Post Offices in Croatia are open from 7 AM to 7 PM, and on Saturdays until 1 PM. In larger cities you can find post offices which are opened from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
If you wish to send a postcard from your trip to Croatia, you will need postal stamps which you can buy in a post office or news stands.
For all other information you can call for free a call canter from 8 AM to 8 PM 0800 303 304. write an e-mail info@posta.hr, or visit posta.hr, Croatia’s postal service website.
Croatian ambulance is one of the fastest in Europe. Professional medical team comes minutes from your call.
There are hospitals and clinics in all major cities across the country. In smaller towns you can request help in first aid stations and emergency departments. If you need medications, pharmacies are also easily accessible.
In Istria during the tourist season you are free to ask for help in tourist clinics.
At your disposal are additional medical teams who are constantly on the field. During the summer season several medical teams are also patrolling daily Croatian highways and major state roads.
If there is Health Care Convention between Croatia and your country, you do not have to pay for medical services. Otherwise, if the Convention has not been signed, medical services are charged by the price list.
If you need assistance of private doctor or dentist, their service will be charged by full price.
In medical emergencies transport is available by a plane, helicopter or a boat.
If you are a resident of European Union, is likely that you have your European Health Insurance Card with you. Travel health insurance is necessary to avoid additional problems.
For medical emergencies or assistance you can call 194 at any time of the day or night free of charge.
Gastronomy is one of the strong points of the island Krk. Olive oil, goat cheese and smoked ham, should be mentioned but that’s just an appetizer. The island lamb was once prepared for the Roman kings so do not miss it. A new word that you will learn in this article is šurlice. It’s pasta served with goulash and grated cheese, which used to be served only on holidays or special occasion. Sweet dishes are based on fresh cheese and figs, and some often sweets are fritters and kroštule.
Croatia is a country of wine so Krk has its glory. Vrbnička žlahtina is specific because it succeeds only in Krk’s vineyards and Vrbnička field. This wine is light yellow colored and fresh flavored because of the harsh climate. Besides žlahtina there are other varieties, mostly white.
When you return from a vacation on the island take a bottle of žlahtina and olive oil that will remind you of a good time on the island!
A glass of wine is welcome on every table. When we talk about Croatia and wine, we can safely say that this country has a long and rich tradition and even greater potential. All of this and much more makes Croatia very interesting on the world wine map.
Vine is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, Croatia has the possibility to cultivate different varieties of vine and to produce many quality wines. In Croatia there are all five vineyard climatic zones designated by the number of sunshine hours and temperature, that is even more than France, which has four zones.
Growing and spreading of vines was influenced by Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Thracians and many traders who were found in this area.
The fact that on the islands of Hvar and Vis were found wine vessels and coins that were produced several centuries BC with imprinted symbols of viticulture, speaks about a long history of vines in Croatia. Centuries BC ancient Greeks planted vines in the northern Adriatic and Romans after arriving at this territory already found viticulture which they continued to evolve, especially in Istria and along Croatian coast.
Apart from the Coastal region, vines flourished in Continental region, mostly thanks to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus, who was responsible for the development of vineyards in that area.
With the spread of Christianity in the fourth century, wine began to be used in the liturgy and thus led to the rapid development of viticulture and wine making. Systematic cultivation of the vine began with the arrival of the Slavs and a real boom began after the Slavs started to Christianize. Prominent monks were considered as great winemakers and vintners, especially the Cistercians, who in 1232. built a monastery in Kutjevo with a basement that has been in operation to this day.
Almost 400 varieties used to be cultivated on the Croatian territory, today we are speaking about 200 of which about 130 are indigenous. The most common varieties on the Croatian territory are graševina, malvazija istarska, teran, pošip, plavac mali, bogdanuša, plavina, kujundžuša, rajnski rizling, merlot, babić and crljenak which is actually a world famous variety Zinfandel.
In continental Croatia, the most widespread white variety is graševina and from indigenous varieties škrlet and kraljevina are largely grown. From red continental varieties portugizac, frankovka and pinot crni are represented, so are cabernet sauvignon and merlot.
In coastal Croatia outstanding white varieties are istarska malvazija, žlahtina, pošip, rukatac i viška vugava and most famous red variety is plavac mali.
