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Trogir – today we will go straight from the hotel to the island of Trogir. Trogir is a museum city declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site. It lies on a small island separated from the mainland by a narrow canal and bridges connecting it to the mainland. The tiny town is full of Renaissance architecture, preserved from its heyday, when it was ruled by the Republic of Venice. Trogir has an impressive central promenade passing between the city wall and the marina. We will pass by Lucic Palace where one of the most respected families in Croatia lived and between the narrow alleys of the old city full of cafes, restaurants, shops and a lot of noise. We will continue to Yohanan Paulus the second square, the loggia and the clock tower, the town hall and the Chipico Palace.
Klis Fortress
Our next stop is the Klis Fortress, which is located northeast of Split. This Croatian fortress served as the seat of the Croatian knights and as the main protector of the transport axis to Dalmatia. Since the port of Split was the port the main one (in front of the port of Dubrovnik which later became the main one in importance) it was necessary to protect it from the inland direction. Walking to the fortress, we will talk about the building and its importance and look towards the harbors of the city of Split and its surroundings that lie at our feet. Klis fortress featured as one of filming locations for The Game of Thrones.
This morning, we will go to a small island in the middle of a shallow lagoon connected to the mainland by two bridges. The city of Nin was founded by the Livorans in the 7th century BC. Rich history of Nin is evident when you walk through its cobbled streets and pass buildings and ruins that have existed there for hundreds of years.
In the antiquities museum of the city, all the most important historical periods in the development of are represented Nin, each of them is divided into several topics accompanied by rich archaeology, topic and item guides, reconstructions, models, photographs and land plans.
Zadar was the centre and the metropolis of Dalmatia region for many centuries. The rich cultural heritage is visible at every turn: The Roman forum which dates to the 1st century CE and the church of St. Donatus 9th century CE – the most famous Medieval Basilica and the symbol of the city.
The imposing and mighty city walls with representative Port and Land gates are from the 16th century, and there are numerous palaces and villas of former noble families. This is where Jewish merchants and moneylenders once greeted the visitors to Zadar. Great restaurants, coffee shops and galleries bring life to the waterfront.
Zadar is a place where Adriatic ancient history, bubbling present and thrilling future mix perfectly in a seamless package. Here, the historic peninsula hosts the famous, modern-day work of artistic wonder The Sea Organ a perfect background music for “the most beautiful sunset in the world”, as claimed by no other than Alfred Hitchcock.
Šibenik – an ancient city about 1,000 years old, hidden between the mountains with their ancient fortresses dominate the skyline. Šibenik is known as the seat of Croatian medieval kings. The city suffered in the civil war with Serbia and was damaged hard, but it was quickly rehabilitated after the war. We will walk through the old city, in the square of the Croatian Republic, we will see the St. Jacob’s Cathedral, the most important renaissance structure in Croatia. It is built entirely of stone and without any wooden supports We will pass by the city hall and walk through the two central pedestrian streets of the city Crossing squares and colourful and well-kept houses. There is an option for hikers to climb (about 20 minutes uphill walk) to St Mihovil Fort, with a spectacular panoramic view of the city, the harbor and the Šibenik Bay.
Krka national park is another nature wonder in Croatia that attracts many visitors every year. The karst river, rushing through the sediment rock, with beautiful waterfalls and abundant wildlife are a perfect place for a 2-hours nature walk – a day of 100% nature ahead!
This nature reserve consists of a cascade system with 12 spectacular waterfalls connected in a glittering string within the Krka River. This landscape image stems from a combination of several natural phenomena: Alluvial soil rich in minerals, refraction of the sun’s rays in the vegetation and the tall trees and the eddies of the water – all these create fascinating light and colour formations. We will tour the upper part of the reservation, passing through dense vegetation along the flow path of the Krka River. The path crosses small streams and tributaries crossed with lovely wooden bridges. The amounts of water flowing are
enormous and impressive. The park is rich in geological natural phenomena, vegetation and fish.
