops in Croatia – a country outside of the euro zone, which is not expensive. On the list of things to see and do, the Daily Mail reporter put a tour of the walls of Dubrovnik in the first place. He reminded readers how Dubrovnik was recently named in the US as one of the three most romantic places in the world, alongside Buenos Aires and Bora Bora and in front of Paris and Venice. He describes Dubrovnik as a `well preserved and beautiful town of stone and light`, located between the Adriatic and the Dinarid mountains and puts its 14th century city walls among the most beautiful in Europe. He states that the old town is full of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque treasures, with designer stores, restaurants and galleries. Truffles and cycling through Istria, which Lonely Planet compared to Toscani, are in the second place of the best things in Croatia, according to the British magazine. It recommends the Istrian coast and the green inland of the peninsula, where medieval towns and villages located on hilltops can be reached by narrow, spiral streets. He states that Istria is ideal for cyclists because of the many well marked cycling paths and mentions truffle dishes as a specialty, while praising the gastronomic offer. In the third place are the ‘sea organ’ and the `Sun Worship` installation in Zadar, in which reflects one of the most beautiful sunsets. The author describes Zadar as a beautiful and historical city, easily reachable as it is connected with low budget airlines. In the fourth place is the handy craft of toy making in Croatian Zagorje, north of Zagreb, as an alternative to

PHOTO: VALAMAR HOTELI I LJETOVALIŠTA D.O.O.

«The six most beautiful things you must experience in Croatia»

mass production. The handy craft of toy making has been present in this area for a very long time and craft masters still make 50 different wooden toys which are decorated with organic paints by women. He points out in the article that this ancient craft was put on the UNESCO list of intangible world heritage. He mentions Marija Bistrica and the surrounding villages as the best places to visit the masters of this toy making handy craft and from other Croatian traditional cultural heritage he singles out the two part folk singing in the coastal areas and the lace making craft in Lepoglava as well as the islands of Pag and Hvar, which the British magazine put in the fifth place. Hvar is described as a magical island where Starogradsko Polje (Starogradsko Field) is located, a place that UNESCO included on the list of world heritage, recognizing it as the best preserved ancient landscape of the Mediterranean. Greek inhabitants started harvesting this land 2400 years ago and nothing since then has changed in the quiet routine of grape and olive growing on the same land originally marked by Greek geodesists. During a visit to the islands of Croatia, The Daily mail recommends apartment rentals in one of the many lighthouses along the Croatian coast. Last but not least on the list is Split, which abounds in attractive Roman ruins and remains. The author points out that Split and the UK are connected by low budget air carriers and that it is a city worth visiting at any time of the year. As especially exciting, he mentions the accommodation in the apartment of a boutique hotel situated inside the walls of the 1700 year old palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian ‘Put on your best clothes and walk along the Riva, a promenade along the coast, to the pine forest peninsula’, says the British magazine and mentions another amazing place only 20 miles away, the well preserved old town of Trogir with beautiful Venetian buildings. The Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk

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Investments

Hotel Doubletree by Hilton should open its doors in Zagreb in October of this year. This hotel brand of the well known luxury hotel chain Hilton will be located in the Green Gold skyscraper complex, which will have offices, shops, gastronomic and entertainment facilities on around 80000 square metres. The Doubletree hotel will hold four stars and will offer accommodation in around a hundred rooms across ten floors. This facility will also have a congress hall, a wellness and fitness centre and a park with artificial lakes. The total value of the project is around 50 million euros. There are around 220 hotels in the world under the Doubletree brand, with the largest number in America. Most of these hotels function as a franchise, which will also be the case with the Zagreb one.

The island of Ugljan The apartments in Kukljica get a makeover

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN


Zagreb - Hilton to open the Doubletree hotel

The apartments in the tourist resort Zelena Punta in Kukljica on the island of Ugljan have recently had a makeover worth 28 million kunas. The first phase of reconstruction of this apartment resort located on over 65000 square metres on the peninsula in a pine forest also included the renovation and the equipping of the 132 apartments with additional facilities. In the second phase of reconstruction a new hotel and apartment accommodation units will be added along with rich recreational contents and tourist offers. The value of construction in this phase is estimated at around 120 million kunas.

The Tourist Board of Zagreb www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

The Tourist Board of Zadar County www.zadar.hr The Tourist Board of Kukljica www.kukljica.hr

