Croatia
Croatia is located in a southern part of Europe and borders on Hungary, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, its area makes 56 691 sq. km. Its big part is located on continent, in the north – Istrian peninsula. Along coast 1185 islands (largest of them an island Krk, an island Cres, an island of Pag, an island of Hvar, an island Brach, an island of Korcula, an island of Mlet) are located and small island. From the West Croatia is washed by Adriatic Sea.
Zagreb is a capital of Croatia. The largest cities of Croatia are Split and Rijeka. Their architecture is very various. Building of trading cities of Dalmatia (Split, Zadar) developed under the influence of the Romance style, many cities of northern Croatia have kept Gothic shape. Paved small streets, the rests of ancient monasteries, the centuries-old stones, imperceptibly immerse in the middle Ages epoch. For today in Croatia there are 122 cities. In so-called region Istria it is located four enough large for Croatia cities. It is the Pool, Umag, Porec and Robin. Umag is small town located at northwest coast of Istria. Based by ancient Romans in the Middle Ages of Umag developed as seaport. At the coast stretched on 45 kilometres, many stony beaches, bays, small ports. The city of Robin can appropriate a rank of the most romantic city of Croatia safely. The father of modern science fiction of Zhjul Vern in search of unique places for action of the novels chose Robin. Its very narrow, places small streets abruptly leaving upwards and a freakish architectural image, with walls of houses falling to the sea, remind a fantastic kingdom and fascinate at first sight. Robin combines Eternity of Rome, grace of Venice and charm of the Mediterranean. The city is well-known for the baroque cathedral of Sacred Eufimii (1736, 57 m of height – the biggest building of Istria) with a tomb sacred and a belltower at which top there is the rotating bronze sculpture of Sacred Eufimii showing a direction of a wind. To the north of Robin, the monument of culture of world value and one of the centres of early Christianity – the city of Porec lies. The city is so beautiful, as all ancient cities of Istria with ancient Roman constructions, medieval churches and apartment houses, and a local beacon – the oldest in Croatia: to it more than 600 years. In an old city set of sights – ruins of two Roman temples, pride of a city – a cathedral of Efrazian (VI century, it is entered in the list a world cultural heritage of UNESCO) with a magnificent Byzantian mosaic, ancient street Dekumanus with located on it Museum of local lore, the Roman temples such as the Neptune and the Big Temple. Porec is the largest tourist centre of Istria and Croatia.
The Pool city is located in the peninsula Istra southwest. In an old city the set of museums and well remained ruins of the Roman constructions – an amphitheatre Arena (I century BC), the Roman theatre with collars (II century BC.), the Roman walls, the Triumphal arch, an arch of Sergija, and a temple of August draw attention. Pools amphitheatre is the most known monument of architecture of an old city.
One more place in Croatia which by right it is possible to name a city-museum is the city of Trogir. It is located on the island connected with continent by several bridges. The old city is similar to the ship, masts and which sails have replaced numerous towers and belltowers. It is well-known for the stone architecture and a carving, is rich with numerous museums and churches.
In Croatia there are located 7 surprising national parks. Lakes Plitvicka – the most beautiful and known national park of Croatia, is under UNESCO protection. It is located on road which connects Zagreb and Dalmatia. 16 fine lakes connect the falls created by karstic barriers. The park is decorated by fir forests. The set of animals is found in these woods, including bears.
Kornati is the group consisting of 140 not occupied islands, capes and rocks. This is present labyrinth of the sea, stones and the rocks, one of the most favourite places of seafarers. On a legend, Kornati were formed of a handful of the rocks which have remained with God after creation of the world. He has thrown them in the sea, has looked and has decided that it is necessary to correct nothing. Croatia is a magnificent country. Some years successively commission of UNESCO appropriates Croatia "the Blue Flag" for the purest water area of the Mediterranean coast. Pine woods adjoin here to tropical plants, and the water transparency reaches 50 metres. Except the Adriatic coast, Croatia is famous for the thermal and mineral sources.