Plavac Mali is the most famous Croatian wine grape variety from which Dingač, a top quality dry red wine of controlled origin, is produced. This wine became in 1961. the first Croatian wine with protected geographical origin. Wine Postup is produced of the same variety and in 1967. it became the second Croatian wine that has received the protected geographic origin status. Both of these wines are from Pelješac peninsula.
Thanks to its long and rich tradition of wine-making, Croatia abounds with excellent wines that every wine lover has to try. Croatian wines are becoming more diverse with higher quality, and that is recognized and respected in the world. This is evidenced by numerous awards won by our producers at world fairs and festivals.
Some of the prestigious events at which Croatian wines have won medals are: Vinalies Internationales in Paris, Chardonnay du Monde in Burgundy, Merlot e Cabernet insieme in Bergamo, Vinitaly International Wine Competition in Verona, Concurs Mondial de Bruxelles in Valencia and Mundus Vini in Neustadt. With numerous awards from the International Wine Challenge, the great and constant successes of Croatian winemakers at Decanter World Wide Awards in London, the best known and most prestigious wine competition in the world, should be noted.
It should be mentioned that Riedel, the world renowned manufacturer of wine glasses, made a glass specially designed for wine variety malvazija istarska.
The Legend of St. Euphemia dates from the 4th century, from the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who was one of the greatest persecutor of Christians. St. Euphemia was born in the year 290. near the city Constantinople in a noble family. On one occasion she refused to bow to an idol and she was thrown into the city prison. She encouraged other prisoners to have faith in God and because of that was subjected to even more torture. Finally, she was thrown into the arena with the lions, but they didn’t want to attack her. However, she died at the age of 15 and her body was buried in her native city of Chalcedon.
When Persian army won the Chalcedony, the sarcophagus with her remains was moved to Constantinople. In the year 800. the sarcophagus disappeared overnight. It appeared on a stormy night in the city of Rovinj. Residents of the city were trying to pull heavy sarcophagus from the sea all day and did not managed. Then a young boy came with his heifers. He told the crowd that the St. Euphemia appeared in his dream and told him to come help pull the sarcophagus. The boy and his feeble animals have unearthed a heavy object on the shore. They dragged the sarcophagus up the hill where the church of St. Juraj was located. Sv. Euphemia has been a patron of Rovinj since then, and the church was named after her. Today, believers and pilgrims celebrate the 16th of September. That is the day of the city Rovinj.
Another little interesting fact about Sv. Eufemia – if the statue on top of the church is facing the sea the weather will be sunny, and if it is facing the city it will be cloudy. This is because across of the St. Eufemia there is an island of St. Catherine. The two of them are friends. So if Euphemia is facing Katarina it means that they are in a good relationships and this friendship reflects on the weather.
The spirit of the Roman Catholic Counter – reformation, meaning the turn to the Christian spirituality, pessimism and awareness of transience, left a strong mark on Croatian literature in the 17th century. Christian piety profoundly informs both epic and lyrical works of the greatest Croatian baroque writer Ivan Gundulić, born in Dubrovnik in 1589.
That distinguished offspring of the old Ragusan aristocracy produced ten plays in his youth from which four have been preserved till today. They were based on the themes and motives from Greek mythology and literary tradition. However, in the foreword of his adaptations of king David’s psalms, Gundulić renounced his early theatrical works as “the birth of the darkness”.
His religious poem The tears of the Prodigal Son, based on the Biblical Parable of the Lost Son and pastoral melodrama Dubravka, which celebrates the freedom of the Republic of Ragusa in an exalted style, are considered to be the canonical works of Croatian literary art.
The apogee of his work and the most important contribution to Croatian literature is nevertheless his Christian – Virgilian epic Osman in which he narrated the tragic fate of the Turkish sultan after the defeat of his army in the battle against the Poles in 1621. near the city of Chocim. It was one of the first accounts of contemporary events in the guise of a traditional epic form.
Ivan Gundulić had become popular and influential as a writer during his lifetime, but not until The Croatian National Revival in the 19th century was he highlighted as a true classic of Croatian literature
Nautical tourism is one of the most promising forms of tourism in Croatia. The Adriatic coast is considered to be one of the sunniest coastlines in the world due to its Mediterranean climate. The period between April and October is the best time to sail the Croatian sea. The country is famous for sailing all around the world.