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Hotel ‘Kanajt’ in Punat, on the island of Krk, has recently been enriched with various new contents, which has resulted in it aquiring a new star. This hotel facility, which has for many years now been a part of the Punat Marina, is located at the very entrance to Punat and was awarded another star after additional investments. The hotel largely satisfied standards needed for a fourth star already, so most of the additional investments refered to preparation, storage and handling of food, i.e. equipping and widening the kitchen facilities. In the near future it is planned for the hotel to get a swimming pool along with the already existing tennis court. Hotel Kanajt is located in a former building of the bishop’s summer house from the 16th century. It has 22 luxury rooms, is open throughout the year and because it is largely used by sailing enthusiasts and visitors of the Punat Marina, its offer is mostly aimed at sailors and lovers of the sea. The town of Punat, once a famous wooden shipbuilding yard, is located in the southwest part of the island of Krk, in one of the most protected bays of the Adriatic and 8km from the town of Krk. Punat is today a famous tourist destination thanks to its main tourist attraction – a small forested islet of Košljun which is located in the middle of the bay opposite the town and one of the largest and best equipped tourist marinas on the east Adriatic coast. Apart from its natural beauty, the islet Košljun is famous for the Benedictine and later, in the 15th century, Franciscan monastery which marked the beginnings of tourism in Punat. As early as the beginning of the 19th century the islet and the monastery were visited by the European elite of that time. Some of the visitors were: the widow of the Austrian emperor Fredinand I - the empress Karolina, the younger brother of the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph - Maximilian Ferdinand, the Romanian King - Karol I and many others. The monks at the monastery have throughout the centuries managed to preserve many valuable objects, so a museum was opened on the islet, with an ethnographic collection which contains various objects used by the fishermen and peasants as well as traditional costumes from all over the island of Krk. The monastery also holds a rich zoological collection, which contains a large collection of shells and unique species of animals, such as the one eyed lamb. The monastery also has a rich coin collection and library with around 30000 titles. Among them is Ptolemy’s Atlas, printed in Venice in 1511, as one of the three that have been preserved. On the islet there are also two churches, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which the largest Croatian painting `Heaven, Purgatory, Hell’ is kept and the chapel of St. Bernardine.

PHOTO: HOTEL KANAJT

Punat - The former bishop’s summer house gets another star

The Tourist Board of Primorje-Gorje County www.kvarner.hr The Tourist Board of Punat www.tzpunat.hr

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Amabilis is the first five star hotel on the Crikvenica Riviera which should soon accommodate its first guests. The hotel in Selce, at the location of the former hotel Jadranka, should be ready to open its doors to tourists in November 2011. The four storey hotel, rising above the sea will have 29 rooms and two exclusive apartments, with a jacuzzi on the terrace from which stretches a view of Krk Island. Amabilis will be open throughout the year and will be able to accommodate 60 guests in search of luxury. Alongside the wellness centre and an open type restaurant, it will also have an esthetic treatment clinic and a marina with around twenty berths for larger boats. The hotel was named after the former Villa Amabilis which stood at the same location. The owners and investors plan to build another hotel in the neighbourhood next year, but with a larger accommodation capacity.

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

Selce - The first five stars on the Crikvenica Riviera

The Tourist Board of Primorje-Gorje County www.kvarner.hr The Tourist Board of Selce www.tzselce.hr

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Events The `Renaissance festival – live pictures from history` begins on the first day of September in Koprivnica.This is the largest tourist-historical event in this part of Europe, which will during the four days of the festival bring together around 700 participants in original costumes from Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Most of the event will be linked to the 15th and especially the 16th century, when Renaissance forts were built. This historical event will begin with a procession of knights from the town centre towards the Renaissance fortress walls, under which medieval tents and camps will be set up. One of the most attractive parts of the program will be the reinactment of the night time attack on the city lit by hundreds of torches. The Italian historical group ‘Storico e Sbandieratori’ will perform for the first time in the Croatian festival this year. Apart from the theatrical images from medieval life, knighthood, sieges, music, dances and comedy, visitors will be able to enjoy in the flavours of medieval dishes which will be prepared on the spot following the original recipes from the end of the middle ages. Along with meat dishes of capon (wild rooster), wild boar and other game, there will also be dishes containing nettle. Visitors will be able to quench their thirst with wine from the nearby vineyards and with honey snapps. The Reinassance festival was proclaimed the most attractive event in Croatia in 2010, for which it received the «Simply the Best» award. The festival is held in Koprivnica, the central town of Podravina. Koprivnica was proclaimed a free and royal town in 1356. Apart from the remains of the fort and water hole surrounding it, the most interesting cultural monuments are the Baroque buildings - the Church of St. Antun Padovanski, with a Franciscan monastery and the Salvatora Chapel as well as the ‘Oružana’ (armory building) from 1714. Today’s centre of Koprivnica, with its square leaning onto a large park with a music pavilion dating from the end of the last century, got its final form at the beginning of the 20th century. The centre of the town, Zrinjski Square, has more than once been pronounced the most beautiful square in continental Croatia.

PHOTO: RENESANSNI FESTIVAL

Koprivnica - Renaissance in Podravina

The Tourist Board of Koprivnica-Križevci County www.tz-koprivnicko-krizevacka.hr The Tourist Board of Koprivnica www.koprivnicatourism.com

