Croatia boasts a stunning coastline that features over a thousand islands. The country blends ancient Roman history with a vibrant modern culture. Furthermore, the diverse landscape ranges from flat plains to rugged limestone mountains. Consequently, it has become a top destination for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation. Explore these fascinating details about the land of the red and white checkerboard.
Croatia
The modern necktie actually originated in Croatia during the 17th century. French soldiers copied the knotted scarves worn by mercenaries from this region and subsequently named them “cravats.”
Croatia possesses over 1,200 islands and islets along its Adriatic coast. However, people currently live on only about 48 of them year-round, leaving the rest completely uninhabited.
The city of Zadar features a unique architectural wonder called the Sea Organ. Specifically, hidden pipes under the stone steps play music powered solely by the wind and ocean waves.
The popular dog breed known as the Dalmatian traces its roots back to the region of Dalmatia. Furthermore, paintings from the early 17th century depict these spotted dogs guarding the borders.
Nikola Tesla was actually born in the small village of Smiljan in 1856. In fact, the house where the famous inventor grew up is now a memorial center dedicated to his life.
Hum holds the Guinness World Record for being the smallest town in the world. Amazingly, roughly 20 to 30 people live within its medieval stone walls today.
The Walls of Ston stand as the longest fortified wall system in Europe. They stretch for 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) and originally served to protect the valuable salt pans.
Dubrovnik served as the main filming location for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. As a result, thousands of fans visit daily to walk the same streets as the Lannisters.
Residents of Split play a traditional game called “picigin” in the shallow waters of Bačvice beach. Uniquely, players must keep a small ball in the air without letting it touch the water.
The Roman Emperor Diocletian built a massive palace in Split for his retirement. Remarkably, about 3,000 people still live and work inside the ancient palace ruins today.
Croatia is home to the Museum of Broken Relationships in the capital city of Zagreb. People from around the world donate personal items left behind by their ex-partners to this exhibit.
The island of Hvar enjoys an incredible amount of sunshine every year. Thus, it receives nearly 2,800 hours of sun annually, making it the sunniest spot in the entire country.
Alfred Hitchcock once described the sunset in Zadar as the most beautiful in the world. Reportedly, he admired the view while staying at a hotel on the waterfront in 1964.
The forests of Istria contain some of the most expensive white truffles on the planet. For instance, one local hunter found a massive truffle weighing 2.9 pounds (1.31 kilograms) in 1999.
Finally, the gladiatorial arena in Pula is a major landmark in Croatia. It remains one of the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world and still hosts concerts.
