Welcome to CroatiaBiograd na Moru – the updated edition of Crvena Luka

Biograd na Moru – the updated edition of Crvena Luka

Welcome to Croatia — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:56:37 +0000

The building worth twenty million is a modern tourist complex situated near Biograd na Moru which was started four years after Crvena Luka, another famous tourist resort was taken over from Modena by Octavia, an Italian company. The apartment blocks and old hotels in tourist resort surrounding the gorgeous bay will be demolished. The construction of modern and new tourist resort along with apartment units and hotels is expected to be completed within a time span of fifteen months by March 2012.

After the old tourist complex was reconstructed, the latest Crvenka Luka will be upgraded from 2 star to 4 star but with limited beds than earlier building. Crvena luka Bay Falkensteiner Hotel & Resort is inclusive of 2 parts which includes the residential and hotel section. In the hotel complex, there will be forty two rooms in main hotel and additional portion of hotel “dependsa” with fifteen superior rooms and an apartment hotel with 31 double rooms. There are three hundred and twenty six beds together in this portion and apart from that there are two hundred and eighty beds in residential section. There are forty six apartments in residential sections with gardens or balconies, sixteen terraced villas and 4 detached villas.

This is one of the luxury holiday resorts that is associated with family tourism, a good wellness zone along with gym, an indoor pool is also planned to be constructed along with spa and beauty salon. The main restaurant, shops and bars, a basketball and football field, a beautiful volley ball court across the sandy beach and 2 tennis courts. In the beach zone along with diving pool and sports pool, there is a separate pool for children. Crvena Luka is always popular as pearl of Biograd Riviera and that certain portion of Adriatic. It is situated five kilometers from Biograd na Moru. Biograd na Moru is city of northern Dalmatia in Croatia and is popular for being the formal capital of medieval Croatian kingdom. It is administratively a portion of Zadar County and is situated in Adriatic Sea coast which overlooks the Pasman island. The City of Biograd na Moru is very popular tourist resort and has rich history. The first tourists reached the place during the early 1920s from Czechoslovakia and the 1^st hotel was constructed in the year 1935. Holiday accommodation in Croatia is very easy to get if you make your reservations online prior to your travel.

Traditional singing (ojkanje) and Traditional Souvenir (Alka, licitars) under UNESCO’s protection

Welcome to Croatia — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:48:18 +0000

Sinjska Alka is a 300 year old knights’ tournament in Sinj and honey making trade from region of northern Croatia have been added recently to UNESCO’s delegate list of non-material cultural heritage of mankind. Also, the musical expression called “ojkanje” was added to UNESCO list of rare immaterial cultural heritage which requires urgent protection.

Sinjska Alka is a knights’ tournament in Sinj which is annually held every year since its inception in Cetinska Krajina during the year 1717. During the competition, the knights ride on their gallop of horses across Main Street along with spears in their hand which are aimed towards iron ring that hangs on a rope. The name of tournament arises from word alka-ring which belongs to Turkish origin and reflects the chronological co-existence of cultural combination of two civilizations.

The skill of preparing products from honey came to existence in some European monasteries at time of Middle Ages and when it reached the region of northern Croatia, it was developed as a craft. The musical expression of “ojkanje” is performed by female or male single with various techniques of voice shaking with special mechanism of singing from throat. Each song will last as long as breath of main singer. The melodies are based on restricted tonal spans, generally chromatic with different intervals that do not match present day’s frequencies, while lyrics are based on various themes from love to present political and social themes.

The Licitar, is a edible souvenir which is prepared with dough and is baked, shaped and dried and finally colored with myriad edible colors. The Licitar is decorated in various ways by different craftsman usually with small mirrors, pictures, messages or verses and most common shape is that of heart. Along with Sinjksa Alka, ojkanje and honey making trade were also added to the representative list of UNESCO. Apart from that Beijing opera, Iranian rugs, Azerbajian and acupuncture are also very popular. Croatia has 10 non-material goods on UNESCO list which is very popular in Europe.