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PHOTO: ŽELJKO TUTNJEVIĆ

PHOTO: ŽELJKO TUTNJEVIĆ

Dubrovnik - Chamber music among ancient walls The famous violinist Julian Rachlin will once again this September be the host to his musician friends in Dubrovnik and for the 11th time in a row enrich the walls of the old town with the sounds of exqusitly preformed chamber music. Julian Rachlin got the idea for the festival during his participation at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in 2000. The famous violinist was amazed by the atmosphere of the historical city core, the most beautiful music stage, and ever since then has brought numerous musicians to this pearl of the Adriatic. His guests were some of the most respected names in classical music world wide, such as the cellist Mischa Maiski or the violinit Janine Jensen, the pianist Itamar Golan and the hornist Radovan Vlatković. Rachlin and his friends perform for the Dubrovnik audience year after year, making this Festival a top musical experience in the friendly atmosphere. Performing at this year`s festival will be a real parade of stars, not only musical but also from the world of film. After last year`s big success, John Malkovich should, with chosen musicians, perform the sequal to the funny and educational program under the name `Music Critic`. The most devoted Hollywood guest, Sir Roger Moore, will close the festival with a musical humoresque which is being thought up and directed by the great pianist Hyung-ki Joo. The famous British soprano Dame Felicity Lott will also join them in their research of the fun and humorous side of serious music. Also performing will be top chamber musicians like Misha Maiski, Janine Jensen, Itamar Golan, Boris Andrianov and the Austrian baritone Florian Boesch. Arriving also at Rachlin`s invite will be the percussion virtuoso Martin Grubinger, balalaika virtuoso Alexey Arkhipovsky and the Artemis Quartet. Returning to Dubrovnik are the pianist Yefim Bronfman and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields orchestra. On the 4th of September UNICEF will organize a charity football match between the participants of the Festival, led by Julian Rachlin and representatives of the media, with participation of famous sportsmen from Croatia and the world. Julian Rachlin was born in Latvia in 1974, and immigrated with his musician parents to Austria in 1978. There he studied at the Vienna Academy of Music, and in 1988, almost over night, gaind international fame by winning the Eurovision award `Young Musician of the Year`. The Tourist Board of Dubrovnik-Neretva County www.visitdubrovnik.hr The Tourist Board of Dubrovnik www.tzdubrovnik.hr Festival Julian Rachlin & Friends www.rachlinandfriends.com

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From the three European film festivals dedicated to trash, one is held in Varaždin. Screened at the Varaždin Trash Film Festival are action, horror and SF films, which all have in common the exaggeration of their movie genre. But the film side of trash is only the first step in the three day event (8 -10 September) in Varaždin. There is exaggeration in a whole string of non film events while glittery suits, faded pop stars, red carpets and white limos present only a part of the authentic glamtrash atmosphere that the festival brings to Varaždin. 48 films signed up for the festival this year, from which 28 went into the competition for the main prize – the so called Golden Chinsaw, which represent a homage to the cult film `Texas Chainsaw Massacre`. One of the films comes from USA while the others come from the EU, mostly from Spain and Croatia. The most common genre is horror and SF film.

PHOTO: TZ VARAŽDIN

Varaždin - Trash Film Festival

The Tourist Board of Varaždin County www.turizam-vzz.hr The Tourist Board of Varaždin www.tourism-varazdin.hr Trash film festival www.trash.hr

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Projects

Šibenik, a town in central Dalmatia, will from next year offer its visitors a new place for swimming – a beach in the town centre. Šibenik is the only town on the Adriatic that does not have a city beach and the nearest beaches such as Jadrija, Brodarica or Solaris can only be reached by boat, car or bus. But all of this will change next year and Šibenik will get a modern beach which will stretch across 12000 square metres. The beach called Banj will be located a five minute walk from the city centre. Proposed for construction is a promenade, restaurants and bars, changing rooms, showers, a playground, a beach volleyball sand court, a basketball court, a skateboarding ground and a free climbling polygon. With every sunset the beach will turn into an open air summer cinema and a stage for concerts and various events. The swimmers on the beach will not only be able to enjoy the sea but also the beautiful view of the old city core and the dome of St. Jakov Cathedral, which was included on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage in 2000. This is the only cathedral in the whole of Europe built exclusively from stone, without the use of binding materials and wooden construction elements.

Božava - New investments on Dugi otok

PHOTO: ANDRIJA CARLI

PHOTO: SERGIO GOBBO

Šibenik - A beach in the town centre

The tourist resort in Božava on Dugi Otok, should soon become a large construction site because investors from Slovakia plan to invest up to 40 million euros into new facilities and contents. The works envisage the construction of a new hotel with various additional facilities like an indoor and outdoor pool, as well as the reconstruction of existing facilities. This project will gain four stars for the resort. The Tourist Board of Zadar County www.zadar.hr The Tourist Board of Dugi otok www.dugiotok.hr

The Touris Board of Šibenik-Knin County www.sibenikregion.com The Tourist Board of Šibenik www.sibenik-tourism.hr

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Varaždinske Toplice The regional centre of health tourism