Croatia is an ideal destination that will fascinate you with its clear sea and well-preserved coast with over 1000 islands, exotic bays and sandy beaches. Sailing across the coastline and visiting the islands is an unforgettable experience. More than 50 marinas that are located all along the coast will provide you with needed shelter at any time. Renting a yacht is available in most marinas. You can also take a course in sailing schools. The Croatian Sailing Federation represents the main organization for sailing enthusiasts in Croatia. Numerous sailing competitions (regattas) take place on the Adriatic coast.
Depending on your sailing experience, you need to get familiar with the Adriatic winds. Most common are: Jugo (south-east wind), Bura (north-east wind), Maestral (north-easterly wind), Široko (southerly wind), Tramuntana (north wind), Levant and Istočnjak (eastern wind). The local people will gladly explain to you everything you need to know about famous Croatian winds.
Whether you’re going from the north to the south or the other way around, Croatia offers many attractive destinations for sailers.
The peninsula of Istria is perfect for exploring the coastal towns that will leave you breathless. One of the popular destinations for sailing in Northern Dalmatia is the national park Kornati, consisted of a hundred islands that simply lure with its unspoiled nature and beauty.
Islands of Southern Dalmatia, Brač, Vis, Hvar, Lastovo, Korčula and Mljet, are also exceptional destinations that will provide you with a combination of fun and relaxation with learning about local cuisine and cultural heritage. Elaphite islands near Dubrovnik are the most common destination for a daily excursion.
Lošinj is an island that extends from the north Adriatic Sea to the southeast, in length of nearly one hundred miles. Once that was only one island, and today is one of the most developed islands in the Adriatic. It consists of the islands Lošinj, Cres, Unije, Ilovik, Vele and Male Srakane and Susak. Lošinj is proud of its crystal clear sea, clean air and rich flora and fauna.
The climate of the island Lošinj made it recognizable worldwide. The island is known as a health resort. The mild Mediterranean climate has suitable affect to the respiratory system. There is also a center for hemodialysis newly opened. The island is so profiled as health – tourist destination. The difference between the average annual highest and the lowest temperature is low, which favors the development of vegetation. On the island we can find oranges, lemons, figs, tangerines, olives, cacti, Lavado, pine and many other Dalmatian and Istrian plant species.
Lošinj was uninhabited until 13th century and in the 19th century town of Lošinj became the second most important port on the Adriatic coast, just after Trieste. The people on the island were famous as seamen and skilled in making sailing. Because of that Lošinj had six shipyards. The city become a big shipbuilding and shipping power in the Austro – Hungarian monarchy. The development of tourism in Lošinj began in the late 19th century when health tourism appeared. Lošinj was a favorite resting place of the Austro – Hungarian aristocracy. They built villas on the island that are still there today. The island is now ideal for the mental and physical rest, and not necessarily only in the summer.
In whichever part of Croatia you go you’ll find jazz. So Lošinj has a jazz festival for nine years in a row. But more lasting cultural program on Lošinj are Osor Musical Evenings. It is a classical music festival that takes place in Osor, in the cathedral. Works by Croatian composers are being performed so the festival is promoting Croatian musical creativity. Besides culture, Lošinj offers numerous walks, viewpoints and coves where you can run, dive and walk. Or you can just enjoy the fragrance of the island.
The island of Lošinj is a leading location in Dolphin Research. The association that researches dolphins is Plavi svijet. The dolphins inhabit the seas around the islands of Cres and Losinj, and every first Saturday in August is their day. Dolphin Day Program is composed of lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and it is recognized by the major exhibition of children’s art on sea and dolphins. If you become a fan of dolphins, you can can always adopt one. Your donation would help the work of the association, and you can brag to friends that your dolphin swims somewhere around Losinj!
Name of Mali Losinj may not be associated with wild parties and famous nightclub. This island offers a holiday with just focusing on vacation. Downshift, stop and literally smell the herbs. They are waiting for you in Lošinj!
Primorsko-Goranska
N. Tesle 2
51410 Opatija
+385 (0) 51 272 988
kvarner@kvarner.hr
www.kvarner.hr
Porec, or Parenzo as the people from Istria call it, is the city almost two thousand years old. It is located on the west coast of Istria, the largest Croatian peninsula. It is located in the port, and it is hiden from the open sea by the island St. Nikola. Regardless of the frequent changes of government, the impact of Italy is great in Porec and all Istria. Croatian population is larger, but the Italians are a significant minority here.