As many as 7 Croatian items of intangible cultural heritage were added on representative list of UNESCO during the conference in Abu Dhabi held during 2009. The list included the annual spring procession of Queen Ljelja from Gorjani, the making of traditional wooden toys from Croatian Zagorje, the procession of cross on Hvar islands, 2 part singing in narrow intervals in coast of northern Croatia and Hrvatsko Primorje, an annual carnival of bell ringers from lacemaking and Kastav in Croatia ( Pag leopgrava, Hvar).

There are two hundred and twenty nine representatives in UNESCO’s list of immaterial cultural heritage from eighty seven countries. The list includes arts and skills that promote the diversity of expressions of immaterial cultural heritage and stress the importance of rare skills to general public. There are many Croatia holiday apartments which you can book for cheap rates.

Croatian wines are popular in American market

Welcome to Croatia — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:15:34 +0000

Jeff Jenssen and Mike DeSimon, two popular reporters from most dominant American Wine Magazine have made a visit to Croatia recently, and they had to chance to visit most of popular that export their wines to US. Also they got familiar with important gastronomy destination in Istria, Dalmatia and Zagreb which could be suggested to American Tourists.

Jeff Jenssen and Mike DeSimon are eno-gastro reporters of US, who work under Wine Guys brand have spent 7 days to visit the best restaurants and wineries throughout Croatia for the sake of collecting useful information to prepare their report on gastronomy and wine offer in this country. Based on earlier knowledge, they thought of experiencing a wonderful cuisine, quality wines and gorgeous country but they were able to enjoy much more tasty wines and very beautiful tourist spots which they consider to be exquisite and wonderful. They felt that the wines were the best quality which they enjoyed a lot. Also rather than having rural cuisines which they expected to get in Croatia, they were able to enjoy top quality dishes with original ingredients of best quality and were arranged according to world class standards.

The purpose of visit of reporters of Wine Enthusiast was to popularize Croatian wines among American citizens and to bring one of the famous Wine magazines of American to Croatia. Wine Enthusiast is one of the most influential and popular magazines in North American and is also famous throughout the world. The report on gastronomy and Croatian wines will be published on website www.worldwineguys.com, after it gets published in the magazine.

The 2 American reporters have written their articles about their visits to wineries and on tastings on specialized wines in Croatia. They visited popular vineries in regions of Bibich, Toreta, Trapan, Clai, Zlatan Otok, Agrokor Vina, Matosevic, Bura, Crvik, Dubrovacki Podrumi, Saints Hills, Milicic, Skaramuca, Korta Katarina, Poljiprivredna Zadruga Cara. Apart from that they also visited the famous restaruatns of Le Mandrac in Volosko, Nostromo in Split, Krcula’s Lesic Dimitria, Pelješac’ Kapetanova Kuća, San Rocco in Brtonigla, Cantienta in Skradin, Dubrovinik’s Nautika restaurant, and Cavtat’s Galija.

Jeff Jensen and Mike DeSimon are also jury members for grading food at French Culinary institute in New York and co-authors of book The Ultimate Wine Companion. They are also authors of different articles in popular wine magazines such as Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. There are many airlines to Croatia available nowadays and travelling to this place is easier than before.

Martinje – St.Martin’s Day in Croatia

Welcome to Croatia — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:30:37 +0000