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

PHOTO: SERGIO GOBBO

Prelog - A Croatian Garden in Draškovec

In the Međimurje borough of Draškovec, close to Prelog, the construction of the long awaited project Terme Hortus Croatiae or the Croatian Garden will begin at the end of this year. This is a health and tourism project which should include the construction of an attractive spa-wellness facility and golf resort. The value of the first phase of the project is 30 million euros, while the group of investors from Slovenia and Croatia plan to invest up to 140 million euros in total. The thermal water grounds in Draškovec are one of the key tourism destinations of the project under the theme ‘Role of health tourism in making the rural areas of Hungary and Croatia more competitive`, which is sub-financed from IPA program Hungary-Croatia. The goal of the project, which began 16 months ago, was to establish the possibilities of health tourism from the Croatian and Hungarian sides. The first phase of Croatian Garden consists of thermal riviera, wellness and a medicinal park stretching over 12 acres. Additional buildings should include the Grand spahotel Draškovec, villas and ethno style apartments all with a capacity of 1400 beds as well as golf courts. The Tourist Board of Međimurje County www.tzm.hr The Tourist Board of Prelog www.tz-prelog.hr

The special hospital for medical rehabilitation Varaždinske Toplice, should become one of the leading centres of health tourism in the southeast Europe region with the reconstruction of the existing capacities and the construction of new hotel and medical facilities. The value of the project is estimated at around 200 million euros and with its realization, the accommodation capacity should go up from the current 1000 to around 1600 beds. The project predicts the reconstruction of existing accommodation units and the construction of a new medical hotel Jupiter, connected to the existing hotel complex Minerva, which would also be reconstructed, as well as the building of a new specialized hospital wing Junon. After the reconstruction, the hotel Minerva would get a fourth star, and its pool facilities would be made over into a contemporary spa centre, which would be connected to the future hotel Jupiter. This hotel should be built across an area of 33000 square metres and would hold 480 beds. A large number of rooms will contain a sauna and medicinal thermal water will be available in the bathrooms. Varaždinske Toplice holds many advantages over other thermal centres in the surrounding areas. Above all, it is the unique thermal water with a rich source, over 300 years of medical tradition, a reputation as a leading specialized hospital for medical rehabilitation in Croatia with top experts, a central location, natural beauty and local organic food. The location of Varaždinske Toplice is excellent as it is only a 45 minute drive from Zagreb and a ten minute drive from Varaždin and their airports. The construction of a helidrom as part of the new hotel will also make the arrival of guests much easier. The Tourist Board of Varaždin County www.turizam-vzz.hr The Tourist Board of Varaždin www.tourism-varazdin.hr The Tourist Board of Varaždinske Toplice www.toplice-vz.hr

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Introducing Hotel Korinjak, on the island Veli Iž in Zadar archipelago is the first hotel on the Adriatic which specialises in programs of ecological, health and holistic nature, offering excusively healthy vegetarian food, based on traditional Mediterranean domestic cuisine with fresh ingredients without additives and preservatives. For ten years `Korinjak` has aimed its offer towards guests who prefer the healthier way of life and this year it has introduced a whole line of oil-protein vegetarian cuisine. The hotel is located at the entrance to the port of Veli Iž, in a picturesque point, in the middle of a pine forest, surrounded by beaches. It was named after the hill in its vicinity. Located in a peacefull, green oasis with a view of the sea, the hotel aims to satisfy a man’s need for peace, relaxation and simplicity, without the burdens of luxury and glamour. The hotel has 80 rooms, in other words 160 beds, most of them with a balcony and a view of the sea or the park. In the vicinity of the hotel there is a camp whose guests can enjoy the beautiful pine woods close to the sea. As part of the hotel there are three seminar or workshop halls as well as a smaller hall for individual sessions. Next to the restaurant, in which balanced, vegetarian dishes are served, the hotel has a small diner on the beach itself. The hotel advertises itself with the slogan à rest for the soul` and along with an ideal healthy vacation, guests are offered the participation in everyday workshops where they can learn classic yoga, basic meditation skills, find out about various techniques of self healing, learn about reflex foot massages, take Thai massage classes and tantric yoga. Also on offer is a basic seminar of shiatsu treatments. All this is taught by around 30 experts and teachers. A rest for the soul in Veli Iž is completed by the nearby islet Rutnjak and the hill after which the hotel was named. Rutnjak got its name from the medicinal plant `ruta` which grows there in aboundance. This is an island whose beautiful beaches are ideal for a carefree nudist experience. The hill Korinjak is the highest point on the island Iž, form which stretches an unforgettable view of the surrounding islands. The village Veli Iž lies in the tame valley on the north side of the island. The village has an authentic and traditional rhythm of island life; olive oil production, fishing, and sailing are the main lines of work of its few inhabitants.

PHOTO: JURAJ KOPAČ

Veli Iž - A hotel for lovers of the alternative

Veli Iž has a preserved old core and in its centre stands the renovated church of St. Petar and Pavao. The ethnographic collection of Veli Iž holds numerous exhibits of authentic ceramics and tools used in the traditional potter`s trade. The key cultural event of the summer on the island of Iž is the famous Iž feast. The locals then dress up in traditional costumes and perform old island dances and songs and domestic food is prepared for numerous visitors. The highlight of the event is the choosing of the `local king` with a one year mandate. This is a tradition which dates back to ancient times. The Tourist Board of Zadar County www.zadar.hr The Tourist Board of Zadar www.tzzadar.hr

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The central Dalmatian islands of Hvar, Brač, Šolta and Vis

