Newsletter. Contents. News. Events. Croatia in the World. Investments. Projects. Introducing

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1 Photo: sergio gobbo Photo: Sergio Gobbo Newsletter Contents News Zagreb Through the Metropolis by bicycle 2 Zagreb The Croatian Metropolis closer to the Land of the Rising Sun 3 Blue flags beaches and 20 marinas 4 Dubrovnik Tennis legends at Stradun 5 Sisak and Slavonski Brod Cruisers on Kupa and Sava 6 Poreč City landmarks on a GPS guide 7 The cleanliness of Croatian beaches - above average 8 Events Veli Lošinj Day of the dolphins 9 Umag Antique Festival 10 Sinj Knight + horse + speer = Alka 11 Metković Ship marathon 12 Varaždin - Špancirfest 13 Osijek Cultural summer nights in the east of Croatia 14 Brođanci Ancient sports Olympics 15 Croatia in the World Four Dalmatian hotels among Europe s top An Emmy for Croatia 17 CNN Croatia is a Gourmet s Paradise 18 Croatian Chefs Receive 12 World Medals 19 Investments Kastav - Hotel Kukuriku - an exclusive hotel in the old castle 20 Vela Luka - Korkyra Shines With a New Glow 21 Dubrovnik - Lighthouse Grebeni welcomed its first guests 22 Ludbreg - with music and folklore to a good drop 23 Projects Rijeka - Kantrida gets a five-star hotel 24 Nin Healing Mud 25 Rovinj - the first Croatian hotel as part of Design Hotels 26 Introducing Croatia - Pilgrimages 27 Novigrad - Recreation and Sport are No 1 28

2 News Zagreb Through the Metropolis by bicycle Touring the Croatian capital by bicycle is the latest content in the tourist offer of Zagreb. The Blue Bike tours last three hours, and there can be up to 12 people in a group. The sightseeing includes two three-hour tours, from the Marshall Tito Square to New Zagreb and from the Marshall Tito Square to the Upper Town. The first tourists who decided to tour the city on two wheels were impressed by the abundance of greenery, and mostly stopped in Zrinjevac and Ribnjak parks. Experience Zagreb in a unique way, slowly turning the pedals of your bike with the breeze in your face. The Tourist Board of Zagreb Blue Bike Photo: Ivo pervan August

3 Zagreb The Croatian Metropolis closer to the Land of the Rising Sun The Japanese airline company Japan Airlines (JAL) has recently linked Zagreb with a few Japanese cities. These are charter flights on which Japanese tourists from Tokio, Osaka, Nagoye, Hiroshima and Sapporoa will come to the Croatian Metropolis. It is a collaboration with the agency Japan Travel Bureau, with which JAL introduces charter lines to Europe. The Japanese carrier will from August to September organize three round-trip flights between Narita and Zagreb. Apart from Croatia, JAL opened direct charter lines to four central European countries - Hungary, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Italy. The Tourist Board of Zagreb Photo: sergio gobbo August

4 Blue flags beaches and 20 marinas On the occasion of the World Environment Day, in a number of Croatian tourist resorts, at the beginning of the season, for the 14th consecutive year, blue flags were officially raised. In addition, Croatian beaches this year received an award of the European Commission. Its report states that Croatia s bathing waters belong to the top of European waters by their cleanliness, bringing them above the European average. Blue Flag is an international environmental program to protect marine and coastal environment aimed at sustainable management and management of the area. The program includes 60-odd countries where tourism is one of the strategic objectives. The Blue Flag is given only for one season, and a request must be submitted each year in the prescribed manner if this recognition wants to be earned again. This year the blue flag was received by 116 Croatian beaches and 20 marinas. Most of them, 20, are in the Poreč region, followed by Rovinj and Vrsar with nine. Six flags have been given to beaches in the continental part of the Croatia, of which five are at Zagreb s Jarun. Eko-association Lijepa naša Photo: Renco Kosinožić August

5 Dubrovnik Tennis legends at Stradun Two of the world s tennis legends, the famous white sport veterans John McEnroe and Goran Ivanišević recently played, a spectacular match no less than among the ancient walls of Dubrovnik, in the city center at Stradun, in front of Knežev Dvor. The match was a charity event and a part of a seven-day project named Let s DU it!, a tourism promotion week of the city of Dubrovnik. Stradun was certainly the scene of an unusual event as Dubrovnik s old town center has never before been, and perhaps will never ever be - a tennis court. The day before the match, the winners of Wimbledon were at Lapad, sharing their longtime sports experience and knowledge with the youngest tennis fans, potential future stars of world tennis. Within the project Let s DU it!, the Libertas Film Festival was held for the sixth time, where 80-odd foreign films were presented. The Tourist Board of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County The Tourist Board of Dubrovnik Photo: Mario Brzić August

