Culture & Heritage

The Croatian national territory totals 21,861 square miles, with a stunning coastline of 3,625 miles, dotted by 1,244 islands, islets and reefs. Croatia is located in the heart of Europe, bordering Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Italy, via the Adriatic Sea. The country occupies the largest area of the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea which, as a part of the Mediterranean Sea, penetrates deep into the European continent. The narrow Dinara Mountain range separates the country’s Mediterranean region from its central European continental section, which spans from the easterly edges of the Alps in the Northwest, to the shores of the Danube in the East, encompassing the southern part of the fertile Pannonian lowlands.

Present day Croatia came to be in 1991. Previously the country was part of Yugoslavia, and today this relatively young democratic parliamentary republic has been part of the European Union since 2013. However, Croatia's millennium-long history is well-preserved in hundreds of medieval churches with remarkable frescoes and fascinating stone decorations. Croatia's architecture is rich in examples from any era, from prehistoric to present day and Croats are most proud of the significant heritage left behind by the ancient Greek colonization and later Roman urbanization, which they saw when they arrived to the area in the 7th century. The most significant architectural periods in terms of Croatia’s history are the Pre-Romanesque period, the Renaissance and the 20th Century. Croatian heritage is a unique one in Europe, since all four parts of the world interconnected in this part of Europe, the European east and west, mid-European north and the Mediterranean south. This fusion of cultures has resulted in a deep and rich history which has contributed to the fabric of Croatia as we know it today, with all of its well-preserved historical and cultural sites that are enjoyed by millions of visitors each year to the country.

Croatia’s natural beauty is unparalleled and it validated by its increased popularity as a destination for nature lovers as seen over the last decade. With breathtaking natural beauty set among some of the most dramatic landscape Europe has to offer, Croatia’s 8 National Parks and 11 Natural Parks offer visitors endless opportunities for nature lovers to enjoy the country’s rich landscape up-close, whether it’s by land or sea. Its geographic diversity is home to more than 320 protected flora species and 300 protected animal species, including brown bears, griffon vultures, wolves, and lynx. The country’s incredible coastal landscapes, with lovely indented coastlines, coves, beaches sheltered by pine woods, and quaint, picturesque coastal towns and villages scattered along the mainland call to those yearning for the ultimate getaway to be at one with all that nature has to offer.