Here’s a selection of articles on Croatia from 2012.
Zagreb’s reputation as a fun-loving city doesn’t go into cold storage for the winter. Outdoor festivities continue into January with markets and concerts, as the locals trade their summer beers for mulled wine. The neighbouring mountain, Medvednica, also comes into its own, with its small ski centre (4km of varied slopes: pp-medvednica.hr), just a half-hour’s journey by tram and cable car from the centre.
Mick Webb, The Independent, 16th December 2012
The article: Zagreb is back on the map
Long before tourists claimed their spot on its beaches, Croatia and its impressive Dalmatian coast had been fought for by many kings, tribes and emperors. A pivotal location between Eastern and Western Europe, Croatia has long been revered as a country of diversity where different worlds and cultures collide. Everyone from the Illyrians, Romans and Hungarians battled for the country and its coast. It is even claimed that the Celts engaged with Alexander the Great on the Southern Banks of the Danube in a fight for this land.
Breffni Keogan, Business & Finance, December 2012
The article: Captivating Croatia
Two charming Croatian traditions saved me from pneumonia after we were caught in a spectacular thunderstorm while walking in the rugged hills. The first, as our walking group sheltered under the stone veranda of an ancient farmhouse, was the glass of travarica – a fiery spirit flavoured with sage, lemon and wormwood – that our host assured us should be drunk before any meal as an aperitif. The second was the chance to huddle into a stone building and watch our lunch of lamb, potato and onions being cooked in traditional style under a huge flat bell (called a peka) covered with red-hot charcoal.
Jim Eagles, The New Zealand Herald, 11th December 2012
The article: Croatia: Freak storm no match for tradition
Zagreb is teeming with museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas and architectural curios, from the 16th-century Gornji Grad (old town/upper town) to a lower town replete with Austro-Hungarian art nouveau and equally beguiling socialist-style haunts. Throw in a cafe (caffe)/salon (kavana) culture, an enchanting boho heritage and a rescinded smoking-ban (because too many people stopped going out), and you have a scene ideal for the arty traveller.
James Hopkin, The Guardian, 7th December 2012
The article: Top 10 alternative hang-outs in Zagreb
A world away from the sun-soaked islands and seascapes of the Adriatic, the inland capital of Croatia has a charm all of its own – proud Austro-Hungarian style architecture, trams, and a strangely romantic fog that hangs over the city for much of winter.
Jane Foster, The Telegraph, December 2012
The article: 36 Hours in Zagreb
Huffington Post presents A User’s Guide To Zagreb, Croatia
Huffington Post, 19th November 2012
It was the white truffle that lured me to this part of Croatia, far from the Dalmatian beaches most popular with North American visitors. About a year ago someone I knew mentioned it was possible to go truffle hunting here, so a friend and I hatched a plan to go, one of those “wouldn’t it be amazing if …” dreams that somehow came together just weeks before we flew to Zagreb. From there, it was a three-hour drive to the heart of Croatian truffle country.
Alyssa Schwartz, National Post, 17th November 2012
The article: Fantastic forage: On the truffle hunt in northern Croatia
Twenty-first century Dubrovnik bears few scars from its violent past – the old town, Stari Grad, is one of the most picturesque in the whole of the Med. The clustered, terracotta-roofed houses are encircled by city walls that look out across the sea, with a lattice of streets and alleyways lined with restaurants and boutiques spreading out from the Stradun, the wide, pedestrian street that bisects the Old Town.
Annabelle Thorpe, Daily Mirror, 15th November 2012
The article: Dubrovnik: City breaks on the Adriatic Sea
Looking for an odyssey far from home, my husband and I chose Croatia and Slovenia. It didn’t take long to fall in love with this remarkable region of the Balkans. Along the Dalmatian coastline, rugged limestone mountains touch the azure Adriatic Sea. Myriads of islands lie off the coast, and natural inlets provide secure harbors. Inland, clear streams and rivers run through green valleys with farms and vineyards. It’s amazingly beautiful.
Cynthia V. Campbell, The Advocate, 12th November 2012
The article: Get lost in The Balkans
As the coast has quickly recovered from the war and even seen tourism rise above pre-war levels, the interior has struggled. A new drive is seeing the natural charms of the Lika and Karlovac regions pushed as the ideal setting for a phalanx of active sports. And impressive charms they are.
Robin McKelvie, Scotland on Sunday, 11th November 2012
The article: Croatia: Two decades on reveals a very different country
Think of Croatia and golden islands fringed with pale sandy beaches, blue sea and non-stop partying probably come to mind. But venture into the country’s natural landscapes and you will be well rewarded. The plan was to tour some of the eight beautiful national parks on offer, hiking along woodland paths and sailing across glittering lakes.
Claire Ellicott, Daily Mail, 5th November 2012
The article: Waterfalls and wolves in Croatia, where the coast doesn’t always have the most
The island of Krk and the north Adriatic islands gets placed in joint 4th in the Top 10 Islands of Europe category in Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards.