6 Sisak and Slavonski Brod Cruisers on Kupa and Sava After more than 150 years, there recently arrived in Sisak a foreign passenger ship, the river cruiser Victor Hugo, and before that the ship had docked in Slavonski Brod. Thus the two towns on Kupa and Sava rivers enrolled on the tourist map of Europe with new offerings and content. On the cruiser Victor Hugo, on its way from Budapest and Belgrade, hundreds of tourists arrived from Hungary, France, Belgium and Canada. After the ceremonial welcome, they toured Slavonski Brod and Sisak, and their surroundings. The sailing of the first passenger ship in the area s recent history has sparked great interest and expectation that this event will further boost tourism development and tourist potential of the rivers Sava and Kupa. After visiting Lonjsko polje tourists returned by boat to Slavonski Brod, then to Županja, Vukovar and Osijek, where they visited Kopački rit. The Tourist Board of the Sisak-Moslavina County The Tourist Board of Sisak The Tourist Board of the Brod-Posavina County The Tourist Board of Slavonski Brod Photo: sergio gobbo Photo: sergio gobbo August

7 Poreč City landmarks on a GPS guide Adria Guide Poreč is the name of an electronic travel guide for the GPS device that provides visitors with all necessary information about facilities and sites of Poreč, which the guide will navigate them to. The electronic tourist guide allows users to simply, quickly and clearly bypass 84 different interesting town locations - points of interest. Each is briefly described and presented with a photograph, the location coordinates and contact information. The locations are divided by basic categories - sightseeing, transport, entertainment, sports centers, municipal facilities, tourist resorts. The overview of information is available in Croatian, English, German and Italian. The project was launched by the Tourist Board of Poreč in cooperation with the company Navigo system. The Tourist Board of Istria County The Tourist Board of Poreč Photo: ivo pervan August

8 The cleanliness of Croatian beaches - above average Photo: Mario Brzić In addition to Croatian citizens who have had information about the quality of the beaches along the Adriatic coast for a long time, from now on European Union citizens can find information about beaches where they want to swim in Croatia. Information on Sea Water Quality on Croatian beaches, which are classified into the European top, are available on highly visited websites of the European Environment Agency (EEA). Every year in early June the EEA publishes a report on the quality of bathing waters in European sea and freshwater beaches, based on result monitoring from the previous season. Published recently was the European annual report on bathing water quality for which was jointly developed by the EEA and the European Commission, in which for the first time, data on the quality of the sea on Croatian beaches was included. The aim of the annual report is not to provide information about beaches in the current tourist season, but display the data on the quality of water for the past year compared to previous swimming seasons. The monitoring in EU countries is conducted in about 20,000 places to swim, of which two thirds are on sea beaches, and a third on the rivers and lakes (95.6% of sea beaches and 89.4% of land ones have met the minimum, mandatory requirements). The report on Croatia contains data for 905 tested sites along the Adriatic coast. In percent of bathing waters met the prescribed quality of bathing waters, and in last year s season no beach was closed to swimmers in Croatia. The report on the quality of bathing water at beaches was drafted by the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Construction - Department of Protection of the Sea, in cooperation with the governing bodies of the coastal counties, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Construction August

9 Events Veli Lošinj Day of the dolphins On August 7 th, the Day of dolphins, a traditional event held since will be held in Veli Lošinj. This event is organized by the Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation. It is an organization that has for 23 years conducted research of biology, ecology and social structure of communities of bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the seas around the islands of Cres and Lošinj. The size of the community was estimated at 120 individuals and the group is one of the most researched in the whole Mediterranean. Blue World in its scientific research and educational and protection programs implements several projects aimed at gathering information on endangered sea life and education of the public and various interest groups in order to preserve the marine environment. One of the goals is to support sustainable development of island communities. Blue World in opened the first educational center about the sea on the Adriatic in which through the permanent collection, exhibitions, interactive, multimedia presentations, workshops, lectures, and conducts the education courses continue. One of the projects and actions is Adopt a dolphin, which raises funds for the continuing of research and studies through the association. Dolphin adopters receive a certificate and a photograph of the adopted dolphin, with a text that describes it. Blue World reaches out to volunteers who want to spend ten days at the base in Veli Lošinj, actively participating in daily activities, learning and gaining experience in the field. However, the crown of the year-round activities for 18 consecutive years has been the fun-educational event called Day of the dolphins organized by the Association in Veli Lošinj on the first Saturday in August. The program consists of regular lectures, exhibitions, workshops, games, sporting events and other entertainment content. One of the main features of Dolphin Day by which this event has become recognizable id the big exhibition of children s art works from Croatia and abroad on the sea and dolphins theme. Veli Lošinj is situated in a narrow bay on the southeast side of the island of Lošinj. Tall houses, primarily around the harbor and the many villas with beautiful gardens are the main features of this town, which already in the 19th century became known and recognized for its climate. In along with Mali Lošinj, it was declared a health resort, followed by the rapid development of health tourism. Photo: juraj kopač The Tourist Board of Primorsko-Goranska County The Tourist Board of Mali Lošinj Blue World Association August

10 Umag Antique Festival Located on the northwestern coast of Istria, Umag is known as a city of tourism and sport, and its charm was discovered long ago by Roman nobles who had decided to turn into a summer residence. Splendor, pageantry and glamour of those times is still reflected today in the Venetian houses in the old part of Umag. Part of its history, can be experienced by visitors at the nearby archaeological site of ancient Sepomaia, with the remains of villa rusticas from the 1st and 4th century AD. To mark this antique value, from a festival of antiquity has been held each year in August called Sepomaia viva, during which all visitors have the opportunity to directly experience the spirit of ancient times. During the three-day event they can, dressed in antique clothing, taste antique dishes, see the gladiators, legionaries, dance classical dances, try out the ancient arts and crafts and visit the exhibition in the museum exhibition space. Sepomaia viva is an event that sensitizes the general public for the preservation of heritage and popularizes cultural heritage. This project combines history, education, museum, gallery and performing arts and enriches the tourist offer of Umag, and this year it will be held from 2 nd to 4 th August. Photo: milan babić The Tourist Board of Istria The Tourist Board of Umag August

