Croatia is a dazzling blend of Mediterranean beauty, medieval history, and coastal charm. Stretching along the sparkling Adriatic Sea, the country boasts more than a thousand islands, picturesque harbors, and red-roofed towns that seem to spill into the water…a mix of natural splendor and cultural richness that’s hard to match.
In the early 1990s, the country was caught in the turbulence of the Balkan Wars as it fought for independence from Yugoslavia. The Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995) brought great hardship… scars from that time remain evident to us as visitors. But Croatia has rebuilt itself into a thriving nation, and it’s remarkable to realize how far the country has come in just a few decades.
The rugged coastline and old-world atmosphere…Wow!! Every turn revealed something beautiful: a quiet cove, a café tucked into a centuries-old alley, or a fortress overlooking a harbor glowing at sunset. It is like stepping into a living postcard!
Today, Croatia stands as one of the success stories of the modern Balkans. It joined the European Union in 2013 and adopted the euro and open-border Schengen status in 2023, integrating with the rest of Europe. Yet Croatia has managed to retain its distinctive identity—rooted in Slavic heritage, shaped by Venetian and Austro-Hungarian influences, and shaped by a deep love of its land and sea.
This is the country where we spent the most time, almost 11 days, during our 2021 Crossroads of the Adriatic Trip. The country was described to us as looking like a “dragon”. We were in and out of its borders multiple times as we visited other countries, but we eventually …
We started at the foot of the dragon! Located on a rocky spur at the country’s southernmost tip, Dubrovnik is renowned for its medieval walls and historic monuments. In the past, Dubrovnik was an independent city-state (1358-1808) that rivaled Venice. It was also a fortress city that served as the …
About an hour outside of DubrovnikThis was such a fun visit! We visited a private, family-owned farmstead and winery. We were welcomed by the very humorous owner, Mr. Dario Martinovec, who introduced us to his estate and provided lessons on his olive farming, and wine and cheese making. The main …
Zagreb is the landlocked capital city (intermittently since 1557) of 800,000 people. It is home to one of every six Croatians. Truthfully, we were a bit disappointed with our first impressions:…a lot of graffiti and a lot of buildings under renovation. Then we were told about the recent earthquakes….a 5.3 …
Istria: The Head of the Dragon! We traveled 8 hours north to the “head of the dragon!” Istria is a wedge-shaped peninsula in northern Croatia. Many medieval towns are located in this area, along a scenic road that winds through vineyards and fields. Plitvice Lakes Along the way, we stopped …
Now we are in the remote, far northeast of Croatia, the “wing of the dragon!” It is at the confluence of the Draa and Danube rivers, on the border of Hungary. It is represented it in gold on this map. Karanac If we had to pick a highlight of this …
