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WHY CROATIA ?
Position
 Croatia
provides the closest warm water coastline for the whole of central Europe.
For Germans, Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Austrians, Hungarians and Danes the
Croatian coast is a natural holiday destination. There is easy motorway
access from north Italy.
Climate
Croatia has a typical mediterranean climate similar to north Italy or
the south of France.The Croatian coastline typically experiences over
300 sunshine days a year and summer sea temparatures of over 20 degrees
centigrade and are ideal for swimming.
Natural Beauty
 Croatia
has a spectacular coastline. With over 1100 islands (of which 67 are inhabited),
Croatia has an astonishing 5,385 km of coastline. The Dinaric mountains
(with eight peaks over 1500m) provide a spectacular backdrop to much of
the coastline. The sea is clear and unpolluted.
Culture & History
 Croatia
has a rich culture and history. The Romans were there and left their mark,
such as the 1st Century amphitheatre in Pula (the sixth largest in the
world) and the spectacular Diocietan's Palace in Split. The later Venetians
influence is apparent everywhere in the architecture of the towns on the
coast and islands.
Travel &
Access
Low coast airlines currently fly to neighbouring countries. Trieste in
Italy (Ryanair)
and Lubljana in Slovenia (Easyjet)
provide easy access to Istria in the north. It is widely expected that
Croatia will open some of its coastal airports (Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split
and Dubrovnik) to the low cost carriers who are known to be keen to open
up these routes. The motorway/main road network within Croatia is improving
rapidly with new roads recently opened or under construction, slashing
journey times from Zagreb to Split and to Rijeka and from the Slovenian
border into Istria.
Recreation
 Croatia,
with its clear water, heavily indented coastline and numerous islands,
is a paradise for water based sports. Yacht charter and diving schools
are plentiful. There are currently few golf courses but a national plan
to build a network of new courses is already in place. Cultural festivals
such as Dubrovnik's summer festival and the Motovun film festival are
growing in number and quality, and attract international performers. The
Pula festival, set in the amazing outdoor auditorium of the 1st century
Roman amphitheatre, featured Luciano Pavorotti in 2004 and Placido Domingo
in 2003.
Food and Drink
 On
the coast there is a typical mediterranean cuisine - fresh fish, sea food,
prosciutto and pasta are plentiful. The range and quality of restaurants
is improving every year. Croatia has some fine wines, and wine routes
are being established to encourage "wine tourism" whilst central
Istria is one of Europe's principal truffle regions
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What the Papers
Say
"Clint
Eastwood and Sharon Stone both want to buy one of Croatia's stunning islands.
Don't we all says Sandy Gall"
"Croatia emerges as the new Tuscany"
"Better sailing than Turkey, islands
to rival those of Greece and a cuisine to match Italy's: it's the hot
spot that came in form the cold"
"Croatia's Riviera....St.Tropez
without the tat"
"Croatian all-stars. More than
1000 idyllic islands line this stunning stretch of Adriatic coast -
which one is right for your summer escape ?"
"They do like to be beside Dubrovnik.
The Croatian port has caught the eye of Prince Charles and Rio Ferdinand"
"The New Riviera. Susan Ward Davies
cruises down Croatia's Dalmation coast and discovers secluded beaches,
historic villages and a retro-chic nightlife"
"Croatia is the Tuscany of Eastern
Europe"
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