On 11th November, as per the Catholic calendar St. Martin’s Day is celebrated. In Croatia this day is called Martinje and is a wine holiday. With the festival it gives a chance to the people to celebrate. The winegrowers on this day along with their friends thank St. Martin for young wine and a good harvest. St. Martin has been portrayed in the paintings as an ascetic and is very different from the happy celebrations of young wine.
This day is celebrated from the Pre-Christian times. This marks the period that winter has begun and all the work done outdoor, in the fields will be stopped. The winegrowing activities are also stopped and this is celebrated. The young wine is ready after fermenting must, and it is ready on St. Martin’s Day which is merely a coincidence.
This day also marks the last day of the celebrations of the saints who have a relation to the vineyard work. There are four saints whose names are connected to the work in the vineyard. These are St.George who is associated with the earthing of the vineyards in April, St. Johns who is associated with the blossoming of the wines in June, St. Michaels in September when must is prepared after picking up the grapes, and lastly St. Martin when the fermentation of must takes place to prepare young wine.
It is said that during the rule of Constantine the Great in 4th Century, St. Martins was born in Pannonia. When he was a child he ran away from home after he converted to Christianity. After leaving home he went to a monastery. It was a request by his father, who was a military tribune, that his son, St Martin’s serviced in France and joined the imperial cavalry.
As told, in Amiens on a cold winter day, St. Martin’s met a beggar who was feeling very cold and was wearing rags. He then cut his coat in half and gave one part of it to the beggar. It is said that on that night Jesus came in his dreams and said, “What you did for the poor man, you did it for me”. After that day he left the army and became a monk. In the 4th century he christened people in Dalmatia, Pannonia, Galia and Italy and he became the bishop of Tours in 372. He is the first saint who was officially proclaimed as one and did not die as a martyr.
In Croatia many churches have been named after him. The country if Zagreb is well known for its programs and its rich traditions and St. Martin’s Day will be celebrated in a very cheerful way here. Some of the programs that take place are Sambor which involves a chestnut festival, Dugo Selo, with St. Martin as its patron, Velika Gorica, Sveti Ivan Zelina, where the traditional culinary festival, the 9th Gastro Turopolje, will be held as well as the 11th Apple Days Exhibition and Jastrebarsko where St. Martin’s Day will be celebrated on the central town square with an extravagant program and also on most of the family farms along the Plešivica wine road. Must, will be christened in Križevci and Kalnik in the County of Koprivnica-Križevci and on the Štrigova wine road in Međimurje. Young wine will be christened in different towns in northwest part of Croatia, but the tradition is preserved in other regions as well and people in Istria will prove this with their celebrations in Vrsar, Tar, Momjna and Sv. Martin!

The Exotic Kvarner Riveria in Croatia

Welcome to Croatia — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:58:16 +0000

Trsat in Rijeka, Kvarner

Kvarner is a region that has been growing tourism for more than a decade due to its diversity ranging from colorful vegetation, pleasant climatic conditions, combination of mountains, islands and coastal area and splendid architecture and amazing culture. It was a winter and summer resort of members of Habsburg dynasty, that developed the amazing tourist centers like Opatija that got Villa Antigona, the first summer residence of the region in 1844.
The Hotel Kvarner is 1st on east coast of Adriatic that was opened during the month of March in 1884. Mali Losinj, the largest town of Losinj islands located in Western Croatia was visited by 1st tourist during the year 1885. Dr. Conrad Clar, the famous Austrian Physician was the 1st tourist who came alone with his sick son to visit Mali Losinj. The health of his son got improved during the stay which increased the popularity of Losinj as a health resort and gradually lot of tourists started visiting the place for recovery from health problems. The Emperor Franz Joseph was very attracted towards Opatija and his brother Joseph loved Crikvenica whose 1st public beach was established during the year 1888 and later on a hotel was opened there.
Liburine were the 1st inhabitants of Kvarner that developed the trading connections in the place. Romans and Greek Sea man initially had lot of influence in the region. There are historical monuments and cultural trials in Kvarner which explain about powerful roman influence. One of the most popular monuments about ancient Croatian literacy during the years of 1100 which explains about history of Croats in this region is Bascanska Ploca. It is one of the most popular monuments of ancient Croatian literacy and was found in church of St. Lucija in Jurandvor, near to Baska in Krk islands during middle of nineteenth century. The writings on it belong to transitive period from ancient, rounded, ‘glagoljica’ to more angled writing. There are many hotels in Croatia which serve sumptuous food for the tourists. Also the Croatia apartments are very famous and are wonderful places to stay along with your family and enjoy your vacation.

