About the town

Get to know the historical, monumental and cultural importance of the town of Senj, as well as the natural beauties that delight with their magnificent diversity.

The origin of the town of Senj is connected with the settlement which more than 3000 years ago was located east of today’s Senj, on the hill of Kuk, below which there was a port and a trade centre where goods were exchanged between people living on the coast, on the islands and in the continental area. With the strengthening of the trade centre, its population moved to the lower regions and founded a new settlement. With the arrival of the Romans, the settlement gained the status of a city and was given the name Senia. During their rule, Senia became the main commercial, traffic and cultural centre of the eastern part of the Adriatic Coast.

The splendour of the city is restored by the administration of the Frankopan family, the princes of Krk, with the redevelopment of trade, which significantly increases the importance of Senj’s traffic route and port. The economic progress enables investment in development of the city by building numerous churches and monasteries. The Glagolitic alphabet is very present in the Senj area. At the end of the 15th century, a Glagolitic printing house, one of the first ones in Southeast Europe, started operating in Senj. At the same time, the Senj Captaincy was established to defend against the Turks and Venice.

Due to frequent attacks by the Ottomans, many inhabitants left Senj and the town became a refuge for many refugees from the surrounding areas, which formed military units, the famous senjski uskoci (Senj Uskoks). Until the beginning of the 17th century, they had successfully defended Senj, inflicting heavy losses on the armies of the Ottoman Empire and Venice. In the following, more peaceful centuries, the economic progress of Senj was made possible again. The new golden age began, and Senj became one of the most important economic and cultural centres of Croatia. Although the old town was largely damaged in the Second World War, many monuments have been preserved, so sightseeing tours of Senj vividly present scenes of its rich past.

Sights

Nehaj Fortress, the symbol of the town of Senj, built in the middle of the 16th century for the needs of Senj Uskoks, in addition to preserving interesting exhibition material, is also a frequent venue for renowned cultural and musical events and scientific gatherings. The top of the fortress, which once served as a watchtower, today serves as a panoramic point with a beautiful view of the coast and the islands of Rab, Goli otok, Prvić, Cres, Krk, and the mountains of Velebit and Učka. Nehaj Fortress is surrounded by a park of the same name, which has beautiful promenades, facilities for children and an impressive view of the old town. One can also relax at another park, called Park senjskih književnika (Senj’s Writers Park), while taking a walk along the busts of some of the most famous Croatian writers and poets who had lived in Senj.
The Gothic-Renaissance palace of the Vukasović family, one of the most prominent families in Senj, houses the Senj City Museum, which, in addition to presenting interesting materials, takes care of the entire cultural and natural heritage of the city and its surroundings. The most prominent monument of religion and culture in the town of Senj is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Beauty of the town and its surroundings

Zavratnica, one of the most beautiful bays in the eastern Adriatic, which is included in the special protection category, is located near Senj. The bay hides the remains of a World War II warship and presents a real challenge to curious underwater explorers. Lovers of active tourism can enjoy cycling and in just a few kilometres experience the beauty of the crystal clear sea and the preserved nature of mountain pastures. Mountaineers should, by all means, visit the nearby Northern Velebit National Park and its Premužić trail, which leads to the most beautiful and inaccessible parts of Velebit. Visitors of Senj can also enjoy sailing, fishing, diving, hunting and, during the hot summer months, relaxing on beautiful pebble beaches, many of which offer numerous entertainment facilities.

About the town

The town of Nin is proud of the fact that it has been continuously inhabited for an impressive 3000 years. It is located on an islet in a small sandy lagoon, and is connected to the mainland by two centuries-old stone bridges. The Illyrian tribe of Liburnians strongly marked the development of Nin in the period from the 9th to the 1st century BC. This is evident from the fact that Nin is the site with the biggest number of Liburnian tombs and the largest amount of material remains which help to understand the entire development of Liburnian culture.

With the arrival of the Romans, the lifestyle and culture changed significantly. The most important edifice from Roman times is the forum with the Capitol, which housed a monumental temple, the largest temple on the east coast of the Adriatic, indicating a very high level of culture and civilization during the Roman Empire. Nin was economically very developed thanks to salt production, trade and various crafts.

During late antiquity, Nin became one of the most important early Christian centres on the Adriatic, also known as the Croatian Bethlehem. With the arrival of the Croats, Nin became their first political, cultural, administrative and religious centre. The monumental treasure found in Nin belongs to the most important monuments of Croatian national history.

