Travel articles on Croatia from 2009.
The last of eight griffon vultures to be released into the wild last month from the northern Croatian island of Cres, it eventually took wing searching for food. Griffon vultures are extinct in many European countries and are endangered in Croatia, but this sanctuary at the picturesque village of Beli has rescued, healed and released 95 birds since it was set up in 1993.
Lajla Veselica, The Daily Telegraph, 11th November 2009
The article: A new life for Croatia’s griffon vultures
In the last few years, Dubrovnik has become a fixture for culture-hungry celebrities, idling their way across the Med on superyachts the size of small hotels.
Andy Barker, The Evening Standard, 30th October 2009
The article: Dubrovnik: a vintage port
The multi-million pound project, which is due to be completed within two and half years, was designed by London-based architects Studio RHE. The idea was dreamt up to solve the problem of giving every guest a sea view from the hotel on the island of Solta, Croatia, and relies on engineering expertise from the shipyards of nearby Split.
Nick Collins, The Telegraph, 21st October 2009
The article: The world’s first revolving hotel
The Croatian island of Vis has carved out a modest niche with its traditional cuisine, with tiny ‘restaurants’ – little more than a few tables in somebody’s house – offering simple but delicious fare.
Lucija Stojevic, The Guardian, 15th October 2009
The article: Vis cuisine: as authentic as the island itself
Looking for a fascinating vacation spot that combines ancient history with natural beauty? Consider Split, Croatia. Split, the largest city along Croatia’s Adriatic coast is a hub for bus and boat connections from the country’s European neighbors as well as from the capital of Zagreb, which makes it an ideal base for exploring Croatia.
Allison Bough, Stars and Stripes, 15th October 2009
The article: A natural Spilt: Croatian city’s Roman palace adds to its innate beauty
The Adriatic is just 2km away with a selection of beaches lapped by the remarkably clean waters of the Adriatic. In fact, this area of Croatia could pass for a verdant Tuscany where regular rainfall renders the landscape gloriously lush. And as the region was once controlled by the Venetians, the architecture is reminiscent of that city. The seaside resort of Rovinj could actually masquerade as Venice with its narrow streets and multifarious steep stone alleyways leading mysteriously down to the waterfront.
John Mcentee, The Daily Mail, 11th October 2009
The article: Croatia’s Istrian region and the pop music-obsessed teenagers who soon changed their tune
Imbued with old-world charm, Stari Grad is one of those destinations often overshadowed by other legendary landmarks. Such locales are almost always less crowded–and, in some cases, more spectacular–than famous tourist traps.
Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes, 22nd September 2009
The article: Europe’s Hidden Travel Gems
The secret one: Rovinj, Croatia in an article on Six late summer breaks in Europe
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, October 2009
Croatia’s second city is at her sparkling best in autumn, when the crowds retreat but the days remain warm and bright. This seafront metropolis was chosen by the Roman emperor Diocletian for his palace of pleasures, and has been attracting visitors ever since.
Simon Calder, The Independent, 12th September 2009
The article: 48 Hours In: Split
The Croatian capital is in the midst of an identity crisis. Geographically, Croatia is indisputably part of the Balkan Peninsula, but call a chic Zagrebian Balkan and prepare to get an earful. While Zagreb’s vibe is indeed more Vienna than, say, Belgrade, it can also be deliciously rough-and-tumble. Zagreb is haggling with thick-fingered, green-market farmers and wee-hour clubbing with boisterous Slavs — both just beneath the mammoth spires of the city’s cathedral. It’s a leggy, high-heeled blonde visiting a bloody-aproned fishmonger. And it’s the construction of a new Museum of Contemporary Art — due to open by year’s end — and the avant-garde validation that the city hopes it will bring.
Alex Crevar, The New York Times, 6th September 2009
The article: 36 Hours in Zagreb, Croatia
But for us, the winner was a last-minute dark horse–Croatia! With A-listers Mickey Rourke and Jay-Z and Beyoncé frolicking on its shores, Croatia’s Adriatic coast is the celeb destination du jour. This comes as no surprise to us: Condé Nast Traveler has long been a fan of Croatia. In fact, as far back as March we featured it as Europe’s New Riviera. With beautiful beaches, scenic sights, and plenty of affordable offerings, it’s a real find.
Beata Loyfman-Santora, Conde Nast Traveller, 4th September 2009
The article: Bathing Balkan Beauties
Croatian island hotels: four of the best from The Telegraph
24th August 2009
Istria, a peninsula in the north of Croatia, enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate, which means autumn days will be comfortably warm but nights cooler – perfect if you want to get out and about exploring. The region’s vineyards come alive in autumn, as this is a time for picking malvasia, teran and muscat grapes.