Conde Nast Traveller, November 2012
Twenty years on, Dubrovnik is rebuilt and back in the tourist business with a vengeance. When you cross the drawbridge to pass under the splendid 16th-century Pile Gate and enter the Old Town, you’re confronted by a sea of tourists, milling about in the square and the main street. Croatia is full for the European summer holidays.
Judity Doyle, Stuff.co.nz, 1st November 2012
The article: Step into the sunshine
Can you trust the opinion of a man described famously as ”mad, bad and dangerous to know”? Possibly not if one was planning to lend him money or was considering a romantic dalliance with him. However, on the subject of Dubrovnik on Croatia’s Adriatic coastline, Lord Byron, who in more ways than one got about a bit, got it exactly right.
Jill Worrall, The Timaru Herald, 29th October 2012
The article: Pearl of the Adriatic
Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic, is in Croatia but was part of Italy as recently as the early part of the 20th century. Trieste is just a short 40km drive, through neighbouring Slovenia, and Italian influences are everywhere, from the dual-language road signs to the love of great food and wine. And chest-bursting pride in their olive oil, which sells for a premium price, both at home and the small quantity that makes its way to a discerning export market.
The Irish Times, 27th October 2012
The article: On the truffle trail
A great guide to Rovinj from Time Out: The weekender’s guide to Rovinj – Things to do, see and eat in Croatia’s quaintest coastal town
David Clack, Time Out, October 2012
Visiting Croatia in August without a hotel reservation is asking for trouble. At bus stations across the country local women hiss a single word at disembarking passengers. “Sobe” means “private room” and the slightest nod is all it takes for them to spring into action.
Time Pile, Post Magazine, 14th October 2012
The article: A sobe story
The BBC World Service had a fabulous (audio) documentary on Zagreb’s Mususem of Broken Relationships: The Cabinet of Animosities
BBC World Service, 10th October 2012
Travel on Today featured Some stunning shots of a lightning storm above Split and the Kastela region made their way into the Daily Mail: Incredible photos show Croatian night sky glowing in spectacular lightning storm
The Daily Mail, 3rd October 2012
I’m trudging up a cobblestone alleyway that climbs a hill pin-cushioned by pines, past a steep slope splattered with flowering shrubs. Their rainbow-coloured blossoms are a dramatic contrast to the blue-green tint of nearby islands that float on the Adriatic like sun-seekers on air mattresses. Orange roofs in the city 200 metres down are foreground for the lavender hues of the surrounding Dinaric Alps. Split is Croatia’s second-biggest city, but here on Marjan Hill, it’s just my wife and I, and two joggers. It’s a strange feeling, being so close to so many people and yet so alone.
Mark Stevens, The Star, 1st October 2012
The article: Split, Croatia is a city at ease with its rich history
Croatia boasts more than a thousand islands, of which Vis is touted as the most remote of all. Lying some 50 kilometres off the mainland, it remains unspoiled by mass tourism, and those who come here are making a deliberate choice to enjoy pristine nature and avoid the crowds that maraud the better-known islands. The principal activities in this place, with its sparkling waters and scent of spruce, are fine dining, swimming, hiking and cricket.
Fabian Muir, ESPN, 29th September 2012
The article: In the footsteps of Nelson, Tito and 007
As the boat rounds the corner, our home for the next few days comes into view. The stone building with red roof and green shutters is not unlike those we’ve just left behind in the old city of Dubrovnik, but it’s on a rock in the middle of the sea. We’re on our way to Grebeni lighthouse to experience a few days of solitude, 360-degree sea views and the famous Adriatic sunsets – and to find out what it’s really like to stay in a lighthouse.
Yvonne Gordon, The Irish Times, 29th September 2012
The article: Let there be light
The New York Times’s excellent “36 Hours In…” series visits Dubrovnik!
36 Hours in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Charly Wilder, The New York Times, 27th September 2012
The FT (British tourists to Croatia on the rise, 18th September 2012) and The Daily Mail (Croatia set to record best year for tourism in its history, 13th September 2012) cover the increase in tourist numbers in Croatia during 2012.
Some wonderful underwater shots from the Daily Mail of Andy Marovic, a Croatian “eel whisperer”: The eel whisperer: The diver who has tamed sea beasts and made them his friends
Kerry McQueeney, The Daily Mail, 14th September 2012
Hello! Magazine covers designer Issa’s pop-up boutique on the island of Korcula: Croatia’s cultural paradise seduces the fashion world
Hello!, 12th September 2012
A great article on the delights of sljivovica (or slivovitz): For the past four years, my Facebook news feed has been full of “Sailing Croatia 2010”, “Cruising in Croatia”, “Island hopping in Croatia” albums. Photos of your friends drinking and tanning on boats with sunny sea views behind them bring out a bit of envy, so I’ve tried not to focus too hard on them. But now it’s my turn, and I intend to call my Facebook album “Croatia finally”. Either that or “Haha how does it feel now biatches? How’s work?” I haven’t decided for sure yet.