The island of Hvar are recommended diving around the islet Vodnjak and cape Stambeder. The canal between Hvar and Brač is ideal for windsurfing and on the south side of Hvar there is a cliffbase, a garden for climbing, located above the sea. Mountaineers will also have plenty to do in Hvar. There is a steep climb through vineyards and olive groves to the 626 metre high hilltop of Sveti Nikola. Hvar is widely kown for its nightlife and has gained world fame thanks to crazy fun its visitors have in the nightclubs like Carpe Diem - a favourite among the elite, Club Veneranda, Beach Bar Hula Hula, Nautica Bar, Kiva Bar, Splash Beach Bar and Vertigo Club. The inland of the island is completely different to the tourism orientated coast. Here there are villages with preserved rural architecture with small shops, narrow streets, stone houses with small yards and church bell towers. Along 20 km, there are the villages of Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče, Vrbanj and Dol.

PHOTO: DAMIR FABIJANIĆ

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

The respected Forbes magazine rated the central Dalmatian island of Hvar neck to neck with the Carribean, the Maldives, Hawaii and the Bahamas in one of its issues. This island was, more than once, put on lists of the most beautiful islands of the world by the world media. It is famous for its indented coastline, clean beaches and plenty of sunshine, untouched nature, smell of lavender, olives and wine. It is precisely the island of Hvar that has the most hours of sunshine in Europe – 2700 of them a year. The Greek colonization chose this island as an important strategic and nautical centre. Its name today comes from the Greek word Pharos – lighthouse. After that the Romans turned it into Pharia, the Dalmatian Romans changed it to Fara and in the early Middle Ages the Croatian immigrants re-named it to Hvar. The longest Adriatic island of Hvar has plenty of beaches, so every guest can find a beach suited to their needs. For parents with children the ideal beaches are Soline, Grebišće and Mina, while for larger groups and more entertainment the best beaches are Petarčica, Mlaska, Palmižana, Ivan Dolac and the town beaches Laterna and Banj. For couples the best beaches are Maslinica, Dubovica, Pern and Bonj, which was listed among the most beautiful beaches in Europe by the British newspaper The Times. Lovers of nudism will enjoy the beaches Glavica, Zečevo, Stipanska and Šćedro. Underwater fishing is forbidden in the Hvar area, but divers

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PHOTO: BORIS KRAGIĆ


PHOTO: PAWEL JAROSZEWSKI


The towns and villages of Hvar Hvar From all the sites of the town of Hvar, the Pjaca or the Square of St. Sjepan is definitely worth pointing out. This is one of the most beautiful and largest town squares in Dalmatia. On the north side of the Pjaca is the Hvar Cathedral, which was dedicated to the pope and martyr St. Stjepan, the patron saint of the parish and the city of Hvar. Arsenal, a shipyard, built in the 16th century is one of the most preserved in the Mediterranean. The Benedictine monastery with a museum was founded in the 17th century. It became world famous because of àgava` lacemaking and this tradition has been nurtured for more than a century. The city walls, from the turn of the 13th to the 14th century surround the oldest part of the town and stretch to the fort Fortica which was built in the middle of the 16th century on the foundations of a medieval castle. Stari Grad The oldest town in Croatia was founded by the Greeks from the island of Paros, in 384 BC, the same year that the Greek philosopher Aristotel was born. It was built in the place where the sea bay transcends into the fertile island field and has been since ancient times covered in vineyards and olive groves. For centuries it was the sanctuary for sailors and today is an ideal place for long walks and bathing at the Lanterna beach. The museum, the Dominican monastery and numerous churches are only some of the sites worth visiting in Stari Grad. The most famous town site is the castle Tvrdalj, a Renaissance summer resort of the Croatian poet and Squire Petar Hektorović, from the first half of the 16th century. Although built at the time of Turkish invasions as a defence fort, the castle has a beautiful romantic garden and fish pond. Jelsa Jelsa is an important tourist centre with a rich offer, located on the north side of the central part of the island. From ancient times Jelsa has been known for its quality wine and it offers guests quality accommodation, cultural and entertainment programs and numerous sports and recreation facilities. From the interesting sites there is the church of St. Ivan from the end of the 17th century, the early Gothic church of St. Mary, the `pjaca`(square) and the `riva`(sea front promenade) which in 1870, with the drying out of the swamp, became one of the most beautiful parks in Dalmatia. Vrboska This village is located in the long winding bay that reminds of a fiord. The end of the bay is made up of a canal and an islet which is bridged in a few places, because of which Vrboska is called Little Venice. Here stands one of the most special churches in Dalmatia as the trademark of the village as well as the fishing museum which gives an interesting insite of the fishing tradition on this fishermen`s island, Dubovica This is a favourite Hvar resort with a large pebbled beach and beautiful underwater. It has a long tourist tradition. September 2011 |

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Starogradsko Polje Starogradsko Polje, the largest and the most fertile field on the Adriatic islands, stretches across six kilometres from the Vrboska Bay to the Starogradsko Bay. From 2008 it has been on the UNESCO list of protected world cultural heritage. The sectioning of the field is one of the masterpieces of Greek culture in the Mediterranean, which has, despite the stormy historical events and multiple additional sectionings, stayed almost in the same form up to this day and age. This landscape has preserved a system of large plots of land from the time of the Greek Faros (4th century BC) and is the best preserved ancient land parcelling in the world. In the area of the field there are almost 120 archeological sites from prehistoric times up to the Middle Ages.