Nicola Iseard, The Observer, 23rd August 2009
From the article: Autumn in the Med
At a Marina on Murter Island, two tall wooden masts stand out amid a forest of others. They belong to the Balun, a privately owned and operated cruise ship that is a stark contrast to the sleek white fiberglass vessels that surround it.
Aaron Maines, Wall Street Journal, 21st August 2009
The article: Slow Boat to Croatia
Q&A: Day Trips from Istria, Croatia from NY Times
18th August 2009
Two and a half hours after we left bustling Split harbor on an early-morning Jadrolinija ferry in the Adriatic Sea, our rental car rolled off the ship and onto the white, hot island of Vis, where the Earth seemed to spin a little slower than in the rest of Croatia.
Karen Torme Olson, Chicago Tribune, 16th August 2009
The article: Vis, Croatia, an unspoiled delight on the Adriatic
Eight Croatian wines were awarded the plaudits at the Decanter World Wine Awards, trumping the achievement of many far larger, better-known producers.
Harry Wallop, The Telegraph, 14th August 2009
The article: Croatia hailed as major force in wine after winning clutch of awards
These are being industriously marketed as hidden jewels of Dalmatia: free of cars, lush with vegetation, fragrant with herbs, packed with swimming opportunities and ripe for tourist development. The three largest are Lopud, Sipan and Kolocep, names that would be at home in a Yugoslav folk-tale or a pantheon of Babylonian gods.
John Walsh, The Independent, 9th August 2009
The article: Isles of light: Croatia’s Dalmatian coast
Since the Greeks started flocking here in the sixth century BC, the island of Korcula has been one of the hottest destinations on the Dalmatian coast. Over the years, this picturesque spot midway between Split and Dubrovnik has played host to rampaging hordes of Romans, Goths, Slavs and Austro-Hungarians. For the Venetians, who ruled it on and off throughout the Middle Ages, Korcula was an important outpost on the spice route.
Killian Fox, The Independent, 9th August 2009
The article: The hotel to match Korcula’s rich past
Maybe it was a nervous reaction, but the traditional Korculan “Moreska” sword dance was making me laugh. Thirty hot, sweaty men whacking swords together above their heads, across their bodies, and below their knees with meticulous timing. Clash! Thwack! And ha-ha! Look at the sparks flying, just centimetres away from the spectators!
Emma Tucker, The Times, 11th July 2009
The article: The hotel to match Korcula’s rich past
The Independent featured an article on the superb Eco-Centre on the island of Cres which, amongst its other aims, serves to protect the griffon vulture colony on the island: Flight club: One man’s crusade to protect an endangered colony of griffon vultures on Cres
Frank Partridge, The Independent, 27th June 2009
All the way along the pretty promenade in Opatija, the showy, turreted villas are engraved with the names of well-heeled women who came here more than a century ago in search of seaside pleasures.
Frank Partridge, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, July 2009
The article: Opatija: Croatia’s lusty riviera town
Split is the port of departure for the playgrounds of central Dalmatia, with ferries daily to the islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar, Vis, Korcula and Lastovo, but it is also a fascinating destination in itself.
Jane Foster, The Independent, 21st June 2009
The article: City Slicker: Split
I then did a slightly longer trip, about half an hour, to Pula, the regional capital, which is bigger, more urban, lest touristy, but with a beautifully preserved 1st Century Roman amphitheatre the size of Wembley. Gladiator battles were once staged here before 20,000 spectators. I couldn’t get over its size, the fourth biggest, apparently, in the whole Roman empire.
Hunter Davies, The Daily Mail, 14th June 2009
The article: Ancient, prosperous and coastal – a truly Croatian revelation
A guide to Dubrovnik, in particular during its annual Summer Festival: Croatia: Be enchanted by Dubrovnik
Michael Kerr, The Telegraph, 3rd June 2009
I first went to Zadar two years ago and was instantly seduced by its easygoing café culture and intriguing blend of ancient and modern architecture. I returned telling anyone who would listen that I had found the perfect Croatian city for a weekend break; all it needed was cheap flights and boutique hotels. Well, now it has both.
Tony Kelly , The Times, 30th May 2009
The article: Croatia: Be enchanted by Dubrovnik
The Telegraph published a guide to various Mediterranean islands and in early May featured a brief guide to 21 Croatian islands. See the Mediterranean island guide: Croatia.
The site is key to Electric Elephant [Music Festival]. Petrcane (pronounced “Petrcharner”) is a charming 900-year-old fishing village, halfway down the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, near Zadar. The festival site itself, however, is based on a curving headland just outside the village, predominantly hidden by trees. The same site will this summer be used by the Garden Festival and numerous others. It is based around a circular beachfront bar and the wondrous Barbarellas, an 1970s discotheque in the round, that was built for disco the first time round.