Amelia Romanos, Stuff.co.nz, 11th September 2012
The article: Sailing and boat-jumping in Croatia
In July and August’s high season, Hvar nets one of the most gorgeous itinerant populations you’ve ever seen: imagine a cast of raven-haired Italians, wolf-eyed Russians and rugged American yachtie types, all looking as if they’ve been torn from the pages of Cosmopolitan, and all towered over by Croatian colossi – at an average of around six feet tall, Croatians (along with the Dutch) are among the tallest in Europe. Meanwhile, Croatian women, especially those in Hvar, it seems, appear to be almost uniformly stunning: broad shouldered, strong featured, olive skinned and dark eyed. It’s as if the gods spent a little longer in their making, and were I a model scout, I’d ditch the King’s Road and come straight here for my next discovery.
Richard Waters, The Independent, 9th September 2012
The article: Heaven is Hvar when the hordes have gone
The last time I stood on these walls, I saw Dubrovnik—her glory, her history, her scars. I traced the slants of orange rooftops all the way to the blue waves. I stood over flowering courtyards and packed cafés. I snuck quick peeks through open windows to get a glimpse of daily life along the walls—classrooms in session, busy kitchens, and drying laundry lines is how the other Dubrovnik lives. I was fascinated. Today, despite the evident beauty, my interest crumbles. I look around and see a clutter of tourists and vendors. I see the overpriced ice cream and tacky souvenirs. Most of all, I feel the heat beating down on the white stone. After the 2-hour loop around the fortified walls, I have only one thing on my mind, actually two: I want some quiet, and some food.
Neha Puntambekar, livemint.com, 9th September 2012
The article: Dalmatia | Awe shucks
Time Out offers up Our two-hour feast was incredible value, considering we had just consumed several platters of sea creatures in delicate sauces, and loads of complex side dishes, all washed down with cool bottles of white Postup – possibly the most delicious white wine you have ever drunk. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the holiday. We had flown by Easyjet from Gatwick, and been attended by every comfort that Easyjet can provide. The landscape was peachy: the sea was turquoise; the air was scented with myrtles and thyme; and a series of amazing islands lay stretched before us like a school of green-backed whales.
Boris Johnson (yes, that one!), The Telegraph, 3rd September 2012
The article: The beautiful nation of Croatia is placing its head in the Brussels noose
When I told my friends that I was planning a trip to Croatia, most thought I was kidding. Some of them had never heard of the country. Some tried to coax me into going to London or Paris. The rest thought I was plain stupid to waste my money on a country that is on no one’s wish list. But I was determined. I had first seen Croatia’s beauty on HBO’s Game of Thrones (King’s Landing is actually Dubrovnik) and I knew that it was only a matter of time before mass tourism followed. Right now, it’s an unspoiled gem, and tops my list.
Amrah Ashraf, The Hindustan Times, 1st September 2012
The article: Continental drift
This piece on Croatia is a worthy winner of The Telegraph’s weekly readers’ travel writing competition: Just Back: a taste of Croatian waters
The Telegraph, 31st August 2012
Maya, my three-year-old Border collie mix, and I had been traveling through Europe. We had started in Athens, and now we were in Split, Croatia, at a dog-friendly B&B. The owners said that almost anything goes in Croatia, so I should see if the buses would allow me to take Maya to explore Omis. The rest of Europe is generally ok with pups aboard transportation. I went to the station and asked one driver. Denied. I asked another, smiled and showed him that Maya had a muzzle, and he reluctantly let me on.
Veronica Remsbottom, San Diego Reader, 24th August 2012
The article: Omis Croatia
At a time of year when seemingly every picturesque city, town and village in Europe becomes a stopover point for classical musicians on the summer festival circuit, this 1,300-year-old walled city gives many destinations a run for their money. Since 1950, the city perched on the Adriatic Coast has been home to the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, a two-month series of classical recitals, folk, drama and dance performances. While there are some noteworthy classical stars (this year’s lineup included Los Romeros, violinist Nigel Kennedy and the Venice Baroque Orchestra), Croatian culture also gets its due. This summer’s bill included performances by the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Croatia and a play by the Dubrovnik writer Milan Milisic.
Brian Wise, WQXR Blog, 23rd August 2012
The article: Croatia is one of the fastest-growing holiday destinations in Europe, and Dubrovnik’s striking walled Old Town is the first port of call for many visitors. George Bernard Shaw described the town as “paradise on Earth” when he went there in 1929, and today British tourists make up the majority of visitors. The resident population within the fortified walls is shrinking, with just 1,500 people left, about a quarter of the size of the population before Croatia’s secessionist war in the Nineties. And while a few hundred foreigners are estimated to own homes there, many holiday-home buyers seeking a Dubrovnik property are looking farther along the Adriatic coast.
