Experience the wonders of
Croatia
Croatia’s
coastline is lined with beautiful beaches, many islands and clear turquoise
waters. Inland, the country is truly scenic, while its cities are full of
historic wonders to explore. However, the country has a number of unique
locations to visit on vacation, including, among others, the Pula Roman
Arena, the fascinating Plitvice Lakes and the Veliki Tabor Castle. Read on
to find out more about these great attractions in Croatia.
1. Pula Arena, Pula, Croatia
Pictured
above and here, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in this world
is located in Croatia, not Rome. It is also the sixth largest Roman
amphitheater still standing today and the only one to retain its four side
towers. While brutal shows were put on in the past, the well-kept arena is
still used today for more tame events.
Pula
Arena is believed to have been constructed between 27 BC and the year 68.
At that time, the city of Pula – then called Pietas Julia – was
establishing itself as an important city in the Roman Empire. The arena was
originally built from timber, but was later replaced with stone. The
amphitheater was used gladiatorial fights over the centuries until they
were banned by Emperor Honorius. However, the arena did feature combats
between convicts and wild animals right up until the 7th century.
In the
Middle Ages, the amphitheater was used for fairs and tournaments. However, as
with many other Roman structures of the period, the arena was partially
deconstructed. The stones were used for other buildings in the area.
However, in 1583, a proposal was made to deconstruct the arena and rebuild
it in Venice, but the proposal was rejected.
The
amphitheater was restored in the early 19th century and from the 1930s, the
arena has been used for concerts, theater productions, military ceremonies
and even ice hockey games. Each summer, Pula Arena hosts the Pula
Film Festival.
2. Plitvice Lakes, Plitvicka
Jezera, Croatia
Plitvice
Lakes in Croatia is a chain of 16 mountain lakes, with startling blue
waters and convenient pathways to traverse the 12 Upper Lakes (Gornja
Jezera) and four Lower Lakes (Donja Jezera), surrounded by lush vegetation.
Plitvice
is a UNESCO-recognized National Park in the inland Lika region of the
country, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps. While the whole park is beautiful,
Plitvice Lakes are definitely the main attraction.
However
visitors are urged to stay to the paths, as the park was the site of the
first skirmish between Serbia and Croatia during the Balkan Wars. At that
time, landmines were planted throughout. While the area was certified
mine-free in 1998, it is believed there still may be a few landmines
located in the more remote areas of the park.
3. Veliki Tabor Castle, Hum
Kosnicki, Croatia
Veliki
Tabor Castle is one of the most impressive fortresses in all of Croatia.
Contruction began in the middle of the 15th century. The castle, which is
also a museum, has a mysterious side. According to legend, the land
surrounding Veliki Tabor was once ruled by Count Herman II of Celje. The
count’s son, Fridrik, fell in love with a local girl named Veronika.
However, the count did not approve of the romance, so the lovers escaped to
Slovenia, where they were secretly married.
Photo by Stjepko Krehula/Wikimedia Commons
Unfortunately,
Fridrikâ’s father found out about the marriage and he imprisoned his son in
the Celje Tower, where he languished for more than four years. Meanwhile,
Veronika escaped, but was eventually tracked down near Veliki Tabor. She
was accused of being a witch by the count, who believed she had cast a
spell over Fridrik. Her trial proved Veronika innocent, but the count
ordered his soldiers to kill her. She was drowned in the courtyard of the
castle and according to legend, her body was built into one of the castle’s
walls. Some people claim that a night, you can still hear Veronika’s cries
over the hills and valleys in the area.
Photo by Miroslav Vajdic/Flickr
These
days, Veliki Tabor houses a museum and hosts activities such as art
exhibitions, falconry and knight tournaments. Each July, the Tabor Film
Festival, an international short film festival, is held at Veliki Tabor
during July.
Experience
some of the magnificent sites in Croatia this
year - currently, vaccinated travelers are welcome!
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