:: Travel News for Your next Holiday & Vacation in Croatia | Croatia Blog ::

Croatia is a country located in Southern Europe, although most people would classify it as being part of Eastern Europe. It is located on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, which puts it right across that sea from Italy. Additionally, Croatia also borders countries in Eastern and Southern Europe such as Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary.

The population of Croatia is around 4.5 million people, making it one of the smaller countries within Europe. The vast majority of the people that live within Croatia are people that are Croatian in terms of their nationality, with over 95% of the population being made up of such people. The vast majority of immigrants to the country are from bordering countries and nearby areas, which means that you are not likely to see that many visible minorities when you are within the country.

Croatia is home to five different regions, all of which have a number of interesting tourist attractions for you to see. When considering where you should go in Croatia, it is useful to think of things in terms of the regions they are located in. To get you started, here is a brief rundown of all of the different regions within Croatia. 
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The all-inclusive hotels of Poreč, Valamar Club Tamaris and Valamar Tamaris Residence are this year's laureates of TUI Holly 2010., the most prestigious award that is awarded by one of the world's largest tourist operators TUI. With this the Valamar hotels are now included in the top 100 best hotels in the world, in which TUI guests stay at. TUI established the award in1994. and rewards it exclusively on the grounds of expressed satisfaction of its guests in the period of one year. This year competing were 905 world hotels, who to qualify, had to summon at least 35 positive grades given by guests upon arriving home from their holiday. TUI is one of the world's biggest tourist and transport companies with its headquarters in Hannover, Germany. Recommendations for hotels Porec.  Apartments Porec
Source: Croatia.hr

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Varaždin has been famous throughout its history for being one of the central points of cultural life in Croatia. However, the 18th century was the turning point for the city's cultural life. In this period the city intensly progressed and from 1755-76. it was the capital city of Croatia, under the influence of all the richness of baroque and the aristocrat elite that were fascinated by it, it became the centre of unbridled balls and the luxury aristocrat life. To honor baroque and its richness, that has greatly marked this city and earned it the name «little Vienna», in Varaždin, every year there is a traditional festival of baroque music.

Varaždin baroque nights, every September and October turn back time to a period when in the rich city palaces you could hear indescribable musical creativity and witness the gracefull dances and cultural events.

The festival was founded in 1970., and through the years it has become a recognizable cultural manifestation, well known in Croatia and Europe. It has become an irreplacable part of the Varaždin tourist offer, promoting the city's history, not only through music but also through the unique architecture. The baroque churches and palaces and the Old Town are a part of Varaždin that give it its identity.

This festival of music brings every year many world famous artists, soloists, orchestra's and ansambles. It is an experience that cannot be described but has to be experienced first hand. The concerts take the audience a few centuries back in time, to a period when music was a highly aesthetic art. Many concerts of Croatian and foreign ansambles create a romantic atmosphere of a baroque town, but are also very important from a music point because in their program they sometimes preform just discovered or never before played pieces. Also, with the introduction of modern interpretations of already famous pieces , the Baroque festival achieves remarkable results in the professional approach to baroque music.
Source: Croatia.hr

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The best fishermen of the world gather each September in Jezera, a small fishing village on the island Murter in central Dalmatia, as to compete in catching the «big fish» – Big Game Fishing. Drawing out large specimens of fish can take hours, and this kind of fishing can also get rather unpredictable . The catch, the fight, the overcoming and the drawing the fish, which can sometimes weigh a few hundred kilos, out, among which are ,apart from the blue tuna; luca, igluna and albacore tuna, requires from fishermen extreme strength, patience and knowledge. This is an adrenaline sport, uncertain and unpredictable to the very end, which reveals new challenges that bring out team work and a competitive spirit. It is the biggest European competition that is organized at the end of summer, which is the best time for catching tuna and other big sea fish. It is held in the rich fishing areas of Blitvenica, Žirje and Kornati, and this 12th year begins on the 19th September.

Big Game Fishing has become a prestige event at which all the big names of the big game fishing world like to be seen at. Thanks to this competition the small fishing village Jezera has become famous in the sports fishing world. Jezera is located on the southeast side of the island Murter, the biggest archipelago of Šibenik. The island is interesting because of its closeness to land which it is connected to by a 30 metre long bridge. Surrounded by hills, Jezera is drawn into the horseshoe shaped bay. Because of its position it is not exposed to strong winds and its cove is perfect for docking and mooring. In its proximity are two national parks: Kornati and Krka.

Although the first document of Jezera dates back to 1298., it is probably much older, because not far from it, in the bay Podjasenovac, two graves of the Ilyrian tribe Liburni were dicovered, from a pre ancient period, in 1938. The people of Jezera are very proud of their traditional costumes, customs, songs and dances, which can get to be known by tourists in the summer months through the many cultural, sporting and fun events, that are held under the name 'Days of the sea'. During the time of Big Game Fishing visitors will not be «spared» of the many other interesting manifestations.
Source: Croatia.hr

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It is believed that a few centuries ago the Paulines brought lace to the Croatian area. Recognizing its beauty, village folk accapted the knitting of lace as their own tradition, cherished to this day. It was most accepted by the inhabitants of the town Lepoglava, where the Pauline monestary was located. Proud of their lacing skills, the people of Lepoglava, every year in September organize an International festival of lace, where they promote lace as part of their ethnographical treasure. At the festival, which will be held from the 16th to the 19th September this year, exibited will be rich lace works from other European countries but visitors often find most interesting the domestic lace works from Croatian lace centres, which are next to Lepoglava, Pag, Sv. Marija and Hvar. Lepoglava lace had its boom at the end of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century, when production was encouraged, courses, workshops and lacing schools were opened.