Zoe Dare Hall, The Telegraph, 22nd August 2012
The article: Consider a holiday home in Croatia
Asking citizens of European capitals where they go for a day out is always instructive. In Zagreb, I found a surprising number favoured Varazdin, tucked away in the north of Croatia, 90 minutes from the capital. The reason was consistent: the architecture. And they all used the same label, “little Vienna”, because of the quality of its buildings. So I went to see the beautiful and unspoilt baroque centre for myself. For 20 years in the 18th century, Varazdin was itself the capital of the country, until in 1776 a disastrous fire put paid to its short period in the sun. The fire, which destroyed half the buildings, was supposed to have been started by a young farm worker who was being chased by a pig while he was smoking a pipe, which he then dropped in some straw. The rest was history, or maybe just a good tale.
Mick Webb, The Independent, 19th August 2012
The article: Baroque around the clock in Varazdin
ITV News’s political editor Tom Bradby flees London and The Olympics to holiday in Croatia: The Diary: Tom Bradby
Tom Bradby, FT.com, 17th August 2012
Houses riddled with bullet marks were common sights on a recent drive through northern Croatia. Others had large holes presumably caused by exploded grenades, and we were shocked by rows of picture perfect village homes interspersed with piles of rubble and mortar-strewn facades where families once lived. Our careers as travel, food and wine writers rarely take us to war-torn areas, but this trip was very different for us. Like most travelers, we had previously visited Istria and Dalmatia — the areas of the country that are on the Adriatic Sea — but we recently returned to discover continental Croatia, the northern part of the country, which shares a border with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fittingly, Croatia is shaped like a pork chop: Dalmatia is a long, thin bone, the Continental region is the meaty part and pork is present on every menu.
Mike DeSimone & Jeff Jenssen, Huffington Post, 16th August 2012
The article: Wine Tourism In Continental Croatia
Coping with one’s fellow tourists – or, ideally, outflanking them – is crucial in this spectacular, walled city where the population is less than 50,000 but which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. And ‘welcomes’ is the operative word. Everyone we meet is friendly and helpful. The city itself is spotlessly clean. There are no hawkers, no tacky shops, no ugly fast-food joints. And very little hassle for what is one of the world’s stellar UNESCO sites.
Mark Palmeri, The Daily Mail, 10th August 2012
The article: Croatia’s crowning glory: Could Dubrovnik be the ultimate city break?
A reader’s cruise travel tip for Brac from Conde Nast Traveler: Caving and Mulberry Picking in Brac, Croatia
Conde Nast Traveler, 9th August 2012
The New Statesman cycles through Croatia – and contemplates the country’s entry in the EU next year: Cycling through Croatia
New Statesman, 9th August 2012
BBC Travel includes Dubrovnik on its list of The World’s Best Affordable Cities
BBC Travel, 8th August 2012
A piece on 5 Affordable Place to Retire in Europe from U.S. News & World Report includes Croatia.
Kathleen Peddicord, U.S. News & World Report, 6th August 2012
TNT Magazine’s Top five of the world’s best beach parties includes the Rabac Dance Fest
TNT Magazine, 4th August 2012
We were getting a wide-eyed education in the democratic art of naturism, a euphemism for nudism. And democratic is the only way to describe the pastime in Croatia, where the Mediterranean climate just makes you want to take your clothes off. From the adorable tow-headed toddlers riding bare-bottom on their tiny trikes at the marina to a foursome of wrinkled and tanned septuagenarians playing cards on the beach, there was a clear nonchalance towards the human body-scars, cellulite, muffin tops, hairy, saggy bits and all.
Lisa Monforton, Calgary Herald, 3rd August 2012
The article: Strangers in the buff [Link no longer works]
Love this article about a chocolatier in Split who makes (playable!) records out of chocolate: Music records sound and taste sweet in Split
Reuters Life!, 3rd August 2012
NBC News’s photos of the famous salt harvest in Ston (near Dubrovnik): With isolated islands, beautiful beaches, watersport hotspots and historic ports, Adriatic Croatia is a shore thing for a great seaside break.
Mick Webb, The Independent, 25th July 2012
The article: Croatia: The coast with the most
When offered a trip to a “business hotel” in Croatia’s most northerly region, famed for its lush scenery alongside its white truffles and olive oil, the first response from your correspondence was a bemused, “eh?” Croatia on a map looks like a lower-case ‘r’ falling over.
Matt Hussey, Business Weekly, 24th July 2012
The article: Hotel Lone proves a home from home in Croatia
It was the response to Goran that brought it home. I was sitting at an outdoor café, two days into my first trip to the Croatian island of Vis, when one-time Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic came ambling along the promenade. All around me, not one of my fellow coffee-drinkers seemed to flicker at this sight of their country’s most famous living son – no autograph requests or double-takes accompanied his passing, not even a sneaky sideways glance. “His mother has a house on the other side of the island,” confided a waitress, seeing my surprise. “He comes here to be invisible.”
Henry Wismayer, The Irish Times, 21st July 2012
The article: High Vis
Porec was built during Roman times and the ancient buildings of its old town, which stands on a narrow peninsular and is still based on the original Roman layout, are remarkably intact. We are staying around six miles north of Porec in a brand new mobile home – complete with beautifully scented jasmine climbing up the side of its wooden terrace – at Camping Lanterna. A large campsite, situated in woodland in its own private bay on the peninsular of Lanterna, it is the perfect spot from which to explore the surrounding area.