It is a centre of attraction for birds enthusiasts from all over Europe. For a careful observer, there is a chance of spotting various amphibians, insects, snakes, fish and mammals (such as the otter, a mammal that excels at swimming and fishing) and cats.
Today you have a whole day to enjoy this magical town. After breakfast we will take out our sandals for an unforgettable walking tour through Dubrovnik’s Old City, especially its Jewish part. Jewish merchants from Albania are mentioned in the local archives as early as 1368. After the Spanish expulsion in 1492, Dubrovnik became an important transit center for refugees travelling to Balkan cities under Turkish rule. Jews were allowed to settle in Dubrovnik and were given customs privileges to encourage transit trade. Jews dealt mainly in textiles, silk, wool, leather, and spices. They were allowed to live inside the walls in 1538, but in 1546 a ghetto was established in a small street (still called the Jewish Street) enclosed by walls, and the gate was locked at night. Our visit to the Jewish Museum, located in the second oldest Sephardic synagogue in Europe will be an opportunity to truly travel back in time.
Starting at the Onofrio’s Fountain, a historic source of fresh drinking water, we’ll meander along Stradun Street to the Old Port. Marvel at St. Saviour’s, the grandiose Franciscan and Dominican churches, each steeped in centuries of history. Delve into the Old Port with our guide, unveiling the legends of the famous Quarantine and the fortresses of St. Luke and St. John.
Ships from Dubrovnik were known throughout the mediterranean: galleons and karakas, all built and loaded in the legendary Arsenal, now the popular City Café. Discover Dubrovnik’s revered landmarks: the church of St. Blaise, protector of the city; the majestic Cathedral; the historic Rector’s Palace; the elegant Sponza Palace; and the iconic Orlando’s Column.
The sun always shines in Hvar, the sunniest island in Adriatic and we will bask in its rays from the moment of arrival.
Hvar’s location at the center of the Adriatic sailing routes has long made this island an important base for commanding trade up and down the Adriatic, across to Italy and throughout the wider Mediterranean.
It has been inhabited since prehistoric times, originally by Neolithic people whose distinctive pottery gave rise to the term Hvar culture, and later by the Illyrians. The ancient Greeks founded the colony of Pharos in 384 BC on the site of today’s Stari Grad, making it one of the oldest towns in Europe. They were also responsible for setting out the agricultural field divisions of the Stari Grad Plain, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In medieval times, Hvar (city) rose to importance within the Venetian Empire as a major naval base.
Prosperity brought culture and the arts, with one of the first public theatres in Europe, nobles’ palaces, and many fine communal buildings, making Hvar the perfect setting for a magical walking tour. We
will walk the alleys with magical marble-paved buildings, most of which were built during the Venetian period, with the large square (the famous Italian piazza), the bell tower, the bishop’s house and a number
of other historical buildings.
From here we will go up by bus to the fortress that protected the city and for a great view of the harbor and the surrounding islands.
The port and fortress built in the Middle Ages, built by the Venetians, was partially destroyed and rebuilt in the hands of the Turks and Austrians who held it until the 19th century.
We will conclude our island tours and sail the fast catamaran back to our hotel.
A trip to Plitvice lakes National Park is usually one of the highlights on anyone’s visit to Croatia. 16 lakes, numerous waterfalls (how many will you count?), a pleasant walk along the lakes in the lush European forest, endless Kodak moments.
The drive takes us through some of the most beautiful landscapes and cleanest rivers of Croatia. Topping all the lists when it comes to natural wonders, this UNESCO protected National Park is a fascinating maze of both flora and fauna.
Its terraced lakes, joined by waterfalls, extend into a limestone canyon with walkways and hiking trails winding around and across the water.
And as of recently, it also hosts an extremely rare form of life freshwater medusas! The several hours we spend here hiking lasts for a lifetime of indelible memories. Have your cameras ready!