11 Sinj Knight + horse + speer = Alka The traditionally knightly competition of Sinj s Alkars, the Alka, is a living memorial with which the people of Sinj have since kept the memory of the victory of the people of Cetina over Turkish conquerors. In honor of the heroic event where 700 defenders, after a fifteen day siege, managed to hold back Turkish soldiers, the people of Sinj devised a game in which the Knights who were themselves engaged in combat competed. Later, Alka was run by their descendants and residents of Cetina and the competition has been held until today. At authentic locations the ancient fortress Grad, the Kamičak fortress, the Alkar Palace and racecourse - numerous Alkar men proudly maintain a three century old tradition that symbolizes heroism and desire for freedom. The culmination of this three-day event is the well known fight for Alka held in the first week of August. The Alkars, riding a horse in full gallop, with a three-meterlong spear attempt to shoot through the Alka (ring) hung on a rope across the tracks. The Alka is an iron ring which consists of two concentric rings connected with three iron bars, which divide the space into three equal parts. The winner of Alka is richly rewarded, and the people of Sinj and the Cetina area praise him as the most magnificent hero and knight, until the next year s competition. Alka holds a special place in Croatian traditional culture, but also in the tourist industry, because it is a unique knightly competition in Europe that takes place in a town in Dalmatia, about 30 km north of Split. The Tourist Board of the Split Dalmatia County The Tourist Board of Sinj Sinjska Alka Photo: sergio gobbo August

12 Photo: josip madračević Metković Ship marathon The Neretva ship is a vessel that has in history been the main means of transportation for residents of the lower Neretva area and the wide area of the delta of the Neretva. So the old original Neretva ships would not dissapear into oblivion and decay, an amateur race of these vessels was launched in in the Neretva valley. It is held annually on the second Saturday in August, along Neretva to the finish line in Ploče, 22.5 km away. In this race, although it is a matter of prestige to win it, more important is the heart and desire to uphold the tradition. The ship marathon is also a tourist attraction that tens of thousands of spectators follow along the route, and certainly the most impressive is the attractive start in Metković when 330 rowers in 33 boats, with the rumbling drums start their journey towards the finish line. Crew boats account for 10 rowers, a drummer and a helmsman, and during the event the replacement of six rowers is allowed. The Neretva boatsmen, around forty of them, did a great venture in June because they were a part of a project called Paths of our ancestors and for 37 hours rowed across the Adriatic Sea from Metković to Termoli in Italy. In the long 134 nautical miles adventure the boatsmen routinely rowed in four shifts, by the same route that their ancestors fled from the Turks and settled in the province of Molise five centuries ago. The boatsmen have announced for next year a new venture with a humanitarian purpose, By ship around the Big Apple for butterflies and By ship around Manhattan in New York. In addition to the ship marathon, Metković offers various facilities, natural attractions of the valley of Neretva, photosafari of the Neretva river backwaters and lakes and some interesting indigenous gastronomic pleasures. The town and port at the bottom of the Neretva River, is located 20 km from the sea and in its vicinity is Hutovo blato, a famous hunting ground for birds. The ornithological collection in the city consists of three hundred species of different birds from Hutovo blato and the Neretva valley. The Tourist Board of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County The City of Metković The Ship Marathon Delta of Neretva August

13 Varaždin - Špancirfest Photo: sergio gobbo Year after year there are more and more guests who join the people of Varaždin in the celebration of the traditional leisurely walking in the streets or, as it is popularly called in Varaždin španciranje. For ten days this city in the northwest turns into a colorful fun ground of laughter and joy. Numerous performers, musicians, actors and entertainers come out onto the streets, and the entire city operates as a public space for the presentation of Croatian tradition. The stands are crowded with products of traditional crafts, artifacts of artists, traditionally prepared food and beverages and various souvenirs. This year s 12th Špancirfest, which hosts call the Festival of good emotions, will be held from 20th to 29th of August. Varaždin is a city of extraordinary artistic and architectural heritage with the largest and best preserved urban baroque complex. In addition to the Old Town, on a relatively small area remain preserved palaces and villas in the style of Baroque, Rococo, Secession, with one of the oldest European city halls. It is one of the finest and most distinctive Croatian cities, which is profiled as a city of baroque, music and flowers. It was recently noticed by the Lonely Planet, one of the world s most famous tourist guides, which in its internet edition ( listed Varaždin as the first place to see in Croatia, describing it as the city with carefully preserved baroque architecture. The Tourist Board of the Varaždin County The Tourist Board of Varaždin Špancirfest August