As in the rest of Istria the red earth is predominant. It is very suitable for agriculture. Production of organic food and quality wine is an important part of Porec economy. The most important branch of the economy is tourism. Tourist infrastructure is dispersed along the rounded between the river Mirna and the Lim Channel. There are hotels, campsites and marinas.
The Mediterranean climate is dominant long the coast of Istria. Winters are short and mild, and the summers are hot and dry. West Coast, on which Porec is located, is indented with numerous islands. The sea around Poreč has been preserved and clean, and the swimming season lasts from May to October. Sometimes the mistral breeze, that blows from the sea to the mainland, will refresh you on the coast.
Porec has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and over the centuries the city was under different rulers. For a long time it has been under the rule of the Roman Empire, and after the fall of the Roman Empire as rulers of Porec alternated Ostrogoths, Byzantines and even the Frankish Empire. After the collapse of the Frankish empire Porec was given the status of independent city and it was under the protection of Venice. When Napoleon occupied Venice Porec became Austrian.
After World War I the city was under the Italian government, and during World War II it was bombed and economic collapses. At the end, Istria and Porec belong to Yugoslavia and now Croatia.
The Basilica is one of the best preserved monuments of Byzantine art in the Mediterranean, situated right in Porec. The Basilica was built in the 6th century, and the year 1997 UNESCO included it on the list of world cultural heritage. Basilica is in fact the Cathedral of the Assumption and it is most notable for it’s numerous glorious mosaics.
Some beaches in Poreč are marked with the Blue Flag as a sign of clear waters, quality services and equipment. Besides lazing on the beach in Porec you can walk, ride a bike, and the brave ones might try riding. For those who think that holiday is only for resting, you might find yourself surprised, but certainly not regretful.
The Eufrazije Basilica is certainly unavoidable part of Poreč. Main street Decumanus and Cardo Maximus will certainly be on your way. They are preserved in the ancient original form as well as a few houses from the Roman period.
But whatever we say about this town is not enough. We’d need a lot more extensive text that you describe all of its beauty and value. Therefore it is best to visit and experience yourself as a cultural and tourist center as he is!
Istarska
Pionirska 1
52440 Poreč
+385 (0) 52 452 797
info@istra.hr
www.istra.hr
Poreč
Zagrebačka 9
52440 Poreč
+385 (0) 52 451 293
info@istria-porec.com
www.istria-porec.com
Đakovo, a city in the heart of Slavonia, is proud by its rich history. Its residents describe it as the city with the most beautiful cathedral from Venice to Istanbul. There is the most beautiful view of the city from the top of the cathedral.
Numerous archaeological sites are saying about the history of the city. The excavations confirm the existence of life in this region since the Neolithic. Đakovo was, like many other Croatian cities, under the Turkish rule. During this time, all the Catholic churches were destroyed and mosques were built. However, the 17th century after the Turkish rule, the city is relieved and the building begin.
The Cathedral in Đakovo, or Basilica of St. Peter is an unavoidable tourist attraction of the city. The Cathedral was build by a Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer, and the construction itself lasted for 16 years. Cathedral is a superb example of neo-gothic Roman style, and is embellished with seven altars, numerous frescoes, statues and reliefs.
City Đakovo has many events such as the famous Đakovački vezovi. It is a traditional International Folklore Festival, which runs for two weeks. The cars decorated with flowers are passing through the streets, there is dancing at city squares and choosing the most beautiful national costume. There are also held equestrian competitions, art exhibitions and music concerts.
The stable in Đakovo is still one of the sights. Horse breeding began in early 16th century, with ten of Arabian horses and one stallion. During the episcopate of Bishop Strossmayer they started to breed Lipizzan horses instead of Arabic. Horse breeding continues in the State Lipizzaner stud farm which is one of the oldest in Europe.
Osječko-Baranjska
Kapucinska 40
31000 Osijek
+385 (0) 31 214 852
info@tzosbarzup.hr
www.tzosbarzup.hr
Đakovo
Kralja Tomislava 3
31400 Đakovo
+385 (0) 31 812 319
tz-grada-djakova@os.t-com.hr
www.tz-djakovo.hr