PHOTO: PAWEL JAROSZEWSKI

Interesting sites

One of the oldest public theatres in Europe was built in 1612 in HvarIvan Vučetić, a police officer from Hvar, was the first in the world to perfect the technique of finger print identification.

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

Interesting facts

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The island of Brač

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

The highest Adriatic and the largest Dalmatian island – Brač, is well connected by ferry lines with Split and tempts visitors with its variety, gentle and tame coast and rough landscapes in the inland of the island. Once an island of farmers, cattle breeders, fishermen and stone masons, it is today turned to tourism but has not forgotten or given up on its traditions. The most famous tourist symbol of Brač is most certainly the beach Zlatni Rat in Bol. But the whole island is full of beautiful beaches (Banj, Bili Rat, Lovrečina, Gumonca, Likva, Bunta, Mala Lozna, Lovrečina, Murvica, Luke) and bays, while the crystal blue sea, the unique gastronomy offer and the hospitality of the locals give it a recognizable feel which results in more and more guests coming every year. Brač is ideal for a family holiday but also for those looking for an adrenaline rush and entertainment. The inland of the island, on the other hand, offers a different dimension – a rich cultural and historical heritage. Windsurfers can enjoy Bol, Supetar and Povlja. Cyclists are offered a number of routes through beautiful landscapes, and those with stamina are recommended to ride to Vidova Gora, where a beautiful view stretches onto Bol and the world famous beach Zlatni Rat. The nighlife on Hvar is also rich, especially in Supetar at the Havanna Club, Benny`s Bar, Thriller Night Club and Paparazzo Bar.

Supetar The soul of this largest town on the island is definitely made up of the promenade (riva) and the square in front of the parish church from the 18th century, along which stand a bell and clock towers. The church was built on the foundations of the basilica of St. Petar from the 6th century. Bol Apart from the beach Zlatni Rat, guests of Bol are recommended a visit to the Dominican monastery with a bishop`s palace on the peninsula Glavica, the parish church of Our Lady of Mercy from 1475 and the pre Romanic church of St. Ivan and Tudor from the 11th century which is decorated with murals.

PHOTO: TZŽ SPLITSKO-DALMATINSKA

Towns and villages on the island of Brač

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Pučišća Pučišća is the ‘stone’ capital of the island, the place with the most stone pits and houses with white stone rooftops. Also located there is a stone masons school with a century old tradition. Postira A fishing village famous for streets ornamentally tiled with pebbles and green window shutters.

Sutivan Sutivan is a village which has a few fortified palaces and where the bell tower dominates the richly decorated church from the 16th century. On the hil above it are the bell tower and church of St. Roko.

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

Povlja This village holds the remains of the basilica of St. John the Baptist from the 6th century.

Nerežišće This is where the church of Gospa Karmelska is located. It is the most monumental church on the island. Also here is the church of St. Petar and Pavao.

Interesting sites

PHOTO: PREDRAG MANDIĆ

Milna An example of urban architecture with Baroque characteristics, from which the richly decorated parish church especially, stands out. Milna has the safest port on the island.

The Dragon`s cave The cave above Murvice and its reliefs are monuments to the cave life of Glagolic monks from the 15th century. This is where the rare copy of the Croatian Glagolic missal form 1483 originates from. It is now stored in the Dominicam museum in Bol. To this day, here live the Slavic myths about fairies, warewolves and witches as well as stories about Orkomarin, the one eyed giant from the cave.

PHOTO: SERGIO GOBBO

The Blaca dessert The monk`s dessert from the 16th century on the slopes of the valley on the south side of the island is the mythical site of Brač. This almost unreal site of the monastery buildings with white stone roofs which seem almost to be chiselled into the cliffs, take ones breath away.

The Dominican Monastery The monastery was built at the location of the bishop`s palace in Bol in the 15th century. On Glavica are the remains of the early Christian architecture, and one`s attention is caught by the alter painting of the Virgin Mary and child, that came from the workshop of the painter Tintoretti.


Lovrečina A rich archeological site that speaks of a developed Roman economy is located not far from Postira. The remains of an early Christian church with a cross shaped christening well can also be seen here.

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The Franjo Josip Bridge Built at the top of Veliki Dolac – a gorge, through which it is assumed, once run the river Elafuza.

Interesting facts

PHOTO: HOTEL IVAN

The stone of Brač The stone of Brač is the trademark by which it has become famous worldwide. Brač stone was used in the construction of two pearls under the protection of UNESCO: the palace of Diocletian in Split and the cathedral of St. Jakov in Šibenik, as well as the White House in Washington, the houses of parliament in Vienna and Budapest, the palace in Trieste and many others. Brač lamb Brač lamb has special flavour because of the aromatic herbs mixed with sea salt.