The skill of making lace became the source of extra income because lace was sold at fairs and exibitions in Zagreb, but also accross western Europe.

Lepoglava lace has won medals in many competitions. In Paris in1937. It was awarded a gold medal, and in Berlin in 1939. a bronze one. This period was the most flourishing for Lepoglava lace.

Lepoglava is a town located in the spectacular landscape of Zagorje, beneath Ivanščica, not far from two European motorways Zagreb – Vienna and Zagreb –Budapest. Here, after 1683. the first secondary school and the first university in Croatia was founded, with the right to give academic titles. The parish church, convent and chapel in the area were decorated with frescoes by the famous Pauline Ivan Ranger and are well known monuments of baroque artistry.
Source: Croatia.hr

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Zagreb and the Sports park Mladost will this year also, on the 1st September accommodate many top athletes, Olympic medal winners, world champions and record breakers. The Zagreb athletic meeting, former Memorial to Boris Hanžeković, from this year is a part of the IAAF World Challenge series. This is a meeting with a 60 year tradition and is highly rated in the world of athletics.

This year's meeting has gotten the honor of hosting the final competition of the male Hammer Challenge, which means the world's best hammer throwers will come together in Zagreb.

This athlete story was born more than half a century ago with the duel of Zagreb's strongest clubs – Mladost and Dinamo, and in 1958. with the participation of top althletes the meeting became international. The 110m Memorial hurdle race, that has been organized as part of the meeting since the very beginning, carries the name of a pre war athlete and representative from Zagreb, Boris Hanžeković, who became famous by beating the well known Greek Hristos Mantikas, at Balkanijada in 1938. Already in the 1960's and 1970's the meeting was attended by respected athletes but a real influx of world stars to Zagreb began in 1997. and has been increasing with every new meeting. In 1998. the popular «Hanžek», as this competition is usually called, climbed to first place on the meeting chart of the EAA (European Athletic Association), and in 1999. was listed on a higher rank – under meetings of the IAAF.
Proof that the Zagreb meeting is highly respected in the world's athlete family is that the IAAF included «Hanžek» among 14 cities which have kept the Grand Prix status in the new system of the World Athletics Tour. Only the Golden league is above it (6 meetings) and the Super Grand Prix (5).

The trademark of the meeting is Croatian athlete, the world champion in high jumping, Blanka Vlašić.

The night atmosphere, fantastic results and excellent organisation, give this top sporting event its charm.
Source: Croatia.hr

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Mali Lošinj, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Adriatic, famous for ideal climate conditions, special flora and fauna which include good dolphins and the antique statue Apoksiomen- has been chosen as the host of the 27th World Championships of underwater fishing by the leading world organisation of underwater sport fishing CMAS.

Mali Lošinj will accommodate, as the host of this prestigious sports event from the 14th to the 19th September, 23 representations, friends and supporters of 96 contestants, who will be able to show thier fishing skills in the beautifuls waters of Lošinj.

Along with the World Championships the hosts will organize numerous events such as concerts, exibitions, regatta's and other things.

Mali Lošinj has a long tradition of underwater fishing. The first underwater gun appeared on Mali Lošinj in 1950., and only six years later a northen Adriatic competition in underwater fishing was held in the waters around Lošinj. After that Mali Lošinj drew attention to itself in 1963. by organizing the 1st World Championships in underwater fishing and even then positioned itself as the world centre of underwater fishing. From 1957. they have held a traditional competition – the New Year's Cup in underwater fishing. The monument to an underwater fisherman in the centre of the town is witness to the deep bond the people of Lošinj have with underwater fishing.

The natural beauty and the diverse fish fauna make the waters around Lošinj an ideal place for hosting such a big sports event. Recommendations for hotels Losinj.
Source: Croatia.hr

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The county Kršan in Istria has gotten its first hotel which recently accepted its first guests. The former motel Vidikovac has been renewed and turned into a three star hotel. It is the hotel Flanona, which was named after the old Roman name for Plomin. A wonderful view of the Plomin bay and Kvarner stretches from each balcony of its ten modern and air conditioned rooms. There is an open type restaurant in the hotel, where travellers and guests can enjoy all kinds of delicacies. The hotel has a big parking lot and for persons with special needs there is an equipped room with a seperate entrace by a new road. The guests of the hotel have a beach at arms length which they can reach through untouched nature, while a ten minute drive will get them to Ika, Moščenička Draga or Rabac. Apartments Rabac
Source: Croatia.hr

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The Croatian light calvary within the French Royal Army was known for great heroism and military skills throughout the thirty year war in the 17th century (1618-48) , but also stood out with a 'fashion' detail– a picturesque scarf tied around their necks. This scarf ties in a knot was named after the ethnic name of the Croats (old German Krabatten or old French Cravattes) – cravat. In 1664. a Croatian regiment called Royal Cravattes was formed in the units of the French Royal Army. Almost four centuries later, in the old part of Zagreb, tourists can witness the changing of the guards of the Royal Cravattes, a unit inspired by the famous Croatian historical regiment.

Every changing of the guards starts with an attractive ceremony of preparation of the guards and arms inspection. 12 soldiers participate in the ceremony and display their scarfs, later known as cravats worn four hundred years ago. The guards are located at three attractive tourist locations – at St. Mark's Square, Ban Josip Jelačić Square and at the statue of Our Lady at Kaptol. With this project Zagreb aims to promote itself as the capital of the cravat, with the wish that this extraordinary cultural and historical value becomes an attraction for all visitors of the Croatian capital, the homeland of the cravat. Apartments Zagreb
Source: Croatia.hr

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