Sights

One of the symbols of Nin is the Coronation Church of St. Nicholas, located on a prehistoric hill. According to folklore, seven kings were crowned in Nin, and on that occasion the crowned ruler would ride to the church of St. Nicholas, introduced himself to the people and cut with a sword to all four corners of the world. At the entrance to the town of Nin, visitors are greeted by a monument to the famous Croatian ruler Branimir. The bronze statue of the bishop and great advocate of the Old Slavonic language and the Glagolitic alphabet, Grgur Ninski, is associated with a legend that, if touched, its big toe fulfils wishes. Numerous Nin churches are a real treasure trove of valuable works of art. The Church of St. Anselmo, which was the cathedral of Nin during the time of the Croatian national rulers, is home to a small but rich church treasury called “Gold and Silver of Nin”. The oldest preserved monument of church architecture, also known as the smallest cathedral in the world, and a symbol of the town of Nin, is the Church of St. Cross, which served also as a sundial and calendar. The baptistery of Prince Višeslav, the first Croatian prince, originates from Nin and is the most important monument of Croatian Christianity. All this is just a part of the rich cultural heritage preserved in the town of Nin for centuries. Another undeniable treasure of Nin and Croatian history is certainly the old Croatian ship Condura Croatica, since ships of this type are considered the smallest and deadliest warships in world history.

Beauty of the town

The unique flora and fauna, Nin salt and the delicious meat speciality called ninski šokol are additional reasons why Nin should definitely be visited. One can relax on the beautiful sandy beaches of the town of Nin. The most famous one is Kraljičina plaža (Queen’s Beach), with an interesting legend associated to it. Nearby one can also find a location with healing mud that cures many diseases. The Nin waters delight all lovers of surfing and hang-gliding, as the winds in the lagoon make it ideal for such activities.

Lošinj's Fragrant Garden

Revitalize your body and soul in a healing climate, a unique blend of marine aerosols, enjoying the rich biodiversity of medicinal herbs and essential oils. In Lošinj’s Fragrant Garden, where over 250 species of wild fragrant plants grow, the company of an expert guide allows one to get to know the diverse flora of the island and its medicinal properties. The Garden also offers spectacular views of the bays of Lošinj and Velebit Mountain.

Museum of Apoxyomenos

One of the most prominent attractions of the town is certainly the Museum of Apoxyomenos, completely dedicated to the sculpture of the same name, which was found in 1996 at a depth of 45 meters in the seabed of Orjul, a small island near Losinj. The Apoxyomenos is an ancient sculpture, a bronze statue of a young Greek athlete of inestimable value, a work of art that amazes with the integrity and beauty of its performance, and represents the continuity of maritime connections since prehistoric days. The name of the Greek athlete comes from the word Apoxyomenos, which refers to a representation of an athlete being cleansed of oil, sweat and sand after an exercise or a competition.

The statue is believed to have been thrown into the sea nearly two millennia ago, during a storm in which it posed an excessive burden on the ship. The Louvre, the British Museum and the J.P. Getty Museum are world-famous museums that had displayed the statue of Apoxyomenos after conservation and restoration work. Today, the beautiful ancient sculpture is the symbol of the island of Lošinj, and Apoxyomenos’s timeless beauty, his intriguing story and the distinctive museum material delight every visitor.

Nerezinac Lugger – open-air museum

In front of the Apoxyomenos Museum, a sailing ship is moored. The ship represents an open-air museum, an interpretive navigation centre of the maritime heritage of the island of Lošinj. In the 17th century, shipbuilding became an important economic branch in Mali Lošinj. Two centuries later, it has as many as six shipyards, which makes Mali Lošinj a European shipbuilding and shipping power.

In the open-air museum there is an information board with basic details about the ship, along with a section designed as a workshop where curious visitors can try out some of the skills of traditional shipbuilding or some sailor skills, such as mending sails, nailing, tying sailor knots, blowing into a horn and raising sails.

Beauty of the town and its surroundings

The beauty of Mali Lošinj and the whole island can be explored on walking, cycling or kayaking tours, boat trips, by snorkelling, diving, climbing or tandem jumping. Visitors will experience an unforgettable vacation on the pebble and sandy beaches of Lošinj, enjoying the shade of a dense pine forest, the crystal clear sea and numerous entertainment facilities.

