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History of Croatia
Croatia has been adored by visitors throughout the centuries
Historically, its position on the Adriatic Sea made it a strategically important trade route – and one that was fiercely fought over. The Greeks colonised it first, followed by the Romans, whose palaces still stand today.
Next came Slavs; then the Venetians (who are responsible for much of the island’s handsome architecture). Napoleon’s soldiers were next, followed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A hundred years later, in 1918, Croatia was absorbed into the state of Yugoslavia. It was only in 1991 that Croatia, finally gained its independence – and only in the 21st century that Europe realised it had a gem in its midst.
Croatia is full of natural surprises. Along the coastline lie hundreds of tiny islets and hilly islands, some completely uninhabited, others sprinkled with ancient churches, monasteries, marble colonnades and squares. Many are lush, their turquoise bays lined with fragrant cedars and pines, while others are dry and deserted.
Above the coastline the mountains, home to hundreds of sparkling waterfalls, rise into hazy peaks of purple and blue, above forests whose trees glow with burnished reds, oranges and yellows in autumn. Inland, rivers weave through verdant valleys, thick with wildflowers. There are butterflies, and hundreds of birds– and even bears roam in the national parks. It’s a naturalist’s paradise.
Thanks to its history, Croatia is also rich with cultural treats and cuisines. As well as being home to some of the area’s finest Roman ruins, it still has medieval villages that perch on top of Istrian hills, rich Byzantine architecture, vast Venetian squares and ancient cathedrals featuring art by masters like Tician and Tinoretto.