The valley of Neretva – An amazing place for tourists to enjoy mandarin harvest

Welcome to Croatia — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:46:57 +0000

Dolina Neretve - Neretva river valley

Dolina Neretve (Neretva Valley, valley of river Neretva), which is also called ‘mandarin valley’ is the best place to enjoy your holidays in Croatia and you will receive a warm welcome from hospitable locals of Komin, Opuzen, Metkovic and other areas.
In whole region of Neretva, there are approximately 1.3 million mandarin seedlings that yield around sixty tons of fruit every year. The locals came up with a creative idea to let tourists enjoy their Croatia holidays by joining with them in mandarin harvest. It got lot of attractions from tourists all over the world and soon mandarin harvest becomes a lovable event for tourists visiting Croatia. There are various options like 1, 2 or 3 day trips on offer and tourists who take part in mandarin harvest not only enjoy working in pleasant climate of Croatia but get rich amounts of Vitamin C which is essential to strengthen the immune system during winter time.
The fruit pickets are offered instructions and equipment by the harvesters who are educated and experienced on tradition and history of breeding citrus fruits. Along with jolly music which follows them through fields, clean and great company, and bags are filled with treasures of orange and you can finish your day with delicious and sumptuous meal under the pleasant atmosphere in the restaurants of Neretva.
The photo safari in traditional boats of Neretva region are very good and chances of visiting Village Vid which is adjacent to Metkovic where the archeological museum of Naron is situated. It is the only museum in Croatia that has been constructed in archeological site of ancient Roman Empire.
In Metkovic, the ornithological bird community is very rich and inhabits the Neretva delta located in Opuzen after a walk along promenade town where you could enjoy visiting the wonderful square of King Tomislav, where the church of St. Stjepan belonging to nineteenth century dominates the place. The valley of Neretva is also considered to be the best place for retreat and healthcare of patients who suffer from Leprosy and became an institution for isolation for such patients during the year 1905. The weather in Croatia is always pleasant and you can enjoy a mind blowing vacation along with your family and friends in this exotic tourist center with plenty of natural attractions.

Croatia UNESCO – 7 sites and 7 cultural traditions

Welcome to Croatia — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:24:40 +0000

Festa Sveti Vlaho Dubrovnik Croatia

CROATIA has 7 UNESCO protected world cultural heritage sites and 7 UNESCO protected world cultural heritage traditions, making it first in Europe and fourth in the world. UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The music in the video are traditional and unique Croatian “klapa” songs. First is “Vilo Moja” and second song is “Croatio iz duše te ljubim”.

Croatia UNESCO Sites:

Dubrovnik – The old city
Diocletian’s Palace in Split
Plitvice Lakes
Euphrasian Basilica in Porec
Trogir – The old city
St James Cathedral in Sibenik
Island Hvar Stari Grad plain

Croatian UNESCO Cultural traditions (intangible heritage) all from 2009:

Lace making in Croatia
Spring procession of Ljelje queens in Gorjani
Festival of St Blaise – patron of city of Dubrovnik
Annual carnival Bell Ringers from Kastav region
Traditional manufacturing of wooden toys in Zagorje
Two-part singing and paying in Istrian scale
Procession of the Kross on island Hvar (Holy Thursday)

The fortification of Ston Walls took the longest in Europe’s history

Welcome to Croatia — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:31:04 +0000

Ston Walls

After many years of restoration, the Ston walls which are the Europe’s longest fortress system and the also the second largest in the whole world have recently been opened for public viewing. This is the most complete activity in Croatia’s cultural heritage renovations. Fifty years ago the renovation of the walls had begun by the Dubrovnik historian and conservationist Lukša Beritić, and the long term renovations caught speed in 2003. The renovation was carried the same way as the walls were built and this is why they have a long time. The walls have been made by stone sculpting. The Friends of Dubrovnik’s Ancient Sights association has maintained the walls from 1952, and also invested for the renovation project where they have put in around three to five million HRK annually. When the renovations are complete, visitors will have to pay an entrance fee to visit this excellent attraction, which will help the authorities sustain and carry on the renovations and also encourage the tourist and cultural development of Ston. The Ston walls were made in the 14th century, after Pelješac was taken over by the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1334. For protection on the walls a vast defence system was built and it is the biggest urban reinforcement project in Europe of that time. The walls for defence were first constructed on both sides of the Peninsula. The plans were equipped by two towns, northern Mali Ston and southern Ston. Pelješac was detached from the mainland by the Great wall, which has a length of 5.5 km. Now only 5 km of the wall is left as the rest disappeared in the earthquakes of 17th and 20th century.