PHOTO: DAMIR FABIJANIĆ

Škrip The oldest settlement on the island where one can visit the parish church of St. Jelena from the 18th century and the castle Cerinić from the 16th century. Monuments to the greats The monuments are located in Selci, and it is precisely here that the first monument to the Russian writer Lav Tolstoj was put up.

Towns and villages on the island of Šolta Grohote Grohote is the oldest and largest settlement on Šolta and the capital city of the island which the Greeks called Olynta and the Romans Solenta. Grohote is located in the inland and some of the sites to visit are the foundations of the ancient Christian basilica from the turn of the 6th to the 7th century, the parish church of St. Stjepan and the tops of ancient sarcophagi. Situated in Grohote is the defense tower from the 17th century and the Gothic church with frescos from the 14th century can be found in the vicinity.

PHOTO: TZ ŠOLTA

The island of Šolta is very close to the coast and to Split, but nevertheless gives the feel of a faraway island. Most of the settlements are located in the inland of the island on the north side, while the south side, with a high, steep rocky coast is quite unreachable. Sailing enthusiasts are attracted to the bays in Šolta, while cyclist to its cycling paths. The symbol of the island is the hooting-owl, whose figurines decorate many of the houses. Šolta is famous for top quality olive oil that is even mentioned in the Split statute from the 14th century.

PHOTO: TZ ŠOLTA

The island of Šolta

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Maslinica A settlement founded in 1703, when the Marchi brothers got permission from the Venetians for the construction of a tower, a village and a church. Five years later they built a fortified castle, which has today been reconstructed into a hotel. It is visited by sailors because they can moore right next to the hotel. Gornje, Srednje and Donje Selo The best way to get to know Šolta and step back in time is a visit to Gornje, Srednje and Donje Selo. These are typical Mediterranean villages which with Grohote form the soul of the island.

PHOTO: SERGIO GOBBO

Nečujam This is a village with the largest tourist capacity on the island. Located in a string of bays, in one of which the Roman emperor Diocletian kept his fishponds.

PHOTO: TZ ŠOLTA

Stomorska Stomorska developed as a port of Gornje Selo. It was famous for its fleet of sailboats which carried wine, olive oil and whitewash across the Adriatic which was then used in the buiding of Diocletian’s Palace in Split.

Not many islands have in their history experienced so many different rulers as did the island of Vis. In ancient times it was ruled by the Greeks, the Romans and the Byzantine, later on the Croats, the Venetians, Napoleon, the British, Austrians and after 1918 the Italians and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. From 1945 until the beginning of the 1990`s the island was a military-marine base of the former socialist Yugoslavia and foreigners were forbidden access. The ancient Issa (Vis) was inhabited in 397 BC by the Greeks from Sirakuza on Sicily who founded a settlement at the location of today`s town of Vis. It served as a starting point for further colonization of the Adriatic. In the 12th century Vis was also visited by the pope. It was the pope Alexander III, who took shelter on the island Palagruža because of a storm and was taken in by the fishermen from Komiža in Vis, in 1177.


The island of Vis

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Around the town of Vis there are many British forts, and alongside the church of St. Juraj there is a British cemetery for the sailors who lost their lives in the battle of 1811 and WWII. Above the town is a monument dedicated to RAF pilots. In 1866, there was a sea battle between Austria and Italy near Vis and this is the first time in history that two battle ships collided. One of the many sites linked to battles and wars on Vis is Tito`s cave.


PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

Towns and villages on the island of Vis Vis Vis is a town with a long and rich history that developed from two villages, Kuta and Luka. The town offers numerous interesting sites, among which is the archeological collection of objects discovered in the area of the ancient town of Issa, the pre historic findings on the island and the hydro archeological findings from the shipwreck in the bay north of the town. Another unique feature are the amphoras and the ethnographic collection which clearly portrays the lives of ancient inhabitants of Vis. Lovers of history will enjoy touring the archeological site Martvilo, the only ancient Greek cemetery in Croatia and the Roman baths from the 1st and 2nd centuries. The remains of an ancient theatre are visible in the gardens of the monastery on the peninsula Prirov, while in the underwaters of the peninsula there are the remains of old buildings and an ancient port. Komiža Komiža is a synonym for fishing in Dalmatia. Its widely respected fishermen have proved their skills around the world especially in the Pacific, where they formed fishing centres from Chile to the USA, as immigrants. The fishing museum in Komiža is proof to this tradition. The most recognizable building in the village is the square castle, built in 1585, during the Venetian rule. Located on a high ground above the village is the Benedictan monastery and church, better known as Muster. It is a rare example of a fortified church.

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Interesting facts

Beaches For many, the most beautiful part of the island of Vis are its hard to reach beaches and bays. The most famous one is Stiniva. Srebrna is a naturally pebbled and partly rocky beach near the village and bay of Rukavac. The town of Komiža has two beaches. Stončica, a bay near the town of Vis is also famous for its beautiful sandy beach. Gastronomy The island’s Mediterranean cuisine does not leave anyone indifferent. Especially the original dishes such as for instance the fish cakes, lentil and barley with calamari, lobster cooked in many ways, grilled sardines and `hib` - a sweet desert made from dry figs with some herbal snapps and aromatic herbs. And, after a good meal there has to come good wine. Vis offers Vugava, a wine from the indigenous white sort of grape, of the same name.

