2023-05-27 07:24:42
The region of Dalmatia
GCrystal clear sea, dreamy bathing bays, cities steeped in history: The historic region of Dalmatia in southern Croatia was already a worthwhile holiday destination when it was still part of Yugoslavia. Croatia has been new to the Schengen area and part of the euro zone since January 2023, and a boom is also expected in Dalmatia for the coming season.
After all, the region has a lot to offer, whether for those interested in culture, beach holidaymakers or outdoor fans. It stretches along the Adriatic Sea from the metropolis of Zadar (3000 years of history, Roman ruins, medieval buildings, modern attractions, beautiful beaches) to Dubrovnik – the Unesco-crowned city known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”.
In between: almost 400 kilometers of coast and countless islands. Almost 80 percent of all Croatian islands are in Dalmatia. Most are uninhabited, others are significant – and each is different. So Brac is a place of beach goers, fishing and olives. Bolski Plavac wine is also grown there and white limestone mined, which was used for ancient Roman buildings in Dalmatia, but also in the USA – for the White House.
Source: Infographic WORLD
On Hvar, popular with the jet set, the “Kurhotel Zarin Elisabeth” inspired by Empress Sisi was opened in 1903, today’s “Palace Elisabeth Heritage Hotel”. Vis, on the other hand, was a restricted military area until 1989. Today, nuclear bunkers can be visited on the island, as well as Roman thermal baths. Vis reflects the turbulent history that is the basis of Dalmatia’s cultural wealth: Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Habsburgs, English, French and others ruled over the island.
On the mainland, guests often feel like they are in a historical film. For example in the “capital of Dalmatia”, as Split is often called, even if this is not an official status. The interesting port and student city is one of Dalmatia’s Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Exhilaratingly beautiful: a swim at the waterfall in Krka National Park
Quelle: Getty Images/Sebastian Condrea
In addition, the region offers fabulous landscapes, for example in the Krka National Park with its seven waterfalls. And ideal conditions for snorkeling, diving, sailing, surfing, hiking or cycling.
In the evenings, holidaymakers enjoy Dalmatian specialties in the konobas, the small, regionally typical restaurants: Zutica wine and cheese from the island of Pag, pasticada (Dalmatian roast beef), peka stews with lamb or seafood, and of course lots of Adriatic fish.
Sailing from one island to the next
Dalmatia is considered a perfect sailing area and includes most of the Croatian islands. So what could be more obvious than discovering the most beautiful corners while island hopping? While the big cruise ships can only dock at a few ports, small boats can go almost anywhere, even in hidden bays.
A sailing boat lies off the coast of Hvar island in the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea
Quelle: Getty Images/E+/crazycroat
For example, it makes sense to sail the Kornati Islands, the largest and densest archipelago on the Croatian Adriatic. 89 of the around 150 islands and reefs, some of which are tiny and oddly shaped, are protected as national parks. Island hopping between Split and Dubrovnik with the picturesque islands of Brac and Hvar, the former military island of Vis, Korcula, the Lastovo archipelago (the main island of which the Romans called “Emperor’s Island”), the wine island of Mljet and the Elaphites is also worthwhile.
Providers such as Intrepid or Windtüte Reisen have good trips in their program, some as family, single or gay trips, for sailing with an experienced skipper or with a local crew, so that previous knowledge is not necessary. Another plus point: moderate winds make the area ideal for beginners.
The Dalmatian is born without dots
What is white and gets a lot of dark spots after ten days? We are talking about the Dalmatian (Croatian: Dalmatian), the dog that is actually born without its typical coat markings. The black or dark brown dots only appear a good one to two weeks later and become more and more numerous until the dog is about one year old – the individual dot pattern has then fully developed in adulthood.
Dalmatians don’t get their characteristic dark spots until a good week or two after birth
Quelle: Getty Images/The Image Bank/Coneyl Jay
The stars of the Disney cartoon classic “101 Dalmatians” (1961) are considered friendly and cuddly family dogs, but they need a lot of exercise. Like many pedigree dogs, they are prone to hereditary diseases, in their case bladder stones (Dalmatian Syndrome), so they should only be bought direct from reputable and trustworthy breeders.
