Vacation in Croatia

[The Patriot]

Vacation in Croatia

07-13-2011 04:56 AM

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Wed, 2011-07-13 12:51


Vacation in Croatia


Heather Joy


feature_story_photo:
Courtesy Photo






Vacation in Croatia

Heather Joy

Start in the center of Croatia in Zagreb with it is divided city center. Visit the Gornhi grad, or upper town, with its gaslamp-lit cobbled streets, presidential palace, Parliament, monuments, galleries and the St. Mark’s historic church.
In lower town or Donji grad, visit the Museum of Arts and Crafts, where furniture, ceramics, glassware, textiles and clocks are displayed in chronological order. Also located in lower town is the Zagreb Archaeological Museum. It features the “Zagreb Mummy,” whose bandages were taken from a linen book that is the world’s longest existing Etruscan text.
Before settling in for the night be sure to try an Ozujsko Pivo, a high-quality Croatian beer, at one of the many cafes or restaurants along the city’s main pedestrian-only square, Ban Josip Jelacic.
The next morning rise early and travel south to the coastal city of Zadar and explore one of the city’s main squares known as the Zeleni trg. Visitors can sit among the ruins of an ancient forum, which includes a stairway, some walls and a long column called the “pillar of shame,” where convicted criminals used to be chained.
Visit the Permanent Exhibition of Ecclesiastic Art, housed in the Benedictine Convent of St. Mary. The display, “The Gold and Silver of Zadar” is one of Croatia’s most popular exhibits. The splendid collection includes gold and silver artifacts, paintings, manuscripts, embroideries, statues and more.
Stroll along the Riva, the city promenade that joins the old town to the sea, to enjoy the garden parks that align it, watch boats come and go and have some ice cream. Stop to listen to a one-of-kind musical organ that uses the sea’s motion to produce its sound.
In the evening, visit a seaside restaurant for a glass of Maraschino, a local liqueur made from marasca cherries. For dinner try a local delicacy buzara, made of scampi in a tomato and garlic sauce, with a filled pancake called a palacinka for dessert.
From Zadar travel further south along the coast to Split to explore Croatia’s second-largest city. Begin in People’s Square, a common meeting place for both locals and tourists. On one side of the square is the 15th-century town hall, now housing the city’s Ethnographic Museum.
Also on the square you’ll find one of the many gates that welcome visitors to Diocletian’s Palace. The Peristil, the palace’s open courtyard, is a busy spot with cafes and a hotel and is often host to many festivities. On the east side of the courtyard, explore the treasury, crypts and bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Domnius.
Carve some time out of your day to visit the Pazar, a fruit and vegetable market, and the quite smelly fish market, where visitors can get just about anything the Adriatic Sea can offer.
Have you been on a recent trip or explored an exciting local destination that you would like to share with others, send your photos and travel ideas to events@estripes.osd.mil.








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