Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the most beautiful and vivid city on the Croatian coast, has always attracted by its beauty and importance, once conquerors, and tourists today. Every year, there are a growing number of tourists who always want to return to this truly unique place. Nobody knows is it varied history, almost incredible tenacity of this city to resist all the enemies who besieged it for centuries, is it fabulous beauty and cultural uniqueness or is it something else, what attracts people to this beautiful city. Whatever the reason, the fact is that the city throughout its history has resisted all temptation, Dubrovnik fought and bled for its independence, for freedom, unity and beauty for its own sake but also for its proud inhabitants. Dubrovnik has a strong historical message that is pushed into the hearts of all its visitors, has a unique beauty that remains recorded in the memory of all who walk its walls and tradition that never fades. Dubrovnik is a real gem of the Southern Mediterranean, followed by the towns in its vicinity, which complete the whole story of rare natural beauty and specials, only found in this area.
When you come in Dubrovnik, esspecially from some further country, you wish to visit any interesting and beautiful place near Dubrovnik. Some of that near and beautiful destination is surely Makarska Riviera. Also, you must visit Split and see all his beauties, which is a few hours away by car. One day you must separate for travelling in Bosnia and Herzegovina to see Medjugorje, famous holy place in Europe.
Dubrovnik archipelago is one of those special areas. Peljesac, Korcula, Lastovo, Mljet, Dubrovnik and Cavtat are the most southern diving areas in the Croatian Adriatic Sea. This area is specific for high sea purity, fish species, attractive underwater caves, ship wrecks, there are colonies of red coral, and in the area of Cavtat several shipwrecks from ancient times.
Arboretum in Trsteno is the only arboretum on the Croatian Adriatic coast, the oldest Croatian monument of garden architecture and the oldest arboretum in the world. It is protected as a monument of garden architecture, extends to 28 000 square feet and encompasses several different areas with numerous park terrace and many kinds of palm trees, eucalyptus, laurel, camphor, various cactus and exotic trees brought by sailors from their distant travels.
Cavtat, a former Greek colony called Epidarium, is the place with mixed influences of both Greece and Rome. Cavtat has played an important role in the Dubrovnik Republic and history. There are preserved monuments from Roman times, the theater, aqueduct, city walls and many other cultural and historical attractions, but there are also many old palaces and residences of seafarers that give a special charm to this place.
Elafiti, or as they are affectionately called, the jewel of the Adriatic Sea, are a group of islands located west of Dubrovnik. This archipelago is a series of islands with beautiful beaches and scenery. Gaius Plinius Maior, a Roman writer and scientific, first mentions it century ago in his work Naturalis Historia. The largest among the islands is the island of Sipan.
National Park Mljet (Lat. Melita) is the largest island of the Dubrovnik archipelago. Mljet is an island of colorful wildlife and is considered the greenest Croatian island, whose western part is protected as the first national park in the Adriatic Sea and the eastern part as the reserve with special natural rarity.
The island of Korcula was inhabited in prehistoric times. According to legend, the island was settled by Trojan hero Antenor in the 12th century BC, which is also known as the founder of Padua. Korcula was a Greek colony called Corcyra Melaina and Illyrian and Roman colony called Corcyra Nigra. There are many disputes, but it is considered that Marco Polo was born 1254th in Korcula. According to existing records so called Marco Polo’s house in Korcula, corresponding to a place that belongs to the earliest days of the Polo family.