According to common theory, the lively, intelligent dog is named after the Dalmatia region. Accordingly, it was first exported from southern Croatia to England and France, from where it conquered all of Europe and the USA.
Climbing and hiking in Paklenica National Park
Visitors can climb 500 climbing routes in the Paklenica National Park – marked, equipped with hooks and in different levels of difficulty. Here, in the Velebit mountains on the Adriatic Sea, lies Croatia’s most famous climbing sport area. The impressive landscape with steep karst rocks, gorges, numerous caves, black pine and beech forests is also popular with other outdoor fans.
Even the youngest can practice climbing in the Paklenica National Park
Quelle: pa/PIXSELL/Dino Stanin
150 kilometers of marked mountain hiking trails open up the 95 square kilometer park, which has been under protection since 1949. Its name means “little hell” – probably because of the rugged rocks and secret caves. The Paklenica Gorge in particular is reminiscent of canyons in western films. In fact, the Karl May classic “Der Schatz im Silbersee” with Pierre Briece was filmed here in 1962.
Other Winnetou films were also made in the Paklenica National Park (as well as in other places in Dalmatia), the filming locations are marked with signs. Nature fans will find a fascinating wilderness here with over 1000 different plants (including 80 species that only occur here in the world), with countless butterflies and bats, as well as wolves, bears, lynxes, short-toed eagles and other rare animals.
Split to suck
Split is the largest city in Dalmatia. But many people only think of one thing when they hear the name: delicious popsicles, fruity on the outside and with a creamy vanilla core on the inside. The cool classic Split has sweetened the childhood of generations, it’s been around since the 1960s. The coating, initially made of raspberry ice cream, then of orange ice cream, has tasted like passion fruit since 1985. Since then, the full name of the cult candy has been Cuja Mara Split (calories according to the manufacturer: 96).
Quelle: bortonia/Getty Images/Digital Vision Vectors; Infografik WELT
What few people know: Split ice was born in Northern Germany. A certain Viktor Langnese founded a biscuit company there in Wandsbek in 1888. In 1927 he sold the rights to the Langnese brand, under which popsicles became popular from 1935. When naming the popsicle, the manufacturer likes to orientate itself on places of longing in Italy and on the Mediterranean – so Split became the namesake, but also Capri (for the orange water ice cream) and the Dolomites (for the Dolomiti ice cream).
Split ice cream was made in Wandsbek (which had been incorporated by Hamburg in 1937) until 1985, when the plant moved to Heppenheim in Hesse. It is still produced there today.
The quote
“Dubrovnik is made for ‘Game of Thrones'”
So said Tom McCullagh, art director Croatia of the hit fantasy series, which aired from 2011 to 2019, in an interview with Sky TV. The port city on the Adriatic represents King’s Landing, a main location of the book template.
The medieval city wall is spectacular with a height of up to 25 meters around the picturesque city center with churches, palaces and other historical buildings. On film tourism tours, “Game of Thrones” fans experience important spots from the award-winning series.
The port city of Dubrovnik has served as a backdrop for several films
Quelle: Getty Images/vladimir zakharov
Dubrovnik was also the filming location for the Bollywood hit “Fan” (2016) starring Shah Rukh Khan, the “Star Wars” film “The Last Jedi” (2017) and the “Robin Hood” adaptation by Leonardo DiCaprio. The city, which is well worth seeing, has also been a popular destination for stars for decades – from Agatha Christie to Elisabeth Taylor, Roger Moore and Richard Gere to Bono from U2, Demi Moore and Beyoncé.
Bizarre, record-breaking, typical: You can find more parts of our regional geography series here.
In Croatia, the euro is now used to pay
Croatia has been a member of the euro area and the Schengen area since the beginning of the new year. EU Commission President von der Leyen congratulated Croatian Prime Minister Plenkovic on the Croatian-Slovenian border.
#Croatia #Dalmatia #drift #island #island #sailing