Croatian cuisine and restaurants
In addition to standard European cuisine, many national dishes are prepared in Croatia. These are Dalmatian or Istra “prshut” (dried meat), Pash or Lich cheese, sheep cheese, Slavonian “kulen” (a kind of sausages), the famous Samobor or Zagorsk “cheshnovki” (also sausages). In Dalmatia, on the islands and in Istria, the main dishes are fish and seafood, as well as “pašticada” (stew) and boiled lamb. Other popular Croatian delicacies: “chobanac” – “shepherd’s” stew of different types of meat, generously seasoned with paprika, “strukli” – macaroni and cheese, “police” – baked potatoes with bacon. On the coast, you should definitely try expensive (and very tasty) dishes with truffles, Istrian soup “manestra”. For dessert, we recommend trying chocolate delicacies “bayadere” and “griot”.
Of the Croatian national drinks, one can note the red wines Teran, Merlot, Cabernet, Opoplo, Plavac, Dingach and Postup; white wines “Malvasia”, “Poship”, “Pino”, “Kuyundjusha”, “Zhlahtina” and “Muscat”. Among the strong drinks, the most famous are Slivovitsa, Travaritsa and Lozovacha, and among the dessert drinks, Proshek and Maraschino.
Despite the presence of the sea “at hand”, the best fish in Croatia is flask meat. The notorious “Vegeta” comes from Croatia. It is added to almost all dishes here.
Cafes and restaurants of different levels in the resort towns are at every turn. Lunch will cost – from 200 HRK, and gatherings with mineral water or a cup of coffee in an inexpensive cafe – from 50 HRK per person.
Portions are simply huge, and hospitable owners in some “konoba” (national tavern) love to treat you with homemade tincture. Especially if the tourist comes for the second time.
Entertainment and attractions in Croatia
Croatia is a very beautiful country, and most of the attractions here are natural. She got all the best that is in Europe: the picturesque coast of the Adriatic, mountain slopes, the cleanest rivers and lakes, pine forests, the smell of which makes one’s head spin, and much more.
It is not surprising that the main wealth of this country is national parks. The most famous, beautiful and visited national park is Plitvice Lakes, since 1979 it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The lakes of the reserve demonstrate all shades of blue, blue and turquoise, it is most convenient to observe them from the observation platform above the valley of the Korana River. Swimming in the lakes is prohibited in order to keep them in their original purity. Krka National Park is famous for its canyon, descending through which you can see lakes, a 20-meter waterfall and an abandoned Franciscan monastery in the middle of a desert island.
In general, abandoned cities are one of the hallmarks of Croatia. See other countries beginning with C. For example, an empty city, also known as the Naked Island, near the island of Rab. Since 1949, there was a top-secret concentration camp for political prisoners here. Hum is the smallest city in the world: officially only 17 residents live there, including the mayor.
There are many interesting excursion programs and routes in Croatia: ” The Instructive Road of the Virovitic Bilogorje “, the project “Roads of Traditional Cuisine”, ” Pearls of the Drav Valley ” or a trip to the town of Grab.
Medieval palaces and castles are scattered throughout the country. The best preserved palace of Diocletian in Split. This building from the era of the Holy Roman Empire is located on an area of 3 hectares and is more like a small medieval city than a building. The ancient castle of Friedrichstein on Kochevskaya Gora, the castles of Žužemberk and Khmelnik, the castle on the island – Otočets, Turyaksky Castle, as well as about 80 summer residences of the nobility built in the Renaissance style on the territory of the Dubrovnik Riviera and in the north of the country are definitely worth attention.
Holidays and events in Croatia
Every year in February, Dubrovnik hosts a colorful carnival. Locals and tourists dress up in costumes, concerts, theatrical performances and performances are held throughout the city. April is the traditional time for the Musical Biennale in Zagreb. And from the beginning of May to the end of July there are crossbowmen’s competitions on the island of Rab (they have been organized since 1364).
Summer is the most generous time for festivals and holidays in Croatia. On the island of Korcula since the end of the 15th century. in the summer, knightly games “moreshka” are held (specifically – on Thursdays, at 21:00), and in Porec – the annual Folklore Festival, a very fun and colorful event (in June), in Zagreb at the same time – the Cartoon Festival.
Every year on September 16, a pilgrimage in honor of St. Euphemia takes place in Rovinj, which brings together thousands of believers from all over Europe, in August – the Rovinj Fair, and in September – a regatta. In Zadar, every September, locals and tourists gather for the Pirate Festival – almost like a carnival, but themed, as well as the city’s largest fair and church music festivals.