PHOTO: IVO PERVAN

Modra špilja (The Blue Cave) On the east side of the island Biševo, located 5 km from Komiža, is Modra špilja, one of the most beautiful natural beauties of the Adriatic. To enable the entrance to the cave by boat, in 1884 two more entrances were formed. Adding to the magic of the cave is the second entrance, which is located below the sea surface and through which the sunlight reflects, breaks and bounces off the white bottom of the cave.

www.dalmatia.hr The Tourist Board of Hvar www.tzhvar.hr


The Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County

The Tourist Board of Supetar www.supetar.hr The Tourist Board of Borough of Bol www.bol.hr The Tourist Board of Borough of Šolta www.solta.hr The Tourist Board of Vis www.tz-vis.hr

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Contact Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus

Croatian National Tourist Office

e-mail: [email protected]


Rumfordstr. 7, 80469 MÜNCHEN, DEUTSCHLAND tel: +49 89 22 33 44 fax: +49 89 22 33 77

Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus

Hochstr., 43, 60311 FRANKFURT, DEUTSCHLAND tel: +49 69 238 5350 fax: +49 69 2385 3520 e-mail: [email protected]

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4003, NEW YORK 10118, U.S.A. tel: +1 212 279 8672 fax: +1 212 279 8683

Croatian National Tourist Office

2 Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace Road LONDON W6 9ER, UNITED KINGDOM tel: +44 208 563 79 79 fax: +44 208 563 26 16 e-mail: [email protected]

Ente Nazionale Croato per il Turismo Piazzetta Pattari 1/3, 20122 MILANO, ITALIA tel: +39 02 86 45 44 97 fax: +39 02 86 45 45 74 e-mail: [email protected]

Ente Nazionale Croato per il Turismo Via Dell’Oca 48, 00186 ROMA, ITALIA tel: +39 06 32 11 0396 fax: +39 06 32 11 1462 e-mail: [email protected]

Chorvatské turistické sdružení

Krakovská 25, 110 00 PRAHA 1, ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA tel: +420 2 2221 1812 fax: +420 2 2221 0793 e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Office National Croate de Tourisme

48, Avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 PARIS, FRANCE tel: +33 1 45 00 99 55 fax: +33 1 45 00 99 56 e-mail: [email protected]

Office National Croate du Tourisme

Vieille Halle aux Bles 38, 1000 BRUXELLES, BELGIUM tel: +32 255 018 88 fax: +32 251 381 60

Narodowy Ośrodek Informacji Turystycznej Republiki Chorwacji IPC Business Center, ul. Koszykowa 54, 00-675 WARSZAWA, POLSKA tel: +48 22 828 51 93 fax: +48 22 828 51 90 e-mail: [email protected]

Kroatiska Turistbyrån

Kungsgatan 24, 11135 STOCKHOLM, SVERIGE tel: +46 853 482 080 fax: +46 820 24 60 e-mail: [email protected]

Kroatisch Nationaal Bureau Voor Toerisme

Nijenburg 2F, 1081 GG AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS tel: +31 20 661 64 22 fax: +31 20 661 64 27 e-mail: [email protected]

Хорвaтckoe туристическое соовщество

Краснопресненская наб. 12, подъезд 6, офис 1502 123610 МОСКВА, POCCИЯ ТЕЛ: +7 495 258 15 07 ФАКС: +7 495 258 15 08 e-mail: [email protected]


Oficina de Turismo de Croacia Calle Claudio Coello 22, esc. B, 1°C, 28001 MADRID, ESPAÑA tel.: +34 91 781 5514 fax.: +34 91 431 8443 e-mail: [email protected]

Horvát Idegenforgalmi Közösség

Magyar u. 36, 1053 BUDAPEST, MAGYARORSZÁG tel/fax: +36 1 266 65 05; +36 1 266 65 33 e-mail: [email protected]

Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus Am Hof 13, 1010 WIEN, ÖSTERREICH tel: +43 1 585 38 84 fax: +43 1 585 38 84 20 e-mail: [email protected]

Chorvátske turistické združenie

Trenčianska 5, 821 09 BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA tel: +421 2 55 562 054 fax: +421 2 55 422 619 e-mail: [email protected]

Hrvaška turistična skupnost

Gosposvetska 2, 1000 LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIJA tel: +386 1 23 07 400 fax: +386 1 230 74 04 e-mail: [email protected]

Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus

Badenerstrasse 332, 8004 ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND tel: +41 43 336 20 30 fax: +41 43 336 20 39 e-mail: [email protected]

Croatian National Tourist Board Japan Ark Hills Executive Tower N613 Akasaka 1-14-5, Minato-ku Tokyo 107-0052 tel: 0081 03 6234 0711 fax: 0081 03 6234 0712 e-mail: [email protected]

Editor: Croatian National Tourist Board www.croatia.hr

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