5 Reasons You Should Fall in Love with Croatia

Croatia is fast becoming a popular and a must-see destination for most people. From the beautiful Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean weather, The Dinaric Alps, spectacular beaches, incredible national parks, ancient walled towns to the friendly locals there are many reasons why you should fall in love with Croatia. The following are 5 reasons you should fall in love with Croatia.

1. Nature.

From the stunning clear turquoise-blue water of Adriatic Sea to the incredibly preserved nature there is a lot that Croatia can offer to the nature lovers. Croatia boasts some of the most beautiful and expansive 8 National and 11 Nature Parks among which are the most popular Plitvice lakes. Besides, there are over 1000 islands, islets, and reefs along the Croatian Coast. It’s ideal country for sailing and island hopping. Beaches in Croatia are countless and some of them are considered the most beautiful in the world.  Like pebble beach called Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) on island Brac which changes its peak left or right according to the wind and sea current.

2. Culture.

Croatia’s rich cultural heritage can be discovered within the many galleries, museums, churches speared throughout the country. Visitors can also discover the rich cultural heritage in diverse musical, film, dance, theatre festivals and other cultural events that take place all year round. Some of the Croatian cultural sites on the World Heritage list include; the Historic City of Trogir, The Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik, Euphrasian Basilica in Porec, Hvar’s Stari Grad Plain, and The Old City of Dubrovnik.

The rich history in Croatia has been passed through generations to date. Some aspects of the past that have been preserved over time make up a significant part of Croatia's culture. These include the authentic food, traditions and welcoming nature of the natives. There are also important events that make up their culture like Sinjska Alka. This is an event that has been held annually since 1717 and it involves men competing on horses trying to run a lance through a metal ring- Alka. Points on this competition are awarded depending on where their lance hit the Alka.

3. History.

Croatia is rich in history- both modern and ancient. Its ancient history is among the oldest in the world. The Hvar Island, for example, is home to one of the oldest theatres in the world called Hvar Theatre that was built in 1612 as well as Fortress Formica. The Fortress Formica was built in the 16th century. The Walls of Dubrovnik were considered one of the best fortification systems of Middle Ages. There are many more historical sites in Croatia including Diocletian’s Palace in Split, well-preserved Amphitheater in Pula, Brijuni National Park where you can get to see the dinosaur footprints and Roman and Byzantine ruins that have managed to stand the test of time.

4. Food and wine.

The Croatian food is indeed excellent and is served with a variety of Croatian wine. The cuisine varies from one city to another, but there are traditional recipes that are found throughout the country. From the meat dishes and delicious stews that are common in the inland regions to the seafood prepared with Croatian olive oil found along the coast, be sure to get a variety of fresh and delicious meals. Different delicious traditional Croatian cuisine and wine that you should taste include; Plavac Mali red wine, and Posip white wine, black risotto, Pasticada and homemade pasta with cream and sprinkled truffles is a must taste. These dishes have been influenced by different cultures including Italian, Hungarian, Turkish and Austrian influences.

5. Weather.

The climate in Croatia can be divided into continental (cold winters and hot summers) and Mediterranean (cool, rainy winters and hot summers). When thinking of the best time for having a vacation you can choose from April until September depending on whether you like springtime and offseason, or summer time and top season. Keep in mind that for swimming and sunbathing the best months are from July until September. This makes Croatia an excellent place to visit throughout the year. Buying property in Croatia is, therefore, a lucrative venture if you want to live in this area as well as an investment to target the high number of people flocking into this country.

Once you visit Croatia, you will fall in love and never want to leave!