14 Osijek Cultural summer nights in the east of Croatia The summer months in Osijek, an eastern Croatian town, are rich in content for all ages and tastes. Across the city are held a number of theatrical and musical performances designed for children and adults. The restaurants offer excellent Slavonian cuisine, and a special experience is to walk along the bank of the river Drava during these days. With its diversity and richness of culture, valuable historical sites, beautiful parks, preserved and protected areas in the vicinity of the town and gastronomic specialties, Osijek, is unique. Particularly noteworthy is the Osijek Fort, an old town center that is an immeasurable historical gem. Following the example of lowland Dutch fortresses surrounded with water, the Austrian authorities built it from to A school was opened in it in 1729., printers in and the German Theatre. It had a public water supply and sewerage, so the people of Slavonia and Osijek rightly called the fort Metropolis urbs. Today, it is, by its historical and architectural features, a heritage site. Once the stage of turbulent historical events, the fort turns into a stage during the summer with top art programs, and the baroque atmosphere perfectly complements the numerous theatrical and artistic performances, exhibitions, concerts, and literary and film evenings. The Tourist Board of the Osijek-Baranja County The Tourist Board of Osijek Photo: marin topić August

15 Brođanci Ancient sports Olympics If you want to find out in which sporting skills the Slavonian peasants competed in a long time ago, there is no better place to visit than Brođanci and the Olympics of ancient sports. In this small Slavonian town, every last Sunday in August, a competition is held in a variety of ancient sports that were the entertainment of shepherds guarding flocks, farmers in leisure, and children playing. These skills were once used by young men trying to impress girls or beat lads from a neighboring village. Today, however, sport disciplines such as rope pulling, throwing a stone from the shoulder, hitting a target with horseshoes or running in sacks do not have a serious competitive nature, but provide great entertainment for participants and fans. The Olympics were founded in as a sport and cultural event for the preservation and fostering of national wealth and national heritage of the region. The village Brođanci is located about 5 km from Bizovac. Its name was mentioned in the Middle Ages (1336) entitled Kerestelke (Križevo field), and the name Brođanci probably derives from the words brod (boats) and janci because in this place, once surrounded by streams and backwaters of rivers, lots of small boats docked. Photo: sergio gobbo The Tourist Board of the Osijek-Baranja County The County Bizovac August

16 Croatia in the World Four Dalmatian hotels among Europe s top 100 The British Sunday Times recently in its Travel section, among hundreds of the finest European hotels ranked 4 from Croatia. On the list of most favored small hotels in Europe, which emphasizes charm, style and extraordinary character, an individual approach to guests and beautifully designed guest rooms, are four Dalmatian pearls - Vestibul Palace in Split, Riva in Hvar, Lešić Dimitri Palace in Korčula and Bellevue in Dubrovnik. Describing the Vestibul Palace in Split as a hotel in the shade of a centuries-old palace, the Sunday Times writes that it was incredible to walk through walls, through the centuries that have left traces in the architectural space. The hotel, with its original parts of the walls of Diocletian s palace impresses with a modern glass atrium. For the Hotel Riva in Hvar, which is part of the company Sunčani Hvar, the report said that it is located on the prime sunny part of Hvar s waterfront in the town which is the Croatian Cannes, carefully decorated with gray and red tones, and with designer furniture. Dimitri Lešić Palace in Korčula, in a building from the 18th c. thrills with immaculate decoration of spacious rooms, with the play of light and shadow and a beautiful view of the sea and surrounding mountains and an especially notable elite wine cellar. Just ten minutes away from the historic town of Dubrovnik, Hotel Bellevue is a desirable and attractive hotel with its own small beach and a view. It is characterized by trendy rooms with organic furniture, the finest fabrics in soft tones of the sea that create the impression of a luxury yacht, says The Sunday Times. Photo: sergio gobbo The Sunday Times August

17 An Emmy for Croatia The American documentary Wow! Croatia, by the television journalist and producer Ashley Colburn, which promotes the beauty of Croatia, recently received the prestigious Emmy Award in San Diego. The journalist and her colleague John Needdenom in September last year, spent eight days on a study tour of Croatia, and recorded with a camera the best shots of Zagreb, the Croatian Zagorje, Samobor, the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the valley Gacka, Split, Dubrovnik, Cavtat and Ston. She particularly emphasized the cultural - historical and natural heritage, the cuisine, the hotels and nightlife. Stating that this was one of the best weeks in her life, said that in Croatia everything was magically beautiful and special, from food and nature to people and their hospitality. The film, which was filmed for the Californian television station Wealth, was recently awarded the Golden pen with which the Croatian National Tourist Board awards best foreign press articles, stories and reports on Croatia published in foreign markets. Ashley Colburn won the award for best TV report posted on the American market. For the Golden pen there were 33 journalists nominated from Europe and the world. Photo: mario romulić & dražen stojčić The Ministry of Tourism The Tourist Board of Croatia August

18 CNN Croatia is a Gourmet s Paradise American global television network CNN has recently included Croatia in one of four world s most interesting culinary destinations. In the article entitled From Croatia to Chile, Four Exciting Culinary Journeys, the CNN s web-board Travel and Leisure journalists Nina Ferdizzi and Nathalie Jordi wonder, If you are already planning a holiday of a lifetime, why not plan a trip that includes some of the best dishes that you will ever taste? Dalmatia is thus found in the company of the most interesting tourist destinations that offer top specialties - along with the Spanish Andalusia, French Burgundy and Chilean Patagonia. The journalists recommend a 12-day sailing trip along the Croatian coast during which one should definatly taste Plavac wine from Peljesac Penninsula and home-made brandy, as well as participate in picking mussels in Ston and capers in Vis. International tourists are advised to visit local wine cellars where they will have a great time and where friendly hosts will happily share their culinary secrets. Photo: mario romulić Ministry of Tourism Croatian National Tourist Board August