Peter Rickman, Daily Mirror, 14th July 2012
The article: Getting an Istria lesson on the Croatian coast
The six of us stood in a circle. Bozidar, known as Bruce back in the United States, where he lived for more than a decade before returning to his native Croatia, towered over us at 6-foot-7, a gentle giant. A few moments earlier, we’d entered a dense, dark forest through an opening that seemed like a doorway in the foliage. We were going to walk along old logging trails to a cave, a sacred place for the villagers of Velika Plan, a hamlet of 25 people in Croatia’s Velebit Nature Park. Here in these enchanted woods dwell the velebitske vile, the forest fairies of Velebit.
Anja Mutic, Washington Post, 13th July 2012
The article: U.S. News & World Report includes Dubrovnik in its guide to 10 European Cities to Visit This Fall
Miriam B. Weiner, U.S. News & World Report, July 2012
Croatia, no longer an undiscovered ‘gem’ attracting a cult following, is rapidly becoming the flavour of the month across Europe. It’s not hard to see why – much more than just a magnate for sun and sand worshippers, it also offers a burgeoning and exciting food and drink culture, where talented young chefs are making the best use of Croatia’s incredible variety of local produce, not to mention the exciting domestic wine production. I spent my first weekend in Croatia last month and was astounded by the options on offer.
James Lawrence, Yahoo!, 10th July 2012
The article: Croatian cuisine – a snapshot of Istria
We walked the steep, cobbled back streets amid mansions, gardens and weathered stone work. Tourists sat in cafes absorbing the timeless atmosphere while we stumbled on a hidden church, a man with exotic parrots perched on his arm and shoulders, kids playing hop scotch, portly mamas hanging up the wash of the day… Yes, Dubrovnik is not a cold museum, but a living one, washed by salty sea breezes and warmed by a blazing Mediterranean sun in summer.
Gustap Jeroo Irani, The Hindu, 7th July 2012
The article: We left our hearts in Dubrovnik
USA Today highlights travel expert Rick Steves’ The agricultural landscape of inland Croatia may not rival the country’s beautiful Adriatic coastline, but for the adventurous wine lover, heading east from Zagreb into Slavonia and Baranja has its rewards.
Andy Lynes, The Independent, 1st July 2012
The article: Food Miles: For a real flavour of Croatia, head inland from the coast
The capital of Croatia has much to offer in the way of art, architecture and history with the grand palaces and leafy boulevards of the Green Horseshoe – a series of seven squares which form a U-shape – and the city’s hilly Old Town, which is still lit by gas lamps. However, it’s not overrun by tourists – most tourists to Croatia head for the Adriatic coast or Dubrovnik – and Zagreb’s pedestrian-friendly city centre has a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere.
Yvonne Gordon, The National, 29th June 2012
The article: My Kind of Place: Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, is worth lingering in
The Telegraph tests out The Diocletian Spa at Le Meridien Lav Hotel near Split: What am I to do about my pimples?
“Spa Spy”, The Telegraph, 25th June 2012
The Washington Post picks “Zagreb and the Adriatic Coast, Croatia” for its list of Some fabulous Readers’ travel tips: Croatian islands and coast from The Guardian – and do make sure that you read the resulting comments on the article for even more tips!
The Guardian, 23rd June 2012
With a steaming stew, stacks of home-made bread and a steady supply of the local wine on our table, the atmosphere is already hearty. And then a large group of diners sitting nearby break into song. This isn’t a raucous post-pub shout petering to a mumble as everyone forgets the words. These tuneful customers have joined in with a traditional band wandering the tables, belting out a joyful medley of European folk tunes to the strains of accordion, guitar, mandolin, double bass and violin. Then one of their number decides to really sing for his supper by going international. He gets up on his own and gives us O Sole Mio with a voice that is fork-dropping. We’re sampling a slice of Croatian hospitality and warmth in the Slavonia and Baranja region of the country.
Rachel Jones, Portsmouth News, 23rd June 2012
The article: Steaming stew and a warm welcome (link no longer works)
The New Zealand Herald provides Lonely Planet’s advice on a first trip to Croatia: Ask Lonely Planet: Croatia – Split the difference
NZ Herald, 22nd June 2012
I wasn’t necessarily in Croatia to find an aphrodisiac. But there I was standing on the Adriatic shore just outside of Rovinj on the Istrian peninsula with some local conspiracy theorist/café owner staring at a pile of twigs in the palm of his hand. “Here, eat it,” he said. “It’s good for, you know, the sex.” And then, as I chewed the bitter weed that he’d just pulled from the ground, he began a long tirade about how multi-national banks are controlling our thoughts.
David Farley, Gadling, 21st June 2012
The article: I had never even heard of Vukovar before our visit but I often find myself thinking about that scarred little town. The bombed-out buildings, pock-marked walls and vacant blocks still vividly recall the years of the Homeland War (otherwise known as the Croatian War of Independence) of the 1990s. Once upon a time, Vukovar was an elegant and cultured city; thanks to agriculture and industry it was a wealthy centre and was popular with tourists.