Luke Bainbridge, The Observer, 3rd May 2009
The article: How Croatia splashed on to the music festival map
Hvar (pronounced “phwoar”, much to my children’s amusement) is the capital of Hvar Island in Croatia. It offers a perfect balance: sunbathing quietly during the day before getting dressed up to compete with the types whose yachts adorn the Venetian harbour. It has bags of atmosphere and is one of those rare destinations that remains a real place, with lots of history and interesting sites, from its ancient fortress and Franciscan Monastery to its Venetian piazza.
Maeve Haran, The Telegraph, 21st April 2009
The article: Hvar, Croatia: My kind of town
[Webmaster’s comment – Hvar is definitely not pronounced “phwoar”! Unsurprisingly, try instead saying “var” and doing your best to put an ‘h’ sound in front of it.]
Featured in an article entitled “Europe (without the euro)” about holidaying in non-Euro countries, Croatia had a section:
The Croatian kuna still represents good value in comparison to Euro-based Mediterranean beach destinations. Half-board ranges from £37-74 per person/per day, while pints of beer are about £2. Look out for special packages that are constantly available via tourist agencies.
Frank Jelincic, The Guardian, 20th April 2009
This was my first visit to Croatia and I was excited. There are a thousand or so islands along the Dalmatian coast, and as our plane made its descent to Split they were tantalisingly spread out beneath us in a wide ribbon. There can be no better way, I convinced myself from several thousand feet, than to explore them by boat – better still, as your own master and commander.
Clare Mann, The Telegraph, 7th April 2009
The article: Sailing in Croatia: 1001 Dalmatians
The Telegraph featured an article on the Dalmatian Islands: where to eat and drink on 7th April 2009, recommending places on the islands and the mainland.
Sitting proudly on the calm blue waters of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most magnificent fortified cities. Today a UNESCO world heritage site and Croatia’s most upmarket destination, it was once the capital of the wealthy seafaring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808). During its Golden Age in the 16th century, it had one of the largest merchant naval fleets in the world, with consulates in over 50 foreign ports.
Jane Foster, The Telegraph, 7th April 2009
The article: Dubrovnik city guide: introduction and basics
Also featured in the Telegraph:
– Dubrovnik city guide: top five hotels
– Dubrovnik city guide: bars, restaurants and shopping
– Dubrovnik city guide: top five sights
For much of the 1990s the Croatian city of Split was best known as the safe gateway to the Balkan wars for journalists and diplomats, having suffered only one brief bombardment. Today it is the holiday gateway to a spectacular stretch of coast, to beautiful islands and to thousands of years of history.
Tony Dawe, The Times, 25th March 2009
The article: Holiday gateway to Croatia with views fit for an emperor
Mondo Konoba sits on a slope just outside the large gate to the beautiful medieval village of Motovun, which is on a hilltop deep in the Croatian countryside almost an hour from the nearest train station. Visitors can drive up the narrow winding road almost to the top, though they must leave their cars and make their way along the final stretch of narrow cobbled streets with misshapen and brightly colored houses on foot. Otherwise, it’s a stunning, but tiring, half-hour trek to Motovun.
Kabir Chibber, The New York Times, 1st February 2009
The article: Restaurant Review: Mondo Konoba in Croatia
There are stacks of interesting things to do and see in Zagreb, a lovely old town with a funicular railway and central market. The hard part was trying to get the children out of their hotel beds. So instead of extolling the multicoloured mosaic roof tiles on St Mark’s Church, we tried to lure them into an upright position by promising plenty of chill-out time in cafés and bars. Only, of course, when you say “chill-out”, your offspring go into convulsions of scorn at your attempts to talk young.
Chris Middleton, The Telegraph, 20th January 2009
The article: Where to holiday beyond the Eurozone
A long-time family favourite, Corfu offers an ideal mix of bustling resorts, long sandy beaches and stunning Venetian architecture in Corfu town. The Croatian island of Korcula, however, can match it on almost every front – wooded hills, unspoilt beaches and an elegant old town of its own.
Annabelle Thorpe, The Guardian, 18th January 2009
The article: Where to holiday beyond the Eurozone
Replete with excellent local seafood and Istrian wine, we sat and watched the promenaders on the quayside in Fazana. The sun had plunged behind the Brijuni Islands, trailing a palette of bright pinks and sombre blues; the water lapped against the harbour wall and the fishing boats bobbed. The town square was bathed in amber light and, from beneath the campanile of the 14th-century church of St Cosmas and St Damian, a male folk choir began crooning into the balmy night.
David Ryan, The Independent, 11th January 2009
The article: Find a budget base in Croatia
The Times had an article entitled “100 Summer Holidays for 2009” on 11th January 2009. Croatia was featured twice in the list, under:
– Sail in Croatia and
– A feast in Istria