19 Croatian Chefs Receive 12 World Medals Five Croatian chefs, team members of the Union of Mediterranean and European Regions Chefs (SKMER), achieved great success at the recent world competition of professional chefs, Istanbul Gastronomy Festival, where they won 12 medals. The Croatian team was one of the most successful by the number of medals in one of the world s greatest chefs competitions which brought together 2000 participants from 21 countries. The chefs felt that their victories were greatly helped by high-quality authentic local produce like olive oil, sherry and Mediterranean herbs. They claim that the flavors of these organic foods fascinated the judges as well as the tourists who visit the Adriatic. Nikša Ivičević recieved the highest grades and won the gold medal preparing scampi and sea bass in the category Fish and Pero Savanović in the category Risotto. Both have won the silver medal in the category Contemporary Cuisine. The other three team members also contributed to the successful performance in Istanbul. Frane Šerka won the silver in the category Lamb and Etno-cuisine and bronze for Contemporary Cuisine. Orlando Orlandini won two silver medals for the Contemporary Cuisine and the Pasta and Duje Milić won the silver medal for Fish and Contemporary Cuisine and bronze for food prepared in category Etno-cuisine. All of them showed that Croatia is a country rich in culinary heritage, which is one of the strongest assets of Croatian tourism. Ministry of Tourism Photo: sergio gobbo August

20 Investments Kastav - Hotel Kukuriku - an exclusive hotel in the old castle Photo: hotel kukuriku Photo: hotel kukuriku A new, distinctive four-star boutique hotel Kukuriku has recently opened in the old city centre of the picturesque town Kastav near Rijeka. The hotel has 15 luxury rooms with original and carefully decorated interior. The ground floor consists of a bar from which a special tunnel leads to the former šterna, a water supply tank, which is located under the main square Lokvina. There, in the two attractive, luxuriously furnished rooms up to almost seven meters in height enologists and wine lovers will enjoy an exclusive offer of the world s finest wines. In fact, one chamber will be a wine cellar while the other has been designed for wine tasting and more intimate dinner parties for twenty people. Beauty-center with sauna and massage salon is located in the rear part of the first floor. Lovers of good food will enjoy the delicacies of restaurant Kukuriku, which is widely known even beyond Croatia, and has now moved to the premises of the hotel. Hotel, whos investment totals around two million euros, has a multifunctional hall for meetings. Special attention was given to interior decoration; the floors are wood or stone, the walls are treated to fine plaster, using modern versions of old structures. The requirements of a modern tourist facility have been coordinated with cultural and historical value of the citadel which forms a part of the old Kastav core and falls into the category of protected monuments. The hotel is, in fact, located in the castle, built in the 15th century, which was the seat of Kastav kapitani, governors who managed Kastav on behalf of the feudal city master. One of the first schools in the wider area of the Northern region was opened in the former castle in Kastav is a town which dominates the Kvarner region, situated on a hill whose altitude is 365meters, with the cities of Rijeka and Opatija at its foot. Historically and culturally, Kastav was until recently a part of Istria and was, moreover, the center of the Croatian National Revival in Istria in the 19th century. It is fortified with nine towers connected by a wall archaeological findings confirm these areas have been populated since prehistoric times. It is not known with certainty how Kastav got its name. Some interpretations state that the name derives from the Celtic word kast - rock, and the others, from the Latin word castellum - a fortress, castle. The dominant position of Kastav allowed it to preserve its rich historical, architectural, cultural and traditional heritage and untouched nature through the centuries. In the summer the city holds an international festival of culture Kastafsko Kulturno Leto (Kastav Summer of Culture), as well as Kastav Blues Festival, Kastav Rock Festival and many other events. Tourist board Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Tourist Office Kastva August

21 Vela Luka - Korkyra Shines With a New Glow The four-star hotel Korkyra has recently opened in Vela Luka on Korcula island, just before the start of tourist season. The hotel has 52 comfortable double rooms, 6 junior-suites that will satisfy the most demanding guests, wellness and fitness center, Kneipp pool and other recreational facilities. This beauty from the top of the waterfront which once adorned the postcards of Vela Luka is shining again after an investment of 7 million euros. The hotel offers a superior service with a unique blend of rich traditions, contemporary design and natural beauty. Behind its distinctive and charming original exterior guests can find the most contemporary facilities.. Each room is specially designed with a series of details which will make the stay in Korkyra a unique expearence for each guest. Outdoor pool is located in a relaxing green of the cypress trees and a spa and fitness center is on the top floor with the view of the sea and Vela Luka making relaxing moments while watching the sunset unforgettable. The hotel s gastronomic restaurant is dominated by Mediterranean cuisine, with many local specialties and a variety of vegetarian dishes. Guests are offered several packages that include transportation to the island Proizd for a romantic candlelight dinner or a visit to the olive groves with a themed evening entertainment. Korkyra of today links lifestyle and individual care for guests. Photo: sergio gobbo Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County Tourist board of Vela Luka Hotel Korkyra August

