Interesting spots in Croatia tourists often miss
By Iva Ralica
Dubrovnik’s stone walls, Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the island of Hvar, the Pula Arena, Zagreb’s Upper Town and Plitvice Lakes National Park are some of Croatia’s main attractions tourists flock to every year.
But Croatia is full of hundreds of gems around the country and there are many attractions tourists aren’t sometimes familiar with. Below are just 10 interesting spots to check out away from the main attractions.
KLIS
Klis
Klis Fortress is located just northeast of the Dalmatian city of Split. When the Ottoman wars were raging through Europe the ancient Illyrian stronghold was expanded into Klis Fortress. The 2,000-year-old medieval fortress served as a defense spot in Dalmatia.
It was also the seat of many Croatian kings and dukes, from the 9th century Duke Mislav, under the reign of Duke Trpimir to the first Croatian king, Tomislav. It was later ruled by the famous Šubić family. The fortress is best known because of the 16th-century defense against the Turkish invasion that lasted for more than 20 years. At one point in history, Klis was under the control of the Templar knights.
Klis
Because of the great historical value, today the fortress is a museum. The beautiful fortress follows the natural structure of the hill and is of great value as an example of defensive architecture. Its spectacular position, overlooking the surrounding area, the town of Split and the sea, was used as a part of Meereen in the filming of the HBO series Game of Thrones.
SOLIN
Solin
Solin is a small Croatian town with a wealth of cultural heritage. It is located just outside of Split on the Jadro river. First known as Salona, is an archeologists and archeology enthusiast’s paradise.
Solin developed on the location of the ancient city of Salona which was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and the birthplace of Emperor Diocletian. The town is home to the largest archaeological site in Croatia, surrounded by gorgeous gates, temples, and an amphitheater. Many other historical locations can be found in Solin.
WALLS OF STON – STON
Ston (Photo credit: Lubenica/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Known as the “European Wall of China”, the Walls of Ston in southern Croatia are the longest preserved fortification system in the world after the Great Wall of China.
The Walls of Ston protected the city from Ottomans for more than 500 years. Settled on the hillside, the walls and forty defensive towers look over the beautiful Adriatic sea.
PAPUK NATURE PARK – SLAVONIA
Papuk Nature Park (Photo credit: Highonsteep/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Papuk is the largest mountain in Slavonia, near the city of Požega. It is a protected area and Croatian Geopark. It is perfect for recreation – mountaineering, hiking or horse riding because its highest peak is 953 meters high. Visit Ružica grad which is the biggest Medieval fort in Slavonia and one of the biggest in Croatia.
Places to Stay in Croatia