About the town

Visit the town of Rab and find out why it has been adorned with the epithet “felix” (lucky) since the time of the Romans.  Approaching the island of Rab, maybe luck will reward you with a magnificent sight of dolphins. Located on a narrow part of land between two bays, surrounded by ancient walls, above which four bell towers proudly rise, the town of Rab irresistibly resembles a sailing ship with four masts.

Sights

Listen to the legends of the patron saint of the town, St. Christopher, who miraculously defended Rab from enemy attacks, as well as the story of the stonemason Marin who, in times of poverty, left Rab and settled near today’s city of Rimini. There, he became highly esteemed in the Christian community and had built a church that became a refuge for Christians and the basis for the development of the city-state of San Marino.

Visit Rabska Fjera, a unique three-day medieval festival, attend the celebration of the three saints, St. Jacob, St. Anne and St. Christopher, feel the energy of history and enjoy watching knight games. Observe the Renaissance and Gothic portals, above which stand the coats of arms of Rab’s noble families. Go back to the time of the nobility, when one of the most favourite desserts was rabska torta (Rab Cake), and taste this most original souvenir. You can also take part in its baking, while following a recipe that is about 800 years old.

Beauty of the town

Relax in the greenery of lush oak and pine forests around the town of Rab, which is why Rab is often called the emerald island. Moreover, it is most likely that the name Rab comes from the Liburnian word arba, which means “wooded” or “green”. Other souvenirs of the town of Rab are medicinal preparations, tinctures, honey products and liqueurs, which are prepared from various medicinal herbs by the diligent hands of the Benedictine nuns. Visit the beaches of the town of Rab and indulge in the feeling of comfort provided by the sand under your feet, while enjoying the magnificent blue tones of the sea and sky.

Sights

Among the few cities in the world, Šibenik boasts as many as two monuments included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Cathedral of St. James and St. Nicholas’ Fortress. The most impressive parts of the Cathedral are the roof and the dome which, like all other parts of the cathedral, were built exclusively in stone, without binder material, which makes it unique and represents an exceptional treasure of cultural heritage.

The construction of the Cathedral began in the first half of the 15th century and lasted intermittently for 105 years. Ten years after its start, the construction process is taken over by the famous architect and sculptor, Juraj Dalmatinac. The heads on the apses of the Cathedral are considered a masterpiece of his work, and of Croatian sculpture in general. Attempts are still being made to figure out whether there are statesmen of the time or historical figures among these portraits, or just ordinary people, Juraj’s fellow citizens and passers-by.

Furthermore, Šibenik boasts three imposing fortresses, St. John’s Fortress, St. Michael’s Fortress and Barone Fortress. In the middle of the sea, at the entrance to the Channel of St. Anthony, stands St. Nicholas’ Fortress, an outstanding monument of world architectural heritage, a Renaissance building of Venetian architecture. Both monuments under UNESCO protection, the Cathedral of St. James and St Nicholas’ Fortress, together with St. John’s Fortress, served as filming locations in the fifth season of the Game of Thrones hit series.

A walk under arched passages through the streets of Šibenik that lead to sights from all periods of its history becomes a walk through history and an experience of the abundance of monumental treasures. The cultural heritage consists of numerous Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, such as St. Chrysogonus, St. Barbara, Church of the Holy Spirit, New Church, Church of St. Nicholas, St. Elizabeth, St. Gregory, St. Dominic and St. Lawrence. Reliefs of the Gothic-Renaissance Church of St. John are masterpieces of Dalmatian medieval architecture.

The monastery next to the Church of St. Francis is home to a significant part of the monumental heritage of the city. The cultural and historical artistic valuables have been collected here for centuries. The library of the monastery preserves the Šibenik Prayer (Šibenska Molitva), one of the oldest Croatian linguistic and literary works, written in Latin script in the second half of the 14th century.

Beauty of the city and its surroundings

As many as two national parks, Krka and Kornati, are part of the Šibenik-Knin County. Their natural beauty attracts visitors from all over the world. Skradinski buk is a special attraction of the Krka National Park, its longest travertine barrier and one of the most famous natural beauties of Croatia, while the uninhabited, untouched nature, wilderness and exceptional beauty of the Kornati archipelago delight with magnificent scenes and an atmosphere of peace.