22 Dubrovnik - Lighthouse Grebeni welcomed its first guests Photo: damir fabijanić The lighthouse Grebeni, located on the island with the same name situated about three hundred meters from the Dubrovnik tourist resort Babin Kuk and on the highest cliff on the eastern side of the entrance Velika Vrata, west of Dubrovnik s airport, was recently opened for tourists. The lighthouse, which has been welcoming ships since 1872 includes a vacation house which along with the lighthouse extends over more than 140 square meters. The vacation house includes three double and one single bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, hallway with an attractive old water cistern (gustijerna) and two spacious terraces with almost 350 square meters of space set with folding chairs and parasols. Given the size of the house and the island, the lighthouse can only accomodate seven people. In addition to the breakfast which guests choose and create on their own and which is delivered to the island by a special boat at the agreed time, guests who choose this vacation experience are offered transportation to Dubrovnik s Old Town centre only 2.5 miles away by a luxury boat. Surrounded by natural beauty, Dalmatian landscape, stone houses, vegetation and sea, guests can, if desired, use all the amenities of the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace at any time, which, like the lighthouse forms a part of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels Group. The additional services include a butler, top chef, and an express service ordering any household service by telephone from the hotel. As a special attraction, guests can enjoy an underwater trip to Taranto, an Italian ship which sunk about 20 meters away from the lighthouse in Tourist Board Dubrovnik-Neretva County Dubrovnik Tourist Board August

23 Ludbreg - with music and folklore to a good drop Some 10 km long Ludbreg wine road, where the lovers of good wine and natural beauty will be able to enjoy the rich gastronomic and enological offer on seven different sites along the road has recently been organized and marked for visitors. It begins in the centre of Ludbreg, in Trsek s cellar from which the visitors are taken to the first stop on the wine road wine house Kovacek, by a carriage or coach, depending on the wishes of visitors and their number. The second stop is a restaurant Arabela in Globočec and then the road leads to the highest peak of Ludbreg vineyards and the wine cellar of Makar family. The next stop is the Wine House Kirić followed by the Wine Cellar Stručić and the last stop is the farming estate and wine tastery Kezman. For those who decide on this interesting wet trip organizers have provided the musical accompaniment of tambura players band dressed in folk costumes. The town of Ludbreg is located in the northwest of Croatia in Gornja Podravina (Upper Drava Valley) at the very gates of Zagorje. Its biggest attraction is the castle Batthyany which houses the workshop of the Croatian Conservation Institute. The castle dates from the mid 18th century ( ) when an older Medieval castle was rearanged into a beautiful Baroque residence. It contains the chapel of St Cross in which a miraculous event took place in 1411 with the appearance of the Holy Blood of Christ, because of which Pope Leo X issued a Bull and declared Ludbreg a sanctuary in According to the local legend Ludbreg is considered the centre of the world and this is marked with a special feature in the main town square. A Roman time legend claims that Ludbreg is a centre around which were designed concentric circles on the edges of which all major European cities can be found even today. Photo: sergio gobbo Tourist Association of Varaždin County Tourist Board Ludbreg August

24 Projects Rijeka - Kantrida gets a five-star hotel Photo: juraj kopač Work should soon begin on a project worth 50 million Euros on the location of the former small shipyard Kantrida in Rijeka. In this five-star nautical-hotel complex some hundered rooms will be of the highest standard and all with a sea view. Multi-functional sports facilities will be built in addition to the hotel. The mainland part of the building will have seven floors which will cascade towards the sea. The first two floors will include sports and marine programs as well as the common areas of the hotel, while the upper floors some hundered room of the highest category. The rooms are unique as they all come with a sea view and large, landscaped terraces. The top of the future building is reserved for a cafe with panoramic views and there will be a walking path between the hotel and the marina. Nautical tourism port Kantrida will unify the current sports harbor area and the aquatorium in front of the future hotel. By the expansion of the current port Kantrida, its west, commercial part will get berths for boats twenty to thirty meters in length, while the non-commercial part will gain forty new berths for smaller vessels. Tourist board Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Rijeka Tourist Board August