Traveller, 18th June 2012
The article: Hope amid the remnants of war
Tuscany gets a lot of press and attention as a paradise, and rightly so. It has a special something that makes people go back year after year. But it’s hardly off the beaten track. There’s another cycling haven that you should know about – one that the masses haven’t found yet. It’s the Croatian province of Istria.
Gered Gruber, Bikeradar.com, 16th June 2012
The article: Cycling in Croatia
The breakthrough occurred, a modest epiphany, on the Monday of our cycling holiday. It was the third day. We were cycling for a week on a few of the Croatian islands, the bikes and the cyclists taken by boat from one isle to the next. The holiday had begun on the Saturday, where the Romantica was waiting for us at the harbour on the mainland of Croatia at Trogir. The cycling began on the Saturday too; there was no hanging around.
Steve Richards, The Independent, 15th June 2012
The article: Island life: Get the endorphins pumping with a cycling holiday on Croatia’s idyllic archipelago
A great article from the Wall Street Journal on island-hopping around the world, including visiting Hvar and Vis in Croatia! Hop to It
Anja Mutic (on Croatia), Wall Street Journal, 15th June 2012
This reader’s letter in the Guardian is a good read: Letter from Croatia: backhander
Anna Ashmole, The Guardian, 12th June 2012
A great guide to Dubrovnik in summer from The Telegraph: Dubrovnik attractions: what to see and do in summer
Jane Foster, The Telegraph, 11th June 2012
I was in Istria, exploring the less trammeled interior of this peninsula in northwestern Croatia, and had signed up for a short truffle hunt. Along with Alba in northern Italy, Istria is what the Caspian is to caviar or Mexico is to the mustache: a foodie goldmine, hiding nuggets of earthen deliciousness so expensive that to cherish them might be asking for the guillotine in some future revolution. It was black truffle season and Ivica, 56, has been traipsing through this forest nearly every day for the last 40 years (white truffles, the season of which is in the autumn, are the pricier kin to darker-hued subterranean fungus).
David Farley, Gadling, 21st June 2012
The article: In Istria, Hunting For The World’s Most Delicious And Smelliest Treat
Zagreb’s INmusic Festival gets picked for CNN’s guide to 50 music festivals for the summer
Jade Bremner, CNN Go, 4th June 2012
With thousands of miles of coastline along the Adriatic sea and its numerous islands it’s not hard to see the appeal of Croatia to Brits looking for a cut-priced holiday home.
Chiara Cavaglieri, The Independent, 3rd June 2012
The article: Croatia: The pleasures of the Adriatic, but without Italian prices
The Telegraph’s advice on How do I reach Dubrovnik from its cruise port?
Jane Foster, The Telegraph, 1st June 2012
Restauranteur and cookery writer Prue Leith declares a “sailing holiday around Croatia’s islands” as a dream holiday in her My Life in Travel article for the Independent
The Independent, 26th May 2012
A whole host of Croatia’s festivals get a mention in The Guardian’s Festivals guide 2012: European festivals
Dale Berning, The Guardian, 26th May 2012
The sun is beating down. To one side is the Adriatic, blue and inviting, on the other, is the old town of Dubrovnik, white stone and orange tiles, with bits of history embedded in its facade. I choose to lose myself in the latter — in the small stone-cut alleys full of colour, characters and stories. Croatia may be a relatively new ‘It’ destination on the European tourist trail, but Dubrovnik, on the southern Croatia coast, has never been short of admirers.
Neha Puntambekar, The Indian Express, 20th May 2012
The article: Coast Along
The Globe and Mail uncovers The next big wine country? (Hint: It starts with ‘c’ and ends with ‘a’)
Beppi Crosariol, The Globe and Mail, 17th May 2012
The Guardian recommends a “short swim” trip in Croatia as a suitable swimming holiday for newcomers in its Top 10 Swimming Holidays guide
Jonathan Knott, The Guardian, 16th May 2012
While most of Croatia’s coastal towns seem tailor-made for tourism, Split is real and vibrant. Lounging alongside the Adriatic Sea on the famed Dalmatian Coast, Split is Croatia’s second-largest city (after capital Zagreb), making it a bustling metropolis, serious port city, major transit hub, and top sightseeing destination, all rolled into one.
Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 15th May 2012
The article: Croatia’s past lives on in modern-day Split
A lovely article on a honeymoon by rail through some of the countries of the former Yugoslavia (taking in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Mostar and Dubrovnik): War and peace: Romance on the rails of a Slavic odyssey
Adrian Phillips, The Independent, 13th May 2012
By the time we arrive at the Pilato winery there’s already a bit of tension in the car. I’m in Croatia with Belinda Kleinig from the Marks & Spencer wine department. We’ve driven for six hours, from the flatlands of Slavonia in the northern arm of this boomerang-shaped country, past Zagreb, through pine-wooded hills and into the pretty peninsula of Istria. We’ve been lost three times, shouted a lot at Google Maps, enlisted the navigational assistance of various lorry drivers – and, as if that wasn’t enough, now Belinda faces the nerve-racking experience of tasting a new wine she’s picked for M&S for the first time since it’s been bottled.