The walls were supported with 5 fortresses and 40 towers. They started and finished with two large fortresses: Veliki kaštio in Ston Korun in Mali Ston. The most well-known and major fortress is Bartolomeo on the hill. As per the ancient Dubrovnik chronicles, it took one and half year to build the great wall. Within the walls of the town of Ston there are residential houses and palaces in four blocks, a public building, a Bishop’s palace, the church of St. Blaise and a Franciscan monastery. Mali Ston is the oldest preserved plans in Europe. The major buildings in Mali Ston are the salt warehouse, the harbour with the harbour wall, arsenal, parish castle, parish church, Luža bell tower, and also the huge Korun fortress. The Ministry of Culture made an announcement that the Ston walls, Ston and Mali Ston and also the Ston saltpan will be entirely offered as contenders for the UNESCO world cultural heritage list in which recently Croatian cultural heritage phenomena was listed.

Kvarner – Following the Path of Frankopans

Welcome to Croatia — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:40:57 +0000

Rijeka - Trsat Castle - Frankopans

Liburnia has a very rich history and it provided the first script to Croatia. It not only provided the script but also presses and code and also the Frankopans story. The Frankopans were a very dignified family who ruled Croatia for centuries and have a major effect on the country’s history. There are remains of their palaces, castles, building and towers and the impact of their rule can be clearly seen from these. The country has many tourists every year and many of these are extremely interested to know more about the past and more details of the Frankopans. For the benefit of these interested tourists a project called “Following the Path of Frankopans” has been started. As a part of this ten fortresses and castles have been improved and decorated. The project not only enables the tourists to know more about the heritage but also enjoy the beauty of Croatia hinterland and the coast making the Croatia holiday great fun.

The main aim of the authorities to undertake this project is not only to preserve the rich heritage and also to show it to the residents of the country and also to the world. County of Primorje-Gorski kotar in 2005 initiated this project and is considered to be a complex project of preservation of cultural heritage.

Grobnik is a town which reflects the rich history and has a monument which is very well preserved. There is a palace which is in of a triangular shape and it has towers and semi towers which fortify it apart from the set of walls around it. Since 10th century this town has been a part of Croatia. From 1225 to 1671 this town was owned by the Frankopans and later due to an agreement it became the property of Zrinski who was a cousin of the Frankopans. After his execution the castle was plundered.

When one follows the map of the “Following the Path of Frankopans”, Bakar is the next destination. On the northwest side it is located on a plateau which is elevated. After two earthquakes the castle had to be renovated and this is the reason it looks different now. Another beautiful castle is that of Hreljin and it was made at a very crucial position as it facilitated communication by connecting the Croatian hinterland with the sea and also the Bakarac via Gorski kotar. The view from here is beautiful but the wall of this castle is not well preserved.

The Frankopans castle in Frankopan castle in Nova Kraljevica and Zrinski Stari grad is a real treat for the people who like to look at historical buildings. The castle has a lower and upper castle and is a complex structure but undeniably is one of the most beautiful buildings of the project. It is located on a cape above the sea and on a hilltop and it rules over the surrounding area and also dominates the entrance to the cape. The property was owned by Katarina Frankopan’s family whose husband; Petar Zrinski began the construction of the castle in the 17th century. Till the Frankopans and Zrinksi were executed the castle was used by them but later it was used a hospital then barracks and a monastery.

In Drvenik the Stari Grad is a very striking fort which was made in the middle Ages and was used to control and protect the traffic route through Vinodol. The fort has a quadrangle base and has round towers on the corners, apart from other structures. The castle was completed in the 15th century and later in 18th century the settlement Bakar – Novi Vinodolski road was made.