25 Nin Healing Mud The town of Nin near Zadar, will in addition to its numerous cultural and historical sites, soon be able to offer health tourism to guests. The project Nin Mud worth 60 million euros is specifically designed in a lagoon situated near the town of Nin and forming the largest mud site in Europe. The project envisages the tourist-recreational and health facilities and among other things, the construction of a four-star hotel, apartment resort, sports and recreational grounds with a golf course, wellness center, spa and a conference center. A special system of control and protection during construction will be implemented because only during the first stage of the cascade construction of buildings about 300,000 cubic meters of sand will have to be removed. Nin healing mud has been used since Roman times for the treatment of various rheumatic, skin and spine diseases, and has been used by numerous patients from all Croatian regions under the expert medical supervision of the physicians of Zadar hospital. The data shows more than patients in the last ten years. With the realization of the aforementioned project, guests from abroad will also be able to benefit from the properties of Nin healing mud. Located 14 km from Zadar, Nin has developed on a small island or sandbar about 500 feet long and up to 4 meters in height above the sea level. Convenient location and fertile surrounding area has enabled it to become an urban, cultural and political center in the ancient past. Today s settlement on the island has developed in the early Iron Age, therefore, roughly 3000 years ago. It was established by the tribe Liburna. Earlier settlement which dates from the early Stone Age was located outside the island, and can be dated to around 5000 years before Christ through the excavation findings. The name Nin comes from Liburnian (and later Roman) name Aenona, which could be of much older origin, since the first mention of this settlement occurs in Greek writers, about 4 centuries before Christ. Photo: juraj kopač Nin is the oldest Croatian royal city and the cradle of Croatian culture. Exceptionally well-preserved monuments, particularly the well-known Early Croatian churches from the 9th and 12th century are unique in Croatia and in the wider Mediterranean region. Upon arrival in Nin every visitor will notice one of its symbols - the famous church of St. Nicholas from the 12th century. Zadar County Tourist Office Tourist Board Nin Grad Nin August

26 Rovinj - the first Croatian hotel as part of Design Hotels Leaders of Adris group and Maistra recently presented the project of hotel Lone in Rovinj, a new five-star hotel, an investment worth 290 million kuna. The hotel will extend to 29,400 square meters and is planned to be completed in time for the next tourist season. Lone will be one of the biggest conference hotels in Istria. It will have 240 rooms, nine luxury apartments, one presidential suite and ten multi-purpose conference rooms of which the principal one will have 700 seats. Lone should be a classic bussiness class design hotel. Comfortably hidden in the green heart of Rovinj, in the park forest Zlatni Rt, the hotel will be surrounded by trees and facing the sea. Exceptional comfort and highly personalized service should be its main features. Its most distinguished facility is the best equipped convention center in the region. To give all the rooms the sea views, the hotel will be built in the form of Y, while the central core, which will also be the main entrance will contain the main facilities. Along with the conference hall, the hotel will have a variety of restaurants and bars, wellness and club facilities. Restaurant on the ground floor will have the garden section designed as a part of a landscape project. Hotel Lone, which is due to open for the coming tourist season is included in the prestigious international Design Hotels AG collection, and has thus become the first Croatian hotel within this world-renowned brand. Design Hotels was founded in 1993 in the United States, and currently comprises of 170 hotels with a total of 13,250 rooms in 41 countries, of which 118 hotels are located in Europe. Photo: nino marccuti Istria County Tourist Board Tourist Association of Rovinj Maistra August

27 Introducing Croatia - Pilgrimages Photo: sergio gobbo Every year more than 300 million pilgrims across the world move towards a number of shrines and the most famous ones like Lourdes or Fatima attract 5 to 8 million pilgrims a year. Croatia also has something to offer in the segment of religious tourism. One of the most famous Croatian shrines is located in Marija Bistrica, and is visited by about pilgrims a year. This beautiful and tame place in Zagorje has been a pilgrimage for 314 years. One of the motives for coming to Marija Bistrica is a wooden statue of Our Lady to which miraculous power are attributed. The church documents state that 1109 miraculous events which were recognized only later, after careful research were recorded between 1688 and Furthermore,each of the 15 Stations of the Cross of the impressive Bistrička Calvary, is a valuable work of art. Marija Bistrica - which recently opened a landmark hotel Kaj, as a part of Bluesun group has a marked 8 km long cycle trail and a 15 km long pedestrian detour for body and soul as well as the Sculpture Park, a result of perennial colonies of wood carvers. The Shrine of St. Joseph on Dubovac has been in the Karlovac area since The most important pilgrimage is on the 19th March, St. Joseph s day. Another well known traditional pilgrimage is on the Feast of the Assumption to the Church of St. Mary of the Snow in Kamensko, 4 km from Karlovac. Ludbreski shrine of the Precious Blood of Jesus reveals the legend that attracts visitors even today. According to tradition, in 1411, after uttering the words of transformation, a priest, noticed blood in the chalice. It is still kept in a special reliquary in the parish church and the main pilgrimage is the first Sunday in September. Feast of Our Lady of Sinj has been celebrated since 1715, when 700 people of Cetina Region fled from the Turkish invaders carrying a picture of the Virgin Mary. The tradition says they took refuge in the city- fortress above the present town of Sinj, and when they were about to be captured, a white lady-like figure lit by a bright light appeared before the Turks after which they run away. The sailors and pilgrims visit the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Trsat. 561 steps leads to the shrine, and what Marija Bistrica and Sinj in their areas, Trsat is to Kvarner and the surrounding area. Furthermore, the residents of Hrvatsko Primorje (Senj and its surroundings) and Lika make a traditional pilgrimage on the Feast of the Assumption to the shrine at Krasno. In October of 1998 Pope John Paul II visited the Solin shrine where the first church was built in the 10th century, and for the Little Lady, and on 8th September, many pilgrims visit the shrine Vepric in Makarska, devoted to the birth of the Virgin Mary. Croatian National Tourist Board August