Among the beautiful islands of the Šibenik archipelago, Prvić, Zlarin and Krapanj stand out. Two typical Dalmatian fishing villages on the island of Prvić are protected as cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia. The island is also known for one of the greatest Croatian scientists, Faust Vrančić, who has spent his childhood on Prvić, which is why it is often called Faust’s Island. Zlarin is known as a coral island, where the tradition of hand-crafting this precious jewellery has been preserved to this day. Krapanj is the smallest inhabited Croatian island, and due to the traditional processing of sponges, which the inhabitants of the island have been doing since the 18th century, the island is also known as the island of sponges.

Food lovers are always happy to return to Šibenik because of its high-quality gastronomic offer of local specialties, while younger visitors are attracted by entertainment in numerous nightclubs.

About the city

Visit one of the most popular Croatian tourist destinations, a city that enchants with its exceptional beauty, three thousand years of tradition and openness to new art forms that further enrich its appearance. Enjoy the strokes of the barkajoli (local owners of rowing boats) and breathe in the atmosphere of the rowing tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation for eight centuries. Visiting the city of Zadar, every corner reveals a new part of the story of its fascinating history.

Sight

All the characteristics of the city of Zadar during the Roman Empire, such as the strict geometry of Roman urbanism, the forum that was the centre of the city, the capitol with the temple, the emporium or city square, the basilica that was home to the city administration and judiciary, strong defensive walls, public water supply, thermal baths and sewerage system, all this points to a highly developed urban life, and numerous remnants of such life are still visible to this day.

Being the target of numerous attacks in the past, due to its great significance throughout its history, the city of Zadar is guarded by as many as four patron saints, St. Chrysogonus, St. Anastasia, St. Donatus and St. Zoilus. In addition to beautiful Gothic and Renaissance palaces, Zadar is adorned with numerous churches, which stand out with their beauty, monumentality and treasure that they carefully preserve.

One of the symbols of the city of Zadar is the Church of St. Donatus, which is one of the most famous and most valuable monuments of the early Middle Ages in Croatia. Due to its cylindrical appearance, it belongs to the group of the most famous and most important European Pre-Romanesque churches. Although in the 18th century the Church lost its sacral function, it is still the venue for many concerts of medieval and Renaissance music, which have been held there for decades due to the exceptional acoustics of the Church. The Cathedral of St. Anastasia is the largest church in Dalmatia, and its bell tower offers a magnificent view of Zadar and its surroundings. The Church of St. Simeon is home to the powers of the most popular Zadar saint and the Chest of St. Simeon, a magnificent work of Zadar’s medieval goldsmithing.

Apart from the Church of St. Chrysogonus, it is important to mention the Church and the Monastery of St. Mary, which houses the exhibition “Gold and Silver of Zadar” (Zlato i srebro Zadra), a permanent exhibition of church art that represents the invaluable treasure of Zadar’s past, which has been preserved by the Benedictine Sisters, that still take care of it to this day. One should not miss the opportunity to visit the Archaeological Museum, among the most important ones in Croatia, as well as the Museum of Ancient Glass, unique not only in Croatia but also in the world, representing a one of a kind collection of about 2000 different glass objects from ancient times.

The favourite street of Zadar citizens, Kalelarga, leads to the People’s Square, the centre of public life in Zadar from the Renaissance to the present day. The Five Wells Square is also extremely interesting, with five walled wells built in the 16th century during the siege of the Turks. Above the Square rises the oldest park in Croatia. The Square is located near the city walls that go back to the times of the Venetian Republic, when Zadar was its largest fortified city. Today the walls are considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance monuments in Dalmatia, which is certainly supported by the fact that they have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2017.

Beauty of the city and its surrounding

While discovering the charm and beauty of the Port of Foša, one inevitably reaches the waterfront, which offers an impressive view of the Zadar Channel, the islands of Ugljan and Pašman, as well as the open sea. Approaching the other end of the waterfront, the day is magnificently rounded off by the unique beauty of the Zadar sunset, the relaxed melody of the waves of the Sea Organ and the spectacular play of light of The Greeting to the Sun monument, which represents a spectacular blend of nature and art. The proximity of the Vransko Jezero Lake, Bay of Telašćica and Velebit Mountain, as well as nature parks and several national parks, such as Paklenica, Kornati, Northern Velebit, Plitvice Lakes and Krka, positions Zadar at the very top of the tourist offer. The Zadar archipelago, with its idyllic atmosphere and rich marine life, attracts many lovers of nautical tourism and diving. Numerous restaurants and taverns of the city of Zadar prepare autochthonous gourmet delicacies that delight even the most refined palates, and to all lovers of nightlife, Zadar offers a lively club scene.

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