In Bribir the Frankopan tower is the only remaining part of the castle. The castle originally had a narrow courtyard, double walls, administration and residential buildings besides the two towers. The castle was later brought down to make a school and a municipal building. The legend of the ten Frankopan towers finishes in Novi Vinodolski and Ledenice where the remnants of the former fort are situated above the sea and the Vinodol valley. One can reach these remains, where St. Stephen the Martyr’s Roman and Gothic church is the finest preserved part, by a narrow mountain trail which takes one around the wall and also into the inner part of the fort.

The Kvadrac fort, a component of the once influential fort around which Novi Vinodolski was built, stands out in the very centre of the town of Novi. It is the only remnant of the innovative architecture since it was changed to a considerable extent at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The former Novi Vinodolski castle was one of the most dominant and long-lasting Frankopan forts where the Vinodol Code, which is the most important legal text written in the language of Croatia. The content of the code is the most advanced and the best egal acts in feudal Europe.

Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere – Largest Protected River Area in Europe

Welcome to Croatia — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:09:21 +0000

River Drava - Repaski Most

UNESCO “Man & Biosphere” program is helping the creation of biosphere reserves. The Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere is an example of such a reserve formed in agreement between Croatia & Hungary.
So what’s a Biosphere Reserve? It is an ecological area with 3 key priorities: Protection of natural assets Encourage sustainable ecological development and Stimulate scientific research related to the improvement of the quality of life and sustainable use of natural goods The Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere covers 500 kilometres of 3 river flows and is located around 630,000 hectares of beautiful natural & cultural landscape comprising very rare but large flood resorts, river islands, pebble & sand coasts and oxbow lakes.

The reserve also serves as the home of several endangered species such as the little tern, black stork, otter or sterlet. This reserve houses the biggest nesting population of the very rare white tailed eagle in Europe and is an extremely important winter habitation for more than 250,000 wading birds every year.
This protected river area is important for the socio-economic development of the surrounding area for the following reasons:
Progress of continental eco-tourism which in turn enhances awareness of the need to protect the natural surroundings & environment of the entire region Agriculture & fishery management. Sustainable forestry. Efficient flood defence system and last but not the least Primary source of drinking water Representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) state that this ecological reserve has the richest biological diversity of species in Europe.

With such a cross-border Croatian & Hungarian biosphere reserve coming in to being, a nomination plan for the Mura-Drava-Danube biosphere reserve has also been formed now with the help of a bilateral work group.
With such a nomination plan, Croatia now needs to develop the Mura-Drava Regional Park, ascertaining efficient management of the central zone of this biosphere reserve of tomorrow. Going by timelines, the biosphere reserve should be declared in 2010 and this in turn should attract people and authorities to develop in harmony with nature and the beautiful environment.

The matter of protecting River Drava is of significant importance within the European framework as this is the only remaining part of the river’s natural flow. A lot of efforts are in progress in other countries to retrieve the river bed’s natural appearance and to renew its biological diversity, while the area remains protected in Croatia.
Certain natural resources of this River Drava area has made Croatia get actively involved in the ecological protection of this area with the creation of the Mura-Drava Regional Park which covers the area of this ecosystem on Croatian territory. That’s not all … for this area also stands enlisted in to the National Ecological Network – NATURA 2000 as a potential area of ecological significance in the European Union.

All this along with the tie-up between Croatia & Hungary on the setting up of the Mura-Drava-Danube biosphere reserve ensures that the total area between the two states would be included and this is a matter of exceptional significance for the protection of the natural surroundings.
Such a joint effort by Croatia & Hungary on the creation of a cross-border reserve copud set the foundation of an international biosphere reserve with countries like Austria, Slovenia & Serbia joining in. A first of its kind, this natural reserve would spread across five European countries and would be the largest protected river area in Europe. Keeping this in mind, members of Croatian and other foreign non-governmental ecological associations have invited Slovenia, Serbia & Austria to join in and contribute to the idea of the proposed biosphere reserve and in the process do their bit to complete the process of protecting a beautiful green zone in the heart of Europe.