28 Novigrad - Recreation and Sport are No 1 For those who wish to use their holiday for recreation and sports Novigrad is the right place. Located on the northwest coast of the Istrian peninsula, once a small fishing town, it has slowly but surely since 1970 taken a special position in the Croatian tourism. Unlike other tourist towns that emphasize fun, glamour and clubing, Novigrad offers an active vacation. In the city and its surrounding area there are several top sports facilities which can satisfy different demands, from amateur and recreational activities to those serious, even professional ones. Modern tennis courts situated on the most attrective city locations, football fields with natural and artificial grass, beach volleyball courts, multi-purpose sports fields, modern, newly built sports hall, the possibility of practicing water sports, attractive and interesting hiking and cycling trails and much, much more, offer a wealth of expearences for those who want an active holiday. In addition to the existing facilities for sports like cycling, running, archery, rafting on the rivers and free climbing, Novigrad will soon offer a new sports hall to its tourists. The recently renovated hotel Mistral, with its wonderful wellness and spa area which offers everything for relaxation and enjoyment certainly contributes to the charm of Novigrad. The sea-water swimming pool and a spacious gym for those who want to stay fit are also unavoidable. For those who love new challenges, Novigrad offers the attractive clay pigeon shooting, while riding fans can tour the surrounding, truly inspiring scenery on horseback. Tourists looking for adrenaline filled entertainment can have fun in one of the adrenaline parks, with paintball, go-karts or popular quad bikes, while the most corrageous ones can go even further to the attractive paragliding, free climbing and similar exciting experiences., Beauty, tradition, cultural heritage, preserved nature and the sea, closeness to European borders, the charm of a small town, interesting summer events, as well as the richness of Mediterranean eno-gastronomic offer are only some of the benefits of Novigrad tourism. The city is regarded as one of the most romantic places in Istria. The accomodation in Novigrad can be found in hotels Mistral, Nautica, Laguna and Emonia, Cittar, Makin, Sv. Benedict and Villa Cittar as well as in camp sites Kastanija, Mareda and Sirena. Photo: milan babić There is also a newly constructed, superbly equipped first-class marina in Novigrad Bay. The marina is opened throughout the year as part of a comprehensive nautical - tourist offer of the center Nautica, which combines Nautica marina, accommodation in hotel Nautica, Navigare restaurant and many other facilities that fully meet all the needs of boaters and tourists. Marina Nautica with its unique shell-like structure of its shore has 365 sea berths is 50 dry berths, and all the berths have electricity and water. Novigrad is located 25 km from the Slovenian border and about 15 km from Poreč, Umag and Buje. Istria County Tourist Board Novigrad Tourist Board August

29 Contact Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus Rumfordstr. 7, MÜNCHEN, DEUTSCHLAND tel: fax: Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus Hochstr., 43, FRANKFURT, DEUTSCHLAND tel: fax: Ente Nazionale Croato per il Turismo Piazzetta Pattari 1/3, MILANO, ITALIA tel: fax: Ente Nazionale Croato per il Turismo Via Dell Oca 48, ROMA, ITALIA tel: fax: Chorvatské turistické sdružení Krakovská 25, PRAHA 1, ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA tel: fax: info@htz.cz; infohtz@iol.cz Office National Croate de Tourisme 48, Avenue Victor Hugo, PARIS, FRANCE tel: fax: infos.croatie@wanadoo.fr Office National Croate du Tourisme Vieille Halle aux Bles 38, 1000 BRUXELLES, BELGIUM tel: fax: info-croatia@scarlet.be Oficina de Turismo de Croacia Calle Claudio Coello 22, esc. B, 1 C, MADRID, ESPAÑA tel.: fax.: info@visitacroacia.es Horvát Idegenforgalmi Közösség Magyar u. 36, 1053 BUDAPEST, MAGYARORSZÁG tel/fax: ; info@htz.hu Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus Am Hof 13, 1010 WIEN, ÖSTERREICH tel: fax: office@kroatien.at Chorvátske turistické združenie Trenčianska 5, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA tel: fax: infohtz@chello.sk Croatian National Tourist Office 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4003, NEW YORK 10118, U.S.A. tel: fax: cntony@earthlink.net Croatian National Tourist Office 2 Lanchesters, Fulham Palace Road LONDON W6 9ER, UNITED KINGDOM tel: fax: info@croatia-london.co.uk Narodowy Ośrodek Informacji Turystycznej Republiki Chorwacji IPC Business Center, ul. Koszykowa 54, WARSZAWA, POLSKA tel: fax: info@chorwacja.home.pl Kroatiska Turistbyrån Kungsgatan 24, STOCKHOLM, SVERIGE tel: fax: croinfo@telia.com Kroatisch Nationaal Bureau Voor Toerisme Nijenburg 2F, 1081 GG AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS tel: fax: kroatie-info@planet.nl Хорвaтckoe туристическое соовщество Краснопресненская наб. 12, подъезд 6, офис МОСКВА, PoccИЯ ТЕЛ: ФАКС: htz@wtt.ru Hrvaška turistična skupnost Gosposvetska 2, 1000 LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIJA tel: fax: hrinfo@siol.net Kroatische Zentrale für Tourismus Badenerstrasse 332, 8004 ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND tel: fax: info@kroatien-tourismus.ch Croatian National Tourist Bord Japan Ark Hills Executive Tower N613 Akasaka , Minato-ku Tokyo tel: fax: info@visitcroatia.jp Editor: Croatian National Tourist Board August