Victoria Moore, The Daily Telegraph, 14th May 2012
The article: A Croatian wine for M&S: out on an Istrian limb
The Telegraph picks out Croatian hotels: four of the best
The Daily Telegraph, May 2012
What’s your pick for a European holiday? Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Scandinavia? What are the chances you’re going to say, “Hey, let’s go Dubrovnik”? I know, I know. Dubrovnik, Croatia, wasn’t even on my list of must-see places. But I thought I’d go with an open mind. It is, after all, a UNESCO World Heritage listed site. And what a trip it was. I have had my fair share of going around the world and trust me, I always had something to say about each country – good or bad. But for Dubrovnik, I was literally stumped for words.
Gasthoori d/o Manickam, Today Online, 10th May 2012
The article: Dubrovnik dreaming
The first time I saw the Adriatic Sea, I realized blue can be many different colours. Now I’m about to spend a whole week on the water, watching it shimmer and shine, up close.
Neha Puntambekar, livemint.com, 26th April 2012
The article: Open Seas | One Thousand Shades of Blue
The Hotel Lone in Rovinj, Istria makes it onto Conde Nast Traveler’s (U.S. edition) Hot List 2012, of the best new hotels of the year
Conde Nast Traveler, May 2012
TNT Magazine gives a nice concise guide to Dubrovnik, Croatia, in 48 hours
TNT Magazine, 22nd April 2012
London newspaper The Metro provides A festival feast: Our pick of the best summer festivals and includes Dimensions Festival in Pula
Polly Humphris, The Metro, 20th April 2012
An amazing feeling creeps up when you visit the coastal city of Split for the first time. You see an entire city that grew out of the ruins of an ancient Roman palace, much as a walnut tree might grow out of a walnut shell. The modern main streets are the same streets built by Emperor Diocletian; the 1700-year-old stonewalls, columns, and sphinxes jump out at every turn. This guide will help first-time visitors get the most out of Split.
Mattie Bamman, Oye! Times, 18th April 2012
The article: First Time Visitor’s Guide to Split, Croatia
I have an inordinate love for water and being in it, whether it be the ocean or the pool, so when I came across Swimtrek, a company that runs swimming holidays, I knew I had found my perfect holiday! Running tours throughout the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Mexico, Swimtrek caters for all levels of swimmer, ranging from the super-fit to scenic swimmers, with all of the swimming done in the ocean. I chose to swim in Croatia as it’s a country I have always wanted to visit and wasn’t disappointed.
Mia Russell, iol Travel, 17th April 2012
The article: Swimming Adventure Holiday
We’d reached Lumbarda, at the eastern end of the island Korcula, by EasyJet flight to Dubrovnik, scenic minibus ride to Orebic then ferry-boat to Korcula Old Town. The resort has a programme of summer events based at the small village square and tiny sandy beach. Every Friday at the fishermen’s evening to celebrate the day’s catch you can tuck into barbecued fish, homemade cakes and other fare.
Gill Murr, The Daily Mirror, 16th April 2012
The article: Come and relax on the Croatian island of Korcula
Two fantastic Dubrovnik itineraries (each for a one-day visit) from The Telegraph, featuring lots of great tips and recommendations.
Jane Foster, The Daily Telegraph, April 2012
Dubrovnik is included on FoxNews.com’s guide to Five best old-world towns to visit
FoxNews.com, 4th April 2012
USA Today Travel looks at the filming locations – including Dubrovnik – of Game of Thrones in Architectural historian Simon Thurley discusses the impact of places being declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in a piece for the Financial Times; he also lists the ‘The 10 most alluring world heritage sites to live in’ with Split, Croatia top – “live in the remains of an ancient Roman palace”!
Simon Thurley, The Financial Times, 30th March 2012
The article: Overlooked heritage
HelloMagazine.com takes a look at some of Croatia’s wonderful national parks: Natural Croatian gems
Hellomagazine.com, March 2012
The Hotel Riva on Hvar is included in the Daily Mirror’s guide to Hotels on the Mediterranean: The top 10 places to book
The Daily Mirror, 18th March 2012
While my wife and our three children were joyously splashing in and out of the cool crystal clear waters of the Adriatic via pedalo, yours truly was keeping a vigilant if unsteady watch over proceedings via canoe. The unstately visage of my sunburnt head and milk bottle body may have been more Captain Pugwash than Sir Steven Redgrave, with this slice of wobbly Britannia far from ruling these waves, but did I care? Not a bit of it.
Neil Leigh, Manchester Evening News, 17th March 2012
The article: Blissful Croatia
While France and Italy are most known for truffles, these noble mushrooms have been cultivated in Istria for centuries. Roman and Greek Emperors as well as French and Austro-Hungarian aristocrats knew about Istria’s prized fungus and were enthralled by their outstanding taste and alleged aphrodisiac characteristics.
Suzanne Urpecz, Reuters, 15th March 2012
The article: The hunt for black and white truffles in Istria
Absolutely fascinating article and photos on the abandoned Hotel Belvedere in Dubrovnik – once of of the town’s top hotels: The Casualties of War: The Hotel Belvedere in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Flavorwire, 14th March 2012
Buzzfeed’s post on 20 Must-See Places Before The World Ends includes the Plitvice Lakes – of course!
Buzzfeed, March 2012
Croatia conjures up images of endless Mediterranean beaches, beautiful islands and dazzling Dubrovnik. And while no trip to Croatia would be complete without some time spent on the bright blue Adriatic, the Plitvice lakes south of Zagreb are a must.
Kathryn Wilkinson, iol Travel, 17th Feburary 2012
The article: Crystal lakes and waterfalls
What becomes of a garden gnome hurled in fury at a car during a stormy breakup? Or a teddy bear that was once a Valentine’s Day present? A wedding dress from a marriage gone awry? An ax that smashed through household furniture? All are on display at the Museum of Broken Relationships in the Croatian capital, each with written testimonies telling tales of passion, romance and heartbreak.
Darko Bandic, Huffington Post, 13th February 2012
The article: Museum Of Broken Relationships: On Valentine’s Day, Visits To Croatian Museum Almost Double
On a recent bike trip on the Dalmatian Islands in Croatia, I was amazed by the courtesy of drivers. Not once on the islands’ narrow roads did drivers honk or attempt to pass too close to me or my cycling companions, instead waiting patiently until it was safe to scoot around us. And when I was struggling up a long, steep hill, a bus approaching on the narrow downhill lane stopped and waited for me to pass. No way would I expect this to happen in my hometown. New York City drivers could use a tutorial in Croatian cycling manners.
Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, 13th February 2012
The article: Advice From a 70-Year-Old Cyclist
Porec is a recommendation in Readers’ travel tips: romantic trips in the Guardian.
The Guardian, 11th February 2012
The New York Times House Hunting in … Croatia in its International Real Estate section.
Virginia C. McGuire, The New York Times, 8th February 2012
A fascinating piece on Diocletian’s Palace in Split and its history in the city in What the History of Diocletian’s Palace Can Teach Us About Adaptive Reuse
Charles Wolf, Bloomberg, 7th February 2012
TIME magazine covers Zagreb’s Museum of Broken Relationships (and its travelling exhibitions) in What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted? They Get a Museum Exhibit
Courtney Subramanian, TIME, 7th February 2012
A great video of a very snowy Split makes it as travel blog Gadling’s Video of the Day: Snow on the beach in Split, Croatia [To be honest, it’s not quite the beach, but it is the waterfront!]
Mike Barish, Gadling, 6th February 2012
We awoke the following morning anchored off the stylish town of Hvar, whose streets are paved with white marble and lined with cafés and boutiques. I could have spent days here, delighting in the turquoise waters that surround the little island, but we pressed on to spend the afternoon in the historic city of Split, with its extraordinary Diocletian Palace, temples and grand promenades.
Gabriella Le Breton, Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2012
The article: Cruise along the Dalmatian coast with a certain je ne sais quoi
So, how far would you go for a drink? I journeyed to a land of scorpions and castrated goats on the trail of a strange beverage called ‘Grk’. It is a wine with no vowels, grown on vines that have no pollination. I was heading on an adventure to a dazzling Croatian island visited by the wealthiest men on Earth, yet just a budget flight away for the rest of us.
Chris Choi, Daily Mail, 22nd January 2012
The article: Tipple tourism: On the trail to find Grk (that’s a wine made on a Croatian island)
Istria is selected for Fodor’s Go List – 21 Places to Go in 2012
Fodor’s, January 2012
Dubrovnik is included on The New York Times’s wonderful guide to The 45 Places to Go in 2012 (see number 36)
New York Times, 6th January 2012
Huffington Post’s Destinations blog suggests that Dubrovnik is one of the Top 10 Travel Destinations For 2012 According To Facebook
Yen Lee, Huffington Post, 4th January 2012
Zagreb (14th place) and Dubrovnik (21st) are included on the Price of Travel’s European Backpacker Index for 2012
Price of Travel, 3rd January 2012
When Croatia was part of Yugoslavia, government policies forced farmers to rip out more than 160,000 hectares of vineyards. Ethnic conflicts in the 1990s destroyed thousands more. Now, with about 33,000 hectares under vines — still more than double the amount of New Zealand — Croatia is looking to fight its way into a saturated global market when it enters the European Union in 2013.
John Mariani, Bloomberg, 3rd January 2012
The article: Croatia, Zinfandel Home, Prepares to Join World Wine Battle
We’re almost into a new year, so what better time to start planning for some new trips? While there are some great adventure destinations out there that have proven to be well-worth the journey, there are still some lesser known regions that have a lot to offer. One of these is the Island of Brac in Croatia, a region full of outdoor and adrenaline-pumping activities.
Jessica Festa, Gadling, 